A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fortaleza vs. San Cristobal de Las Casas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fortaleza and San Cristobal de Las Casas 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: Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Fortaleza

A major city on Brazil's northeastern coast and the capital city of Ceara state, Fortaleza is best characterized by its city landscape lined with beaches and palm trees. It also features some great seafood as well as long-standing folk traditions in culture and dance.

San Cristobal de Las Casas

Far away from the luxuries of Cancun and Cabo, Mexico's San Cristobal de las Casas is a stunning colonial city located in the southern state of Chiapas. Due to its strategic location, the town is commonly used as a transfer point for travelers looking to cross the border between Guatemala and Mexico. San Cristobal also has an immensely strong appeal among budget-minded travelers as it's one of Mexico's most affordable cities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen.


Which place is cheaper, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Fortaleza?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $69, while the average daily cost in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $101. 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 Fortaleza and San Cristobal de Las Casas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fortaleza $30
    San Cristobal de Las Casas $47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fortaleza $60
    San Cristobal de Las Casas $94
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and San Cristobal de Las Casas

Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas? 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 Fortaleza


Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas


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: Fortaleza Hotel Prices and San Cristobal de Las Casas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fortaleza $21
    San Cristobal de Las Casas $32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza

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

  • Transfer to Beach Park: $12
  • Transfer leaving from the Fortaleza waterfront to Beach Park: $8.97
  • Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $29
  • Transfer Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $300
  • Transfer Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $153
  • Transfer 4x4 Regular Service Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $75
  • Transfer 4 X 4 Fortaleza to Jericoacoara or Jericoacoara to Fortaleza: $240
  • Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $104
  • Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Cumbuco: $49
  • Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Aquiraz: $88
  • Shared Airport Transfer to Fortaleza Hotels: $9.58
  • Roundtrip transfer from Pinto Martins Airport to Hotels in Fortaleza: $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Cristobal de Las Casas

Also for San Cristobal de Las Casas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer Hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas to TGZ Airport: $51

Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Prices for flights to both San Cristobal de Las Casas and Fortaleza 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
    Fortaleza $24
    San Cristobal de Las Casas $23

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fortaleza $15
    San Cristobal de Las Casas $14

Tours and Activities in Fortaleza

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

  • Águas Belas Tour: $15
  • 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $13
  • Beach Park Full-Day Trip Including Brief Tour of Fortaleza: $35
  • Canoa Quebrada Beach Tour with Nettour: $20
  • Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $19
  • City Tour Fortaleza - Full Day Cumbuco Beach Tour by Nettour: $26
  • City-Tour and Fortaleza (central market, cathedral, Fort, Theaters, encetur, P.ferreira: $56
  • Cumbuco Beach Tour: $12
  • Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza: $16
  • Fortaleza City Tour : $26
  • Fortaleza Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $31
  • 4-Hour City Car Tour: $266

Tours and Activities in San Cristobal de Las Casas

For San Cristobal de Las Casas, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Adventure on Motorcycle to a Hidden Waterfall! : $119
  • Agua Azul, Misol Hà Waterfalls and Palenque Ruins Tour: $48
  • Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
  • Chamula and Zinacantan Indigenous Villages Tour: $30
  • Food Walking Tour in San Cristobal : $70
  • From San Cristóbal Tour to Agua Azul, Misol Ha and Palenque with Guide 1 day: $65
  • Full Day Tour in Lagos de Montebello and El Chiflón: $80
  • Full Day Tour of Montebello Lakes and El Chiflon Waterfall: $45
  • Full Day Tour to Palenque Archaeological Zone with Waterfalls: $109
  • Full-Day Sumidero Canyon Tour with Boat Cruise from San Cristóbal de las Casas: $84
  • Montebello Lakes and Chiflon Waterfalls Tour: $28
  • Montebello Lakes and Waterfalls Tour from San Cristobal: $51

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fortaleza $9.97
    San Cristobal de Las Casas $30


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fortaleza Expensive? and Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza and San Cristobal de Las Casas, 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.