Which place is cheaper, Rosario or Tulum?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Tulum or Rosario?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tulum and Rosario can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Tulum or Rosario?
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
Rosario
Rosario is the third largest city in Argentina. Located at the Parana river and known for its rich architectural heritage and beautiful riverside scenery, Rosario is the birthplace of the Argentinian flag as well as two of the nation's most famous icons, Che Guevara and Lionel Messi. Rosario is still an important river port but has done a great job of regenerating its center, which now has a vibrant cultural and night life. The abandoned buildings of the long riverbank have been converted into galleries, restaurants, skateparks and river beaches, which buzz with life in summer. Dynamic and confident without being showy, culturally rich and the best urban location to cool off in the boiling summers, Rosario is easily overlooked but not to be missed.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina.
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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesRosario Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $144Rosario $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $144, while the average daily cost in Rosario is $61. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tulum and Rosario in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $59Rosario $46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $118Rosario $92
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Rosario
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or Rosario? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Tulum Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $28Rosario $3.10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Tulum Airport: One-Way or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $302
- Private Transfer From Tulum to Chetumal With a 2 Hour Stop: $295
- Round-trip Private Transfer Cancun Airport to TULUM Downtown: $275
- Private Roundtrip Transfer from Tulum Airport to Tulum Hotels: $270
- Private Transfer From Tulum to Mahahual With a 2 Hour Stop: $267
- Luxury Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $250
- Private Transfer Tulum to Mérida with Flexible Stops: $247
- Luxury one way transfer to Tulum from Tulum airport: $220
- Tulum Hotels to Merida Rejon Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $214
- Private Transfer From Tulum to Cancun With a 2 Hour Stop: $208
- Tulum Archaeological Zone: Cenote, Lunch & Transfer: $203
- Private Transfer to Cancun Int'l Airport, from Tulum hotels: $199
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Rosario?
Prices for flights to both Rosario and Tulum change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayTulum $58Rosario $6.49
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Salsa Class,Mezcalita Workshop & Mexican Dinner: $89
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $95
- Mexican Cooking class experience in Tulum: $142
- Temazcal Mayan Ritual Tour and Cenote Swim with Yucatecan Dinner: $149
- Private Authentic Mayan Cooking Class with Tulum Hotel Transfers: $280
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more): $299
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $31Rosario $26
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- 2 Cenotes Private Tour – VIP Adventure with Expert Guide: $175
- 2 tanks Cenote Diving Adventure in Tulum for Certified Divers: $200
- 3 Cenotes & Hidden Lagoon Tour from Tulum: $134
- 5x1 Deluxe Tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote Transportation from Tulum: $110
- ATV Jungle Adventure Ziplines, Cenote From Tulum: $49
- ATV cenote tour Tulum – Mayan Jungle ATV & Cavern Experience: $80
- Adrenaline Tulúm Tour: ATV, Zipline, and Cenote Adventure: $30
- Adventure and Snorkel with the Whale Shark from Tulum: $250
- Adventure in Cenotes Casa Tortuga Tulum: $155
- Akumal Private Tour: Turtles, Coral Reef, Cenote, Beach, Lunch: $203
- Authentic Gastronomic Mexican Food Experience in Downtown Tulum: $66
- Awesome Tour Day at Xcaret Plus + Transportation from Riviera Maya: $260
Tours and Activities in Rosario
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rosario.
- Sucre: Night Tour with Drinks, Bars, and Local Culture: $35
- Che Guevara Rosario Sightseeing Tour.: $58
- Messi Experience. Guided tour of the places of his childhood: $60
- Newell's Old Boys Football Match and Messi Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $25Rosario $7.43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Rosario, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Rosario much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Rosario is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Rosario would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rosario and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum than you might in Rosario.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Rosario Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Rosario?
Rosario has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Rosario, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.