Which place is cheaper, Merida or Veracruz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Veracruz or Merida?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Veracruz and Merida can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or Merida?
Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.
Merida
Merida is the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It is also the capital of the state of Yucatan as a whole. There is a population of 750,000 and is very rich in diversity and culture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVeracruz $122Merida $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $122, while the average daily cost in Merida is $88. 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 Veracruz and Merida in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $54Merida $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $108Merida $88
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and Merida
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz or Merida? 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: Veracruz Hotel Prices and Merida Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Veracruz $28Merida $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer: $25
- Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $32
- Shared Arrival Transfer: General Heriberto Jara International Airport to Veracruz Hotels: $23
- Colima Airport (CLQ) to Colima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $28
- Colima Airport (CLQ) to Colima - Arrival Private Transfer: $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Merida Rejon Airport (MID) to Tulum hotels - Round Trip Transfer: $225
- One-way Airport Transfers to Merida Hotels: $120
- Private Transfer From Uxmal to Merida, English Speaking Driver: $72
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida airport to central Merida: $40
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida hotels to Merida airport: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or Merida?
Prices for flights to both Merida and Veracruz 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 dayVeracruz $50Merida $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merida
For Merida, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traveling Spoon Yucatecan Sopa de Lima Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Merida Walking Food Tour. Authentic & Local Cuisine: $63
- Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit: $89
- Private Yucatecan Cooking Lesson in a Local Merida Home: $90
- Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Merida with Transfers: $126
- Wonders of the Mayab: Chichen Itza, Yokdzonot Cenote & Cooking Class: $237
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Veracruz $15Merida $16
Tours and Activities in Veracruz
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.
- 1 day tour of Tlacotalpan and Alvarado from Veracruz: $103
- 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $25
- Adventure through the Chachalacas Beach and Dunes from Veracruz: $124
- Alvarado And Tlacotalpan Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio: $112
- Antigua and Zempoala Tour from Veracruz: $86
- Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $27
- Bird Watching Adventure in La Mancha Ecological Reserve: $137
- Catemaco And Los Tuxtlas Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio: $112
- City Tour en Veracruz y Acuario: $100
- From Veracruz or Boca del río: Coffee Tour in Coatepec: $97
- From Alvarado, Tlacotalpan and Agustín Lara Tour: $100
- From Catemaco, Nature, Waterfalls & Monkeys Tour: $100
Typical Entertainment Prices in Merida
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Merida's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Train at the Zoo$0.12
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Uxmal Entrance (for 2)$20
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Mayan Village Entrance (for 2)$6.01
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-hour Temazcal experience in the Mayan world: $181
- 3 Hour Tour in The Sotuta de Peón Live Museum: $60
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Merida, you choose!: $125
- 4 Cenotes Full Day Tour from Merida: $110
- 4x1 Tour Chichen Itza Magic Towns Valladolid & Izamal from Merida: $95
- 6-hour Guided Tour to Uxmal and Kabah Express: $89
- Adventure to the Homun Cenotes from Merida: $105
- Ancestral Mayan Private Culinary Experience in Merida: $139
- Beach Tour in Yucalpetén from Mérida: $95
- Bird Watching Tour North of Mérida-Half Day: $300
- Boat tour to Celestun from Merida: $152
- Celestun Biosphere Reserve Tour from Merida: $208
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVeracruz $17Merida $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Veracruz and Merida, we can see that Veracruz is more expensive. And not only is Merida much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Merida would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merida 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 Veracruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Veracruz than you might in Merida.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Veracruz Expensive? and Is Merida Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or Merida?
Merida has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Veracruz. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz and Merida, 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.
When is the best time to visit Veracruz or Merida?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Veracruz or Merida in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Veracruz and Merida.
In the summer, Veracruz is a little warmer than Merida. Typically, the summer temperatures in Veracruz in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Merida averages at about 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Merida this time of the year. In Veracruz, it's very sunny this time of the year. Veracruz usually receives less sunshine than Merida during summer. Veracruz gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while Merida receives 254 hours of full sun in the summer.
Veracruz gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Veracruz usually receives more rain than Merida. Veracruz gets 410 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Merida receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVeracruz 27°C (81°F)Merida 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Veracruz or Merida in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Veracruz as well as Merida.
In October, Veracruz is generally a little warmer than Merida. Daily temperatures in Veracruz average around 26°C (79°F), and Merida fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Merida. In the autumn, Veracruz often gets less sunshine than Merida. Veracruz gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Merida receives 233 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Merida. Veracruz receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Veracruz usually gets less rain in October than Merida. Veracruz gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Merida receives 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVeracruz 26°C (79°F)Merida 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Veracruz or Merida in the Winter?
Both Merida and Veracruz are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
Veracruz is around the same temperature as Merida in the winter. The daily temperature in Veracruz averages around 21°C (71°F) in January, and Merida fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It's quite sunny in Merida. Veracruz usually receives less sunshine than Merida during winter. Veracruz gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Merida receives 209 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Veracruz usually receives around the same amount of rain as Merida. Veracruz gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Merida receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVeracruz 21°C (71°F)Merida 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Veracruz or Merida in the Spring?
Both Merida and Veracruz during the spring are popular places to visit.
In the spring, Veracruz is a little warmer than Merida. Typically, the spring temperatures in Veracruz in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Merida averages at about 21°C (70°F).
In Merida, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Veracruz. In the spring, Veracruz often gets less sunshine than Merida. Veracruz gets 203 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Merida receives 260 hours of full sun.
Merida gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Veracruz usually gets less rain in April than Merida. Veracruz gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Merida receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVeracruz 26°C (78°F)Merida 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Merida and Veracruz
| Veracruz | Merida | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (71°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (71°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (74°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 410 mm (16.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 346 mm (13.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (76°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
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.