A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cafayate vs. Guadalajara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cafayate or Guadalajara?

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 Cafayate and Guadalajara can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cafayate or Guadalajara?

Cafayate

Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.

Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or Cafayate?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cafayate is $12, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara is $117. 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 Cafayate and Guadalajara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cafayate $4.43
    Guadalajara $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cafayate $8.86
    Guadalajara $84
Compare Hotels in Cafayate and Guadalajara

Looking for a hotel in Cafayate or Guadalajara? 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 Cafayate


Hotels in Guadalajara


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: Cafayate Hotel Prices and Guadalajara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cafayate $2.40
    Guadalajara $39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara

Also for Guadalajara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private transfer from Guadalajara to Sayulita: $240
  • Airport-Chapala/Ajijic Transfer: $229
  • Guadalajara Airport (GDL): Transfer to Guadalajara hotels: $174
  • Airport to City Transfer: $151
  • Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels: $119
  • Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $98
  • Guadalajara to Tequila - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
  • Tequila to Guadalajara - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
  • Private Transfer from Guadalajara city hotels to Manzanillo Port: $76
  • Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
  • Private transfer: Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara: $73
  • Guadalajara hotels to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer: $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Cafayate or Guadalajara?

Prices for flights to both Guadalajara and Cafayate 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
    Cafayate $4.83
    Guadalajara $48
Typical Food Prices in Cafayate

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cafayate:


  • Dinner (Empanadas)
    $0.02
  • Sandwich
    $0.01
  • Pizza
    $0.02

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cafayate $5.19
    Guadalajara $28

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.

  • From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
  • From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $62
  • From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $134
  • Half-Day Wine Road Premium Tour From Cafayate: $68
  • Tour Quebrada De Las Conchas - Cafayate - Salta: $25

Tours and Activities in Guadalajara

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Guadalajara.

  • 10-Day Audio Guide Tour of Guadalajara: $12
  • 6 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!: $144
  • Air Adventure Paraglide over Incredible Landscapes: $156
  • Canopy Experience Panoramic Flight in Zip Lines: $43
  • Chapala Ajijic Area Tour from Guadalajara: $40
  • Chapala and Ajijic Private Tour: $120
  • Charreria heritage tour be a charro for a day: $50
  • City tour in Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque: $94
  • Complete Tour on the Tequila Route from Guadalajara: $58
  • Downtown Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque Tour: $73
  • Enjoy an exclusive Tequila Tour with a Tequila Master: $149
  • From Chapala Lake & Ajijic Tour: $83

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cafayate $4.88
    Guadalajara $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:

  • Guadalajara Arquitecture and Brewery Tour: $56
  • Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town: $77
  • Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery: $173
  • Sip & Savor Tequila Experience Distillery w/ Lunch fr Guadalajara: $180
  • Private Tour La Fortaleza Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery: $209
  • Private Tour to Tequila Ocho Distillery and the Town of Arandas: $209
  • Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery in One Day: $264


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

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


Which is Bigger, Cafayate or Guadalajara?

Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of Cafayate and Guadalajara, 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.