A Travel Price Comparison for Mexico Isla Mujeres vs. Guadalajara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Isla Mujeres or Guadalajara?

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 Guadalajara. 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 Guadalajara?

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.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or Isla Mujeres?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Isla Mujeres is $147, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara is $116. 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 Guadalajara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Isla Mujeres $78
    Guadalajara $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Isla Mujeres $156
    Guadalajara $84
Compare Hotels in Isla Mujeres and Guadalajara

Looking for a hotel in Isla Mujeres or Guadalajara? 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 Guadalajara


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 Guadalajara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Isla Mujeres $35
    Guadalajara $39

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: $125

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara

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

  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotels to Guadalajara Airport: $26
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guadalajara Airport to Hotels: $26
  • Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Tequila - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
  • Tequila to Guadalajara Airport (GDL): Departure Private Transfer: $39
  • Transfer Guadalajara Airport Metropolitan Area And More: $45
  • Guadalajara hotels to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer: $50
  • Private Departure Transfer from Guadalajara, Tequila, Chapala hotels to Airport: $63
  • Private transfer: Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara: $73
  • Private transfer: Guadalajara to Guadalajara Airport (GDL): $73
  • Private Transfer from Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Manzanillo Port: $77
  • Private Transfer from Guadalajara city hotels to Manzanillo Port: $77
  • Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77

Is it cheaper to fly into Isla Mujeres or Guadalajara?

Prices for flights to both Guadalajara 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 $46
    Guadalajara $48

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guadalajara

For Guadalajara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Guadalajara private food tour: $70
  • Authentic Mexican Cooking & Tequila tasting experience-Casa Humo: $113
  • VIP Tequila Night Tour with Dinner and Tasting: $189

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Isla Mujeres $20
    Guadalajara $28

Tours and Activities in Isla Mujeres

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

  • Romantic tour in Isla Mujeres: $126
  • Scuba Diving Adventure WITHOUT CERTIFICATION! Try it today!: $185
  • “ Tour in Isla Mujeres “ Transparent boat ride: $40
  • 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience : $84
  • Cancun Jungle Kingdom Adventure ATV, Zipline and Cenote : $70
  • Cancun: Full-Day Catamaran Cruise to Isla Mujeres: $79
  • Cancun: Isla Mujeres 12 pm Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling: $59
  • Crystal Boat Tour to Isla Mujeres and Reefs: $44
  • From Cancún: Isla Mujeres Sunset Catamaran Cruise: $77
  • From Riviera Maya: Isla Contoy & Isla Mujeres Full-Day Tour: $176
  • Isla Mujeres MUSA Snorkeling Experience: $47
  • Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: $92

Tours and Activities in Guadalajara

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

  • Guided Tour of the Historic Center of Guadalajara in French: $15
  • Orendain Classic Tour: $20
  • Guadalajara City Tour: $20
  • Great Experience With A Tour Guide With Spark: $21
  • ticket to Michin Aquarium: $28
  • Private Guadalajara City Tour Within Your Budget: $31
  • Culture, Architecture, and Market Walking Tour: $33
  • Private Tour with a Local Guide in Guadalajara: $34
  • Guadalajara Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
  • Guadalajara culture tour: $35
  • Private City Sightseeing Tour: $36
  • Private Walking Tour of Guadalajara: $37

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Isla Mujeres $25
    Guadalajara $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Isla Mujeres

Also in Isla Mujeres, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Isla Mujeres Golf Cart Bar Crawl : $150

Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:

  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Guadalajara: $25
  • Cultural tour, city fields and distillery: $32
  • Guadalajara Arquitecture and Brewery Tour: $57
  • Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town: $77
  • full day Tequila tour visiting artisanal distillery and downtown.: $79
  • Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery: $177
  • Sip & Savor Tequila Experience Distillery w/ Lunch fr Guadalajara: $180
  • Private Tour La Fortaleza Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour to Distillery Tequila Ocho and Arandas : $200
  • Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery: $214


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla Mujeres and Guadalajara, we can see that Isla Mujeres 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 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 Guadalajara.

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 Guadalajara Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Isla Mujeres or Guadalajara?

Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the sizes of Isla Mujeres and Guadalajara, 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.