Should you visit Mexico City or Ensenada?
Should I visit Mexico City or Ensenada? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.
Ensenada
Ensenada is on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Tijuana. It's the only deep water port in the state of Baja California and as such, it is an important commerical fishing port as well as a cruise ship destination. The city has a population of almost 500,000 and is located just 78 miles south of San Diego. The city sits between the ocean and a small mountain range. The surrounding area is known for its wine production, which produces some of the best wine in Mexico.
Which city is cheaper, Ensenada or Mexico City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Mexico City is $134, while the average daily cost in Ensenada is $64. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Mexico City and Ensenada in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $44 in Mexico City For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $30. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Ensenada the cost is $60 on average.
Food
While meal prices in Mexico City can vary, the average travelers spends about $18 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Mexico City should cost around $7.20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Mexico City is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
While meal prices in Ensenada can vary, the average travelers spends about $25 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Ensenada should cost around $10 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Ensenada is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Mexico City $18
Ensenada $25
Typical Food prices in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two
$11
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Coffee and Snacks
$3.81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Traveling Spoon Mexican Tacos and Tortillas Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Mexico City Private Food Tour:
$60
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Private Contemporary Mexican Cooking Class Inspired by Family Recipes:
$68
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Mexico City Private Traditional Pre-Hispanic Cooking Class:
$83
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Private Mexican Cooking Lesson in a Coyoacan Apartment:
$86
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Wrestling show and a Mexican dinner:
$101
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Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class with a Local in Coyoacan:
$105
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Mexican Cooking Lesson in a Local Home:
$106
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Authentic Mexican Cooking Lesson With a Gastronomic Historian in Mexico City:
$109
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Taco Night Private Food Tour in Mexico City:
$112
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Traditional Mexican Cooking Class in a Beautiful Home:
$119
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Private Market Tour and Hands-On Home Cooking With a Local in Mexico City:
$123
Local Transportation
Mexico City's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $8.60 per person, per day on transportation in Mexico City.
The average price of local transportation around Ensenada is $13 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Mexico City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
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Metro
$0.98
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Uber Ride
$3.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Departure Private Transