Which place is cheaper, Victoria or Mazatlan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mazatlan or Victoria?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mazatlan or Victoria? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Mazatlan or Victoria?
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.
Victoria
The capital city of British Columbia, Canada, Victoria is positioned near the southern edge of Vancouver Island. It's a wonderfully pleasant city and has been nicknamed the Garden City because of its vast green space and public gardens. There is a population of just over 80,000 in the city proper and almost 350,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Dating back to 1843, it's also one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. As such, it has many historic buildings and beautiful architecture. It also has the second oldest Chinatown in North America, following San Francisco's.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMazatlan $79Victoria $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Mazatlan is $79, while the average daily cost in Victoria is $182. 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 Mazatlan and Victoria in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMazatlan $33Victoria $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMazatlan $66Victoria $226
Compare Hotels in Mazatlan and Victoria
Looking for a hotel in Mazatlan or Victoria? 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: Mazatlan Hotel Prices and Victoria Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mazatlan $21Victoria $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mazatlan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mazatlan:
- Round transfer airport to hotel in Mazatlán: $49
- Private roundtrip airport to hotel transfer in Mazatlan: $261
- Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $119
- Mazatlan Intl Airport (MZT): Private Transfer to Mazatlan: $296
- Mazatlan Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Mazatlan hotels: $236
- Mazatlan Airport (MZT) to Mazatlan Round-Trip Private Transfer: $117
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Victoria
Also for Victoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Victoria: $206
- Victoria to Vancouver - Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Airport (YVR) Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $87
- Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Hotel Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
- Victoria to Vancouver Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
- Seaplane Transfer between Victoria and Whistler: $219
Is it cheaper to fly into Mazatlan or Victoria?
Prices for flights to both Victoria and Mazatlan 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 dayMazatlan $34Victoria $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mazatlan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mazatlan.
- Mercado walking food tour: $78
- Mazatlan routes of taste food tour: $84
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Mazatlan: $84
- Tacos, Beer and Mezcal Food Tour in Mazatlan: $96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Victoria
For Victoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Chocolate Lovers Food Tour: $44
- Chinatown and Old Town Food Tour with Tastings: $58
- Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $59
- Victoria Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $73
- Sip, Savor, Stroll Evening Food Tour: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mazatlan $9.59Victoria $45
Tours and Activities in Mazatlan
Here are a few actual costs in Mazatlan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Barrio Bites tour: $78
- Beach Activities and All Inclusive Tour: $58
- BeachBlast ATV's & City Tour: $99
- Bird Watching Mazatlán - Birding Tour: $115
- City Tour with Tequila Tasting & Beach Hotel Day Pass Included : $49
- From Zipline & ATV Adventure with Tequila Tasting: $210
- Half-Day Tour to Tequila Factory and Villages from Mazatlan: $75
- Half-Day Ziplining Experience from Mazatlán: $110
- Jungle and beach ATV tour + lunch + tequila tasting: $120
- Mazatlán: Beach & Jungle ATV Tour w/ Lunch & Tequila Tasting: $126
- Mazatlán: Tequila Factory & Country Sightseeing: $103
- Mazatlán: Zipline Adventure, Sightseeing & Mezcal Tasting: $128
Tours and Activities in Victoria
For Victoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Victoria self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.28
- Victoria Harbor: Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- 2.5-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.58
- Victoria, BC: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $11
- Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $13
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Experience Victoria by Foot Walking Tour: $15
- Butterfly Gardens Admission Ticket: $15
- Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria: $16
- Cultural & Historical Victoria Walking Tour: $16
- Malahat SkyWalk General Admission Tickets: $29
- Experience Victoria City Tour: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMazatlan $18Victoria $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Victoria
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Victoria:
- Guided Pub Crawl with Ferry Rides and Appetizers: $48
- 3-Hour Street Art & Craft Beer Tour of Victoria, Brewery Tour & Tasting included: $101
- Victoria Wine Tour with Wine Tastings and Charcuterie: $134
- Cowichan Valley Premium Wine Tour: $439
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mazatlan and Victoria, we can see that Victoria is more expensive. And not only is Mazatlan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mazatlan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mazatlan 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 Victoria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Victoria than you might in Mazatlan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mazatlan Expensive? and Is Victoria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mazatlan or Victoria?
Mazatlan has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of Victoria. When comparing the sizes of Mazatlan and Victoria, 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 Mazatlan or Victoria?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Mazatlan or Victoria in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Mazatlan as well as Victoria. Most visitors come to Mazatlan for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Mazatlan is much warmer than Victoria. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mazatlan in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Victoria averages at about 16°C (60°F).
Mazatlan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Mazatlan usually gets more rain in July than Victoria. Mazatlan gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMazatlan 29°C (83°F)Victoria 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Mazatlan or Victoria in the Autumn?
Both Victoria and Mazatlan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Mazatlan because of the shopping scene.
In October, Mazatlan is generally much warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Mazatlan average around 27°C (81°F), and Victoria fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
In October, Mazatlan usually receives more rain than Victoria. Mazatlan gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMazatlan 27°C (81°F)Victoria 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Mazatlan or Victoria in the Winter?
Both Victoria and Mazatlan during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Mazatlan this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Victoria. Mazatlan is much warmer than Victoria in the winter. The daily temperature in Mazatlan averages around 20°C (67°F) in January, and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
Victoria gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mazatlan usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. Mazatlan gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMazatlan 20°C (67°F)Victoria 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Mazatlan or Victoria in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mazatlan and Victoria. Many travelers come to Mazatlan for the beaches.
In the spring, Mazatlan is much warmer than Victoria. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mazatlan in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Victoria averages at about 10°C (49°F).
In April, Mazatlan usually receives less rain than Victoria. Mazatlan gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMazatlan 22°C (72°F)Victoria 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Victoria and Mazatlan
| Mazatlan | Victoria | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (67°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (67°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 227 mm (8.9 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
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.