A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Isla Mujeres vs. Fort-de-France for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Isla Mujeres or Fort-de-France?

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 Fort-de-France. 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 Fort-de-France?

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.

Fort-de-France

As the largest city and capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France serves as the main entryway for visitors traveling to the island. It is a busy city with a significant population, which creates an atmosphere bustling with traffic amidst its historic and cultural sights.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Fort-de-France 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.

  • Isla Mujeres Prices
    Mexico Prices
    Fort-de-France Prices
    Martinique Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Isla Mujeres $164
    Fort-de-France $228

The average daily cost (per person) in Isla Mujeres is $164, while the average daily cost in Fort-de-France is $228. 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 Fort-de-France in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Isla Mujeres $71
    Fort-de-France $92
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Isla Mujeres $142
    Fort-de-France $184
Compare Hotels in Isla Mujeres and Fort-de-France

Looking for a hotel in Isla Mujeres or Fort-de-France? 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 Isla Mujeres


Hotels in Fort-de-France


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 Fort-de-France Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Isla Mujeres $32
    Fort-de-France $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Isla Mujeres

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Isla Mujeres:

  • Private Transfer: Playa Mujeres to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $136
  • Cancun–Ferry Round-Trip + Hotel Transfer: $75
  • Punta Sam / Isla Blanca to Cancún Airport (CUN)- Departure Private Transfer: $63

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France

Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66
  • Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France - Arrival Transfer: $70
  • Transfer from Fort de France Port to Martinique Airport (FDF): $77
  • Private Transfer Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France Port: $77
  • Private Transfer from Fort de France Port to Fort de France: $77
  • Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $77

Is it cheaper to fly into Isla Mujeres or Fort-de-France?

Prices for flights to both Fort-de-France 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Isla Mujeres $72
    Fort-de-France $117

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort-de-France

For Fort-de-France, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food tour in the rainforest and St Pierre - Pile et Face: $104

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Isla Mujeres $19
    Fort-de-France $36

Tours and Activities in Isla Mujeres

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla Mujeres are as follows:

  • Scuba Diving Adventure WITHOUT CERTIFICATION! Try it today!: $160
  • 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience : $84
  • Adventure and Snorkel with the Whale Shark From Playa del Carmen: $230
  • Adventure and Snorkel with the Whale Shark departing from Cancun: $200
  • Adventure and Snorkel with the Whale Shark from Akumal or Puerto Aventuras: $240
  • Airboat Adventure: $80
  • Chill at -18°C Isla Mujeres Ice Bar (tickets): $25
  • Contoy Island Tour from Cancun and Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $145
  • Crystal Boat Tour to Isla Mujeres and Reefs: $39
  • Isla Contoy Snorkeling Experience with Buffet: $166
  • Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Adventure at the Underwater Museum: $52
  • Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: $84

Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.

  • Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
  • Small train tour of a banana farm in Martinique: $22
  • Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
  • Mangrove Guided Tour: $43
  • Karaib Tour: $66
  • Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $71
  • Martinique Shore Excursion - Unmissable Martinique North tour: $75
  • Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
  • Martinique Shore Excursion - Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
  • Scenic Tropical Rainforest & Island Tour: $82
  • Martinique: Coral and Turtle Coves Cruise: $84
  • Half-Day Nature and Panorama Tour in Martinique: $108

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Isla Mujeres $23
    Fort-de-France $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Fort-de-France

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort-de-France:

  • Small-Group Tour: Unmissable Martinique with Rum Distillery, Ruins, and More: $75
  • North Tour: rainforest, rum distillery, black sand beach etc: $120


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

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 Fort-de-France Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Isla Mujeres or Fort-de-France?

Fort-de-France has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the sizes of Isla Mujeres and Fort-de-France, 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.