Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil?
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 Guayaquil. 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 Guayaquil?
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.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
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 Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Isla Mujeres Prices
Mexico PricesGuayaquil Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIsla Mujeres $162Guayaquil $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Isla Mujeres is $162, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIsla Mujeres $70Guayaquil $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIsla Mujeres $140Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in Isla Mujeres and Guayaquil
Looking for a hotel in Isla Mujeres or Guayaquil? 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 Guayaquil Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Isla Mujeres $31Guayaquil $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Isla Mujeres
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Isla Mujeres:
- Punta Sam / Isla Blanca to Cancún Airport (CUN)- Departure Private Transfer: $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $14
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $18
- Guayaquil to Guayaquil Airport GYE Departure Private Transfer: $18
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $20
- Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
- Guayaquil Departure Transfer: $34
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $43
- Private Transfer Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil by Car or Van: $48
- Departure Private Transfer: Guayaquil City to Guayaquil Airport: $48
- Private Transfer from Manta Cruise Port to Guayaquil city hotels: $222
- Private Transfer from Manta Cruise Port to Guayaquil Airport(GYE): $222
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil hotels to Manta Cruise Port: $245
Is it cheaper to fly into Isla Mujeres or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil 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 $71Guayaquil $50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guayaquil Historical Tour Ecuadorian Cooking and Cacao Experience: $97
- Wagyu Cooking Class in Guayaquil: $135
- Cooking Class, Wine & Chocolate Experience: $174
- Half Day of Cooking and Chocolate at Cocoa Farm from Guayaquil: $175
- Stopover tour in Guayaquil with cooking class and accommodation: $175
- Gastronomic workshop tour, live cooking, Learn about the Ecuadorian culinary art: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Isla Mujeres $18Guayaquil $21
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
- Contoy Island Tour from Cancun and Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $163
- Contoy Island Tour with Untouched Paradise and Beach Day: $139
- Crystal Boat Tour to Isla Mujeres and Reefs: $38
- Isla Contoy Snorkeling Experience with Buffet: $176
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Adventure at the Underwater Museum: $59
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: $82
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour Adventure: $63
- Excursion Crystal Boat Tour at the Caribbean: $41
- MUSA and the Manchones Reef: 2 Tank Dive Tour: $125
- Snorkeling tour at 3 spots, Underwater Museum and reefs!: $70
- Whale Shark Tour: $221
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cultural Tour of the Museums of Guayaquil: $35
- Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $50
- City Highlights Tour with Cable Car Ride: $58
- Guayaquil Museum Tour: $64
- Half-Day City Tour—Iguana Park & Santa Ana Hill: $70
- Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Santa Ana: $74
- Private Guayaquil City Tour: $77
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $80
- City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $80
- Historic Walking Tour Through Time & Culture: $83
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $86
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIsla Mujeres $23Guayaquil $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
- Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $65
- Premium Wine Tasting and 3-Course Pairing Menu in Guayaquil.: $86
- Craft Brewery Tour with Tasting: $428
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla Mujeres and Guayaquil, we can see that Isla Mujeres is more expensive. And not only is Guayaquil much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Isla Mujeres is in North America and Guayaquil is in South 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 Guayaquil would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil.
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 Guayaquil Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Isla Mujeres or Guayaquil?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the sizes of Isla Mujeres and Guayaquil, 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.