A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guadalajara vs. Charleston for Food, Old Town, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Guadalajara or Charleston?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guadalajara or Charleston, 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.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is a vibrant, cultural, and historical city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Charleston

Charleston is a picturesque, charming, and southern coastal town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and live music.

Guadalajara and Charleston: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Guadalajara or Charleston?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Charleston than Guadalajara. While Guadalajara is larger than Charleston, Charleston has more sights and attractions for tourists. Charleston is very popular for its food, music, resorts, beaches, historical sights, shopping, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Guadalajara attracts visitors for its museums, nightlife, and big city activities. Charleston is more touristy than Guadalajara and is popular for its historic city market, low-country cuisine, Civil War history, and antebellum houses. It is also well known for The Waterfront Park. Guadalajara is famous for its mariachi music, tequila, and many festivals.

How is Guadalajara different from Charleston?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Charleston and Guadalajara. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Guadalajara or Charleston?

Guadalajara is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Charleston is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Guadalajara can be an interesting and educational experience. It's a city that's filled with culture and history, with many impressive landmarks such as the Guadalajara Cathedral. Also make sure you visit the Instituto Cultural de Cabañas, Expiatory Temple, the Government Palace, and the Regional Museum of Guadalajara.

Charleston is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. This city is famous for its many historic churches and plantations. The plantations are open to visit and will educate you on the city's past, which is heavily involved in slavery. You can also visit Fort Sumter National Monument by boat or take a tour of the USS Yorktown.

Is the Food Better in Guadalajara or Charleston? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Charleston is an amazing coastal town to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Guadalajara is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Charleston is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Food lovers will enjoy the city's low country classics. There are many local restaurants in town that serve southern specialties. You can also head a bit out of the town center if you want a waterfront restaurant. Local favorites include she-crab soup, shrimp and grits, cornbread, and fried green tomatoes.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Guadalajara makes for a great culinary experience. The cuisine uses some key ingredients such as corn tortillas, chilis, and beans. You'll find a lot of street food which includes tacos and tortas as well as restaurant dishes like birria (meat stew), pozole (hominy soup), and fish ceviche.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for Nightlife?

Guadalajara is notable for its evening party scene. Also, Charleston is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for nightlife.

Guadalajara has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The city comes to life at night. You'll find vibrant dance clubs, live music, and traditional bars. The craft beer scene has also grown in recent years. The most active areas are around Chapultepec Avenue and Zapopan.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Charleston. As a college town, there are plenty of bars and nightclubs around town. There's also a lively music scene. Head to the areas near the college for the most affordable and active nightlife. Popular clubs in town include Cure Night Club, Deco Nightclub, and Mynt.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for Music?

Charleston is a nice place to visit for its music scene. However, Guadalajara is not a live music destination.

The music scene helps keep Charleston active and fun. You can hear a number of local bands or enjoy a more widely known group at larger venues in the area.

Guadalajara is not a live music destination.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for Resorts?

Charleston is a nice place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Guadalajara is not a resort destination.

Charleston has a few great resort options. The town has mostly hotels and bed and breakfasts in the downtown area, but nearby Kiawah Island has a number of nice resorts to choose from. Kiawah Island is particularly kid-friendly if you're looking for a family beach vacation. If you have a bit more money to spend and want something more residential, check out nearby Seabrook Island.

Guadalajara is not a resort destination.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for Beaches?

Charleston is great for the beach. However, Guadalajara is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Charleston. The area has a number of beautiful and fun nearby beaches including Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, and Seabrook Island. Folly Beach is an active and quirky beach area, while Kiawah is more family-friendly. Seabrook is more residential and more expensive.

Guadalajara is not a beach destination.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for its Old Town?

Charleston is an amazing coastal town to visit for its historic old town charm. Also, Guadalajara is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its historic old town.

Charleston offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. Charleston's downtown is one of the most charming and well preserved Old Town's in the United States. It's easy to see why it's become a world class destination.

Guadalajara is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The city center is filled with Spanish colonial architecture. With a walking tour you will find baroque, neoclassical, renaissance, and Gothic style buildings that highlight the city's long running past and rich history.

