A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mar del Plata vs. Mazatlan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Mazatlan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Mar del Plata and Mazatlan can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Mazatlan?

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.

Mazatlan

Mazatlan is located on the Pacific coast in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city has a population of almost 500,000, making it the second largest city in the state. It is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and resort hotels. Most people head to Mazatlan specifically for its beaches, but the city itself is somewhat large and diverse with many different cultures and ethnicities represented. Many foreigners come here not only to vacation, but also to retire. You'll meet people from all over Europe, as well as Canada and the United States.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Mazatlan Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Mazatlan?

Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 56% larger than the population of Mazatlan. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and Mazatlan, 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.

When is the best time to visit Mar del Plata or Mazatlan?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Mar del Plata is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Mazatlan has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Mazatlan in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Mazatlan. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Mazatlan because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Mar del Plata is cooler than Mazatlan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mar del Plata in January average around 20°C (69°F), and Mazatlan averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mazatlan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mar del Plata this time of the year. In the summer, Mar del Plata often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mazatlanin July. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mazatlan receives 216 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Mazatlan. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in January than Mazatlanin July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Mazatlan in the Autumn?

Both Mazatlan and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Mazatlan this time of year.

In April, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Mazatlanin October. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 15°C (59°F), and Mazatlan fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Mazatlanin October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Mazatlan in the Winter?

Both Mazatlan and Mar del Plata during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Mazatlan for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Mar del Plata is much colder than Mazatlan in the winter. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 9°C (47°F) in July, and Mazatlan fluctuates around 20°C (67°F)in January.

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in July than Mazatlanin January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Mazatlan in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Mazatlan. Furthermore, many visitors come to Mazatlan in the spring for the beaches.

In the spring, Mar del Plata is much colder than Mazatlan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mar del Plata in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Mazatlan averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mazatlan this time of the year. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than Mazatlan during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Mazatlan receives 250 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Mazatlanin April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Mazatlan and Mar del Plata