Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Isla Mujeres?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Isla Mujeres and Ponce. 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.
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.
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Isla Mujeres is $148, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $205. 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 Ponce in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Isla Mujeres or Ponce? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Isla Mujeres:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
Prices for flights to both Ponce 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla Mujeres are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
Also in Isla Mujeres, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla Mujeres and Ponce, we can see that Ponce 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 Ponce 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce 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 Ponce Expensive?.
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the sizes of Isla Mujeres and Ponce, 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.