Is the Shopping Better in Guadalajara or Charleston?

Charleston is an amazing coastal town to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Guadalajara is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many people travel to Charleston specifically to go shopping. The city is famous for its historic market in the center of town. Local goods, foods, and crafts are sold daily here. There are also many clothing and local shops throughout town, particularly along King Street, which has boutiques and high end outlets. Outside of town, stop by Tanger Outlet Mall if you want name brands at a discount price.

Guadalajara is an extremely popular place for shoppers. One of the best shopping streets is Avenida Juarez. A must-see stop is also the large indoor market of Mercado Libertad. You'll also find shopping centers and retail outlets around town.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for Christmas?

Charleston is great for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, Guadalajara does not offer Christmas activities.

Charleston is a very popular destination during Christmas. During the Christmas season there are a number of festivals, light shows, and even a boat parade that everyone can enjoy.

Guadalajara does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for Christmas Markets?

Charleston is a nice place to visit for visiting Christmas markets. However, Guadalajara does not offer Christmas markets.

Charleston has Christmas markets worth visiting. Marion Square hosts Christmas Markets on weekends throughout the holiday season.

Guadalajara does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for Families?

Charleston is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Guadalajara is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Charleston offers lots of family activities. The city has a number of family-friendly activities like carriage rides and boat rides. There's also an aquarium, a waterfront park, and many kid-friendly museums. The nearby beaches also make it a wonderful place to visit with kids.

Guadalajara is not the most family-friendly destination. While it's not the most popular destination for families, those who visit will enjoy exploring the nature parks or amusement parks.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for Couples?

Charleston is an amazing coastal town to visit for couples. Also, Guadalajara is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Charleston has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. This beautiful city is one of the most popular wedding destinations in America. It's a very romantic setting with beautiful hotels and bed and breakfasts that are perfect for couples on their honeymoon or looking for a romantic setting.

Guadalajara is a nice destination for couples. It's filled with nice architecture, a vibrant nightlife scene, and great urban parks, making it a nice and romantic destination for couples.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Guadalajara is notable for backpackers. However, Charleston is a mediocre coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Guadalajara is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. There are plenty of hostels and cheap hotels around town.

Charleston is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Hotels in the old town tend to be pricey and there isn't the backpacker community that you find in many other destinations. Still, there are a couple of hostels.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for Students?

Charleston is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Guadalajara is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Charleston. The city is a college town with a young vibe that is perfect for students. There's a nice university area where you'll find cheaper places to eat and a good nightlife scene.

Guadalajara is not popular with students.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Charleston is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Guadalajara does not have public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Charleston. While there are some buses, you really must have a car to fully experience the entire area.

Guadalajara does not have public transit. There's a bus system as well as a metro system with two lines, which are primarily used by commuters.

Is Guadalajara or Charleston a more walkable city?

Guadalajara and Charleston are superb when it comes to walkability.

Guadalajara is a very walkable destination. The city center is pedestrian-friendly. This is also where you'll find most of the sights.

Charleston is very walkable. The downtown area is very walkable, but once you leave the historic heart, it's best to have a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Guadalajara Worth Visiting? and Is Charleston Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Charleston or Guadalajara?

How long in Guadalajara or Charleston?

Both Guadalajara and Charleston have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Charleston than in Guadalajara. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Guadalajara, and 2-7 days is enough time in Charleston.

Families should spend more time in Charleston than Guadalajara. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Charleston, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Charleston than Guadalajara. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Charleston that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Charleston than Guadalajara if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Charleston.

One day in Guadalajara or Charleston?

With museums and nightlife around the cultural city of Guadalajara, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the charming coastal town of Charleston. It's also a great beach destination, too. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Guadalajara or Charleston?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Guadalajara, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the quaint destination of Charleston. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This coastal town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Guadalajara or Charleston?

Guadalajara, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the picturesque coastal town of Charleston. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Guadalajara or Charleston?

Guadalajara is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the quaint destination of Charleston. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. Most people come for the beaches. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this coastal town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Guadalajara or Charleston?

Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Charleston. When comparing the sizes of Guadalajara and Charleston, 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.