Which place is cheaper, Belize City or Isla Mujeres?
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 Isla Mujeres or Belize City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Isla Mujeres and Belize City. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Isla Mujeres or Belize City?
Isla Mujeres
About eight miles from the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Mujeres is an island in the Mexican Caribbean Sea. The town, of the same name, has a population of about 13,000. Tourism has grown in the area since the 1970s and today it is a significant part of the island's economy. As such, there are plenty of amenities that cater specifically to visitors. The island's proximity to Cuba make it a common transit point for Cubans in route to the United States.
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.
This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize.
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Isla Mujeres Prices
Mexico PricesBelize City Prices
Belize Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIsla Mujeres $175Belize City $108
The average daily cost (per person) in Isla Mujeres is $175, while the average daily cost in Belize City is $108. 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 Isla Mujeres and Belize City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIsla Mujeres $75Belize City $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIsla Mujeres $150Belize City $98
Compare Hotels in Isla Mujeres and Belize City
Looking for a hotel in Isla Mujeres or Belize City? 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: Isla Mujeres Hotel Prices and Belize City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Isla Mujeres $34Belize City $5.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Belize City:, Transfer from Belize City Water Taxi to Flores Guatemala: $20
- Flores, Peten: One way shared transfer to Belize: $25
- From One way shared transfer to Flores, Peten: $25
- Transfer from Water Taxis to Tikal Guatemala: $45
- Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city hotels -Arrival Private Transfer: $54
- Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize City Hotels: $70
- Private Transfer from Belize city hotels to Belize City Port: $70
- Private transfer from the Philip Goldson Airport to San Ignacio: $80
- Belize Airport (BZE) to San Ignacio - Arrival Private Transfer: $86
- Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
- Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Shuttle Transfer: $113
- Tours&airport transfer: $128
Is it cheaper to fly into Isla Mujeres or Belize City?
Prices for flights to both Belize City and Isla Mujeres 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 dayIsla Mujeres $77Belize City $47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City
For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour - fish farm & restaurant: $80
- Belize: Tikal, Yaxha, and Cooking Class 4-Day Tour: $1,800
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Isla Mujeres $20Belize City $29
Tours and Activities in Isla Mujeres
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla Mujeres are as follows:
- 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience: $88
- Adventure and Snorkel with the Whale Shark From Playa del Carmen: $230
- Catamaron Sunset Tour on Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $157
- Chill at -18°C Isla Mujeres Ice Bar (tickets): $25
- Contoy Island Tour from Cancun and Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $177
- Contoy Island Tour with Untouched Paradise and Beach Day: $139
- Crystal Boat Tour to Isla Mujeres and Reefs: $41
- Isla Contoy Snorkeling Experience with Buffet: $166
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Adventure at the Underwater Museum: $59
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: $89
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour Adventure: $63
- Excursion Crystal Boat Tour at the Caribbean: $41
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Belize City to: Flores Guatemala Tourist Service: $20
- The Real Belize City Tour: $28
- TukTuk Belize City Sightseeing Tour: $35
- Luxury Eco Friendly TukTuk Bus Belize City Tour: $35
- Belize City Tour: $40
- Belizean Bits & Bites Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize: $60
- Belize City Day and Night Cocktail Tour with Tuktuk Belize Tours: $60
- TukTuk Belize History & Culture Tour: $60
- Belize City Coffee Tasting, History and Book Tour by TukTuk: $65
- Tour a Butterfly Garden in Harmonyville: $65
- Thrill & Chill: Cave Tubing Tour From Belize City: $72
- Wild Belize: Zoo Adventure and Animal Encounter: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIsla Mujeres $24Belize City $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla Mujeres and Belize City, we can see that Isla Mujeres is more expensive. And not only is Belize City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Isla Mujeres is in North America and Belize City is in Central 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 Belize City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belize City 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 Isla Mujeres would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Isla Mujeres than you might in Belize City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Isla Mujeres Expensive? and Is Belize City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Isla Mujeres or Belize City?
Belize City has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the sizes of Isla Mujeres and Belize City, 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.