A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Boquete vs. Cochabamba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Boquete or Cochabamba?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Boquete and Cochabamba 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: Boquete or Cochabamba?

Boquete

Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.

Cochabamba

With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.

The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.

Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama, The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba or Boquete?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Boquete is $67, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $79. 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 Boquete and Cochabamba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Boquete $22
    Cochabamba $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Boquete $44
    Cochabamba $50
Compare Hotels in Boquete and Cochabamba

Looking for a hotel in Boquete or Cochabamba? 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.

Hotels in Boquete


Hotels in Cochabamba


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: Boquete Hotel Prices and Cochabamba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Boquete $5.21
    Cochabamba $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:

  • MiniVan or Bus Transfer from Cochabamba Airport CBB to Cochabamba: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Boquete or Cochabamba?

Prices for flights to both Cochabamba and Boquete 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Boquete $32
    Cochabamba $38

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cochabamba

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cochabamba.

  • Adelante Mujer Bolivian Cooking Workshops: $29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Boquete $17
    Cochabamba $25

Tours and Activities in Boquete

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:

  • Coffee Tasting Experience-Los Molinos Hotel-Panama's Top Product: $25
  • Roast Your Own Coffee: Bajo Boquete Expert-Led Experience: $25
  • Cloud Forest Wildlife Hike Tour: $36
  • Cangilones Mini Canyons Tour: $38
  • Hands-On Coffee Experience with Tasting: $40
  • Small, Hands-on Coffee Tour : $40
  • Ancestral Coffee Experience in Boquete: $45
  • Guided Market Tour with Sensory Coffee Tasting Boquete: $48
  • Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
  • Boquete E-bike Panoramic Tour: $65
  • Tubing Adventure on the Cochea River: $65
  • Guided E-Bike Panoramic Tour: $75

Tours and Activities in Cochabamba

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:

  • City of Eternal Spring: Self-Guided Tour of Downtown Cochabamba : $5.99
  • Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $39
  • Tigre & Delta River Cruise - half day tour from Buenos Aires: $85
  • Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche : $231

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Boquete $4.44
    Cochabamba $15


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Boquete and Cochabamba, we can see that Cochabamba is more expensive. And not only is Boquete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Boquete is in Central America and Cochabamba 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 Boquete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boquete 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 Cochabamba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cochabamba than you might in Boquete.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Boquete Expensive? and Is Cochabamba Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Boquete or Cochabamba?

Cochabamba has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of Boquete and Cochabamba, 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.