Which place is cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
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 Nadi (Port Denarau) or Playa del Carmen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nadi (Port Denarau) or Playa del Carmen, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Nadi (Port Denarau) or Playa del Carmen?
Nadi (Port Denarau)
Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Nadi (Port Denarau) Prices
Fiji PricesPlaya del Carmen Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNadi (Port Denarau) $198Playa del Carmen $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $198, while the average daily cost in Playa del Carmen is $89. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) and Playa del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNadi (Port Denarau) $106Playa del Carmen $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNadi (Port Denarau) $212Playa del Carmen $72
Compare Hotels in Nadi (Port Denarau) and Playa del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Nadi (Port Denarau) or Playa del Carmen? 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: Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices and Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.81Playa del Carmen $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):
- Shared Shuttle Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport/ Port to Hotel: $9.15
- Arrival Shared Transfer : Airport to Hotel: $35
- CFC APPROVED Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to All Denarau Hotels: $14
- CFC APPROVED Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Intercontinental Resort: $34
- CFC APPROVED Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Port Denarau Marina: $15
- CFC APPROVED Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Shangri-La Fijian Resort: $37
- CFC APPROVED Private Departure Transfer - Fiji Marriott Resort, to Nadi Airport: $30
- CFC APPROVED Private Roundtrip Transfer -Nadi Airport to All Maui Bay Properties: $71
- CFC Approved Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Doubletree Resort : $23
- CFC Approved Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Fiji Marriott Resort: $27
- CFC Approved Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Maui Bay Properties: $44
- CFC Approved Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to Outrigger & Bedarra Inn: $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Private Transfer Mexico City Airport MEX to Mexico City : $23
- One way shared transfer to Chiquila: $34
- Playa del Carmen to Cancun private transfer, option to stop: $60
- Private Transfer Cancun & Airport- Costa Mujeres/Playa Mujeres : $62
- Private Transfer Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan - Minibus: $64
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Chetumal to Chetumal Airport (CTM) - Departure Private Transfer : $66
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- From One way shared transfer to Holbox: $69
- Private Van Transfer to Cancun Airport: $82
- Private Transfer from Puerto Aventuras to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan -Minibus: $83
- Akumal to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Nadi (Port Denarau) or Playa del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Carmen and Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 dayNadi (Port Denarau) $69Playa del Carmen $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $56
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $63
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $79
- Yucatecan Cooking Class & Unlimited Margaritas – Playa del Carmen: $85
- Playa del Camen Vegan Mexican Food Tour: $85
- Temazcal Mayan Ceremony and Dinner in Mayan Village: $89
- Mayan Cooking Class: Chicken Pibil in Secret Cenote: $95
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $109
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $109
- Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nadi (Port Denarau) $32Playa del Carmen $15
Tours and Activities in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:
- Nadi Sightseeing Including Viseisei Lookout, Village Tour, Garden & Temple Tour: $70
- Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool Tour: $73
- Shore Excursion-Wonders of Nadi Sightseeing Tour-Temple,Gardens,Markets&Shopping: $77
- Coral Coast Sightseeing & Pottery Village Tour: $80
- Cultural Night Tour: $80
- Nadi Therapeutic Mud Pools and Garden Tour - Shore Excursions EX PORT DENARAU: $82
- Nadi Heritage Tour : $82
- Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $83
- Fiji Lautoka Shore Excursions Tour : $92
- Coral Coast Heritage Tour : $99
- Nadi Sightseeing & Mud Pool Tour - Ex Fiji Marriott, Momi Bay: $100
- Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $100
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bus Ticket connecting Cancun Central and Playa del Carmen: $6.43
- Mexico City Self-Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- Isla Mujeres Sailing tour from Riviera Maya: $16
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen : $16
- 4X1 Enjoy a tour to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen : $18
- Full day tour Chichen Itza : $18
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2025: $19
- Ice Bath Experience on the Beach: $20
- Full day Chichén Itzá Tour from Cancún and Riviera Maya: $22
- Chichen Itza Tour Options with Cenote Swim from Playa del Carmen: $31
- Adrenaline Atv tour from Playa del Carmen : $35
- Wild Tulum Day: ATV Tour + Zip Lines + Cenote + Rappel & Lunch!: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNadi (Port Denarau) $11Playa del Carmen $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:
- Madness tour bar crawl Playa del carmen open bar: $99
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nadi (Port Denarau) and Playa del Carmen, we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nadi (Port Denarau) is in Pacific and Playa del Carmen is in North 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 Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) than you might in Playa del Carmen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive? and Is Playa del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nadi (Port Denarau) or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 29% larger than the population of Nadi (Port Denarau). When comparing the sizes of Nadi (Port Denarau) and Playa del Carmen, 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.