Which place is cheaper, Tulum or Fortaleza?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Fortaleza or Tulum?
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 Tulum 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 Tulum?
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.
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFortaleza $69Tulum $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $69, while the average daily cost in Tulum is $122. 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 Tulum in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFortaleza $30Tulum $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFortaleza $60Tulum $120
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and Tulum
Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza or Tulum? 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: Fortaleza Hotel Prices and Tulum Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fortaleza $21Tulum $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza
Also for Fortaleza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer leaving from the Fortaleza waterfront to Beach Park: $8.97
- Shared Airport Transfer to Fortaleza Hotels: $9.58
- Transfer to Beach Park: $12
- Beach Park Round-Trip Transfer: $13
- Fortaleza to Pinto Martins Airport (FOR) - Departure Transfer: $16
- Pinto Martins Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza-Arrival Private Transfer: $16
- Beach Park Transfer from Fortaleza: $16
- Fortaleza Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza - Arrival Private Transfer: $16
- Roundtrip transfer from Pinto Martins Airport to Hotels in Fortaleza: $18
- Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Fortaleza City: $25
- Private transfer: Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza: $26
- Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Round-trip Private Transfer Cancun Airport to TULUM - up to 9 pax: $299
- Roundtrip Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $269
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $254
- Transfer from Tulum airport to Bacalar: $233
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Private Transfer Tulum-Bacalar with optional 2h in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: $210
- Private Transfer From Cancun Airport - Tulum: $208
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Akumal, Tulum: $191
- Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $182
- Private Transfer Tulum Zone - Cancun International Airport: $160
- One Way Private Tulum Transfers to or from Cancun Airport: $160
- Tulum to Mahahual - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or Tulum?
Prices for flights to both Tulum 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
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Food Meals for one dayFortaleza $24Tulum $34
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$3.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $86
- Vegan Walking Food Tour with Tasting: $87
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch and Mezcal Tasting in a Local Home in Tulum: $87
- Mayan Night Guided Tour, Cenote Swim and Mayan Dinner: $209
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more) : $299
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Fortaleza $15Tulum $32
Tours and Activities in Fortaleza
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fortaleza.
- Full Day Tour to Cumbuco From Fortaleza: $11
- Cumbuco Beach Tour: $12
- 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $13
- Lagoinha Beach Tour: $14
- Águas Belas Tour: $15
- Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza: $16
- Lagoinha Beach Tour: $17
- Tour 3 beaches in 1 day: $18
- One Day Bus Tour of Fortaleza and Cumbuco Beach: $18
- Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $19
- Canoa Quebrada Beach Tour with Nettour: $20
- The colorful sands of Morro Branco beach - Full Day Tour: $22
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Private Tour - The best Cenotes in Yucatan - Suytun & Oxman: $195
- Romantic tour in Tulum: $169
- 4-Hour Cenotes Tour with Hotel Pickup in Riviera Maya: $109
- 5 Hours Mayan Snorkeling Experience in Tulum: $90
- 5x1 Deluxe Tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote Transportation from Tulum: $88
- 5x1: Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Mayan Village Full Day Tour: $99
- ATV Cenote and Zipline Adventure from Tulum: $119
- ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines and Cenote Swim: $137
- ATV Jungle Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote & Tulum Pickup: $75
- ATV Tour with Ziplines and Cenote Swim Experience in Quintana Roo: $59
- Adventure Tulum: $105
- Adventure in the Mayan Jungle with ATV and Zip Line in Tulum: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFortaleza $9.97Tulum $25
Sample the Local Flavors in Tulum
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tulum:
- 30 Minutes Brewery Tour in Tulum: $39
- Wine Tasting at Pan y Vino Tulum: $58
- Beer Tasting and Brewery Tour: $69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fortaleza and Tulum, we can see that Tulum 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 Tulum 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 Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum 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 Tulum Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or Tulum?
Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 290 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza and Tulum, 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.
When is the best time to visit Fortaleza or Tulum?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Fortaleza is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Tulum has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Fortaleza or Tulum in the Summer?
Both Tulum and Fortaleza during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Tulum this time of year.
In January, Fortaleza is generally around the same temperature as Tulumin July. Daily temperatures in Fortaleza average around 28°C (82°F), and Tulum fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
In Tulum, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Fortaleza. In the summer, Fortaleza often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tulumin July. Fortaleza gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tulum receives 232 hours of full sun.
Tulum gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Fortaleza. Fortaleza usually gets less rain in January than Tulumin July. Fortaleza gets 119 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyFortaleza 28°C (82°F)Tulum 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or Tulum in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Fortaleza and Tulum. Also, many travelers come to Tulum for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Fortaleza is around the same temperature as Tulum in the autumn. The daily temperature in Fortaleza averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and Tulum fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tulum this time of the year. Fortaleza usually receives less sunshine than Tulum during autumn. Fortaleza gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Tulum receives 216 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Tulum receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Fortaleza gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Fortaleza usually receives more rain than Tulumin October. Fortaleza gets 356 mm (14 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. November to April in Tulum is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Tulum. The hurricane season in Tulum is June to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberFortaleza 27°C (80°F)Tulum 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or Tulum in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Fortaleza as well as Tulum. Also, many visitors come to Tulum in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Fortaleza is a little warmer than Tulum. Typically, the winter temperatures in Fortaleza in July average around 26°C (79°F), and Tulum averages at about 23°C (74°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tulum. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Fortaleza this time of the year. In the winter, Fortaleza often gets more sunshine than Tulumin January. Fortaleza gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tulum receives 213 hours of full sun.
Fortaleza usually gets more rain in July than Tulumin January. Fortaleza gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryFortaleza 26°C (79°F)Tulum 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or Tulum in the Spring?
Both Tulum and Fortaleza are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Tulum for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In October, Fortaleza is generally around the same temperature as Tulumin April. Daily temperatures in Fortaleza average around 28°C (82°F), and Tulum fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Tulum. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Fortaleza. Fortaleza usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tulum during spring. Fortaleza gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Tulum receives 273 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Fortaleza usually receives less rain than Tulumin April. Fortaleza gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Tulum is November to April. The rainy season in Tulum is June to October. June to October is the hurricane season in Tulum.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilFortaleza 28°C (82°F)Tulum 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Tulum and Fortaleza
| Fortaleza | Tulum | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 356 mm (14 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (80°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
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.