Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Medellin?
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 Medellin or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Medellin or Tamarindo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Medellin or Tamarindo?
Medellin
In addition to big improvements in public safety, Medellin has witnessed a huge surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service poorer neighborhoods located high on the mountain sides. There is an abundance of parks, libraries, museums and public spaces with many cultural events taking place. Many travelers also enjoy visiting the surrounding villages, where life is simple and landscapes and nature reserves are wonderful. Medellin has now become one of the "it" cities in the world, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring here. Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons why you should visit Medellin.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Medellin Prices
Colombia PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMedellin $29Tamarindo $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Medellin is $29, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $144. 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 Medellin and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMedellin $4.64Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMedellin $9.28Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Medellin and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Medellin or Tamarindo? 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: Medellin Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Medellin $4.05Tamarindo $69
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Private tour transfer from Medellin to JMC airport, or: $25
- Medellín Private Transfer: José María Córdova Airport : $30
- Medellin hotels to Medellin Airport (EOH) - Departure Transfer: $32
- Medellin Airport (MDE) to Medellin - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Medellin to Medellin Airport (MDE) - Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Medellín: José María Córdova Airport Private Transfer: $33
- Medellin Airport (MDE) to Medellin - Arrival Transfer: $34
- Medellin to Medellin Airport (MDE) - Departure Transfer: $34
- Medellín: Private Airport Transfer: $35
- Medellín Airport Private Transfer Service (Departure): $35
- Private Medellin MDE airport pick up transfer service one way: $35
- Private Transfer José María Cordova Airport in Medellín: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Costa Rica Private LIR Airport Departure transfer : $6.00
- Guanacaste Airport transfer to Jw Marriott Guanacaste: $130
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer To Gulf of Papagayo Costa Rica: $125
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer to Best Western Tamarindo: $100
- Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $95
- Monteverde: Transfer to Tamarindo: $100
- Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $107
- Private Round Trip Transfer: From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $280
- Private Transfer From LIR Airport to JW Marriott Guanacaste: $130
- Private Transfer From LIR Airport to Westin Playa Conchal Resort: $140
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $235
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Four Seasons: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Medellin or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Medellin 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 dayMedellin $16Tamarindo $56
Typical Food Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:
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Lunch$2.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Medellín: Comuna 13 True Story and Street Food Tour: $11
- Medellín: Empanada Cooking Class by Local Chef in Comuna 13: $19
- Private Empanada Cooking Class in Guatape: $30
- A night in Medellín: food tour and bars in El Poblado!: $32
- Laureles Food Tour: $35
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Street Art and Street Food Tour: $38
- Food tour with 12 tastings in the best area of Medellin: $40
- Medellín: Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings (El Poblado): $56
- Private Night City Tour on Electric Bicycle + Gourmet Dinner: $59
- Cooking class: Street Food & Mojito making: $60
- Medellin Night E-Bike Tour with Gourmet Dinner Included: $60
- Community project cooking class and Medellin social transformation tour: $64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Medellin $12Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- History and Street Art Tour in Comuna 13: $8.00
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Tour with Snacks and a Local Guide: $9.75
- Medellín: Comuna 13 and Graffiti Walking Tour with Snacks: $10
- Entry Ticket to the Museum of Modern Art of Medellin: $11
- Medellín: Explore Downtown And Live The Real City Experience: $11
- Medellin Historic Walking Tour: $11
- Medellín Explore Downtown And Live The Real City Experience: $11
- Comuna 13: Graffiti tour & Street Food/drink with telesferic: $11
- Medellin Commune 13 Historic Tour With Snacks and Drinks : $12
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Tour with Spray Painting and ice cream : $12
- Shared Tour of Medellin's Historic & Cultural Downtown: $12
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Tour Through Color, Snacks & History: $12
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $30
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $45
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour: $47
- Morning Moka -Tamarindo's Morning Coffee Tour: $62
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- Turtle Watching Tour: $70
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
- Zipline Canopy Tour from Guanacaste: $70
- Private Wildlife Tour in Avellanas Beach: $75
- Kayak and SUP Private Tour: $75
- Tamarindo River Boat Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMedellin $7.04Tamarindo $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl in El Poblado with Drinks, Games and VIP: $7.50
- Medellin Pub Crawl in El Poblado with Drinks Games and VIP: $12
- Guided Medellin Pub Crawl: $18
- The Medellin Pub Crawl: $20
- Rooftop Bar Crawl with VIP Access & Hidden Clubs: $27
- Live the Nightlife Rooftop Pub Crawl : $49
- Medellín Nightlife: Rooftop Bar Crawl: $85
- Night Out Gay Bar Crawl in Medellin: $130
- NightOUT Medellin Gay Bar Crawl: $150
- Medellin LGBTQ Rooftop Bar Crawl: $150
- Medellín Pub Crawl Tour with Drinks: $175
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Medellin and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Medellin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Medellin is in South America and Tamarindo is in Central 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 Medellin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Medellin 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo than you might in Medellin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Medellin Expensive? and Is Tamarindo Expensive?.
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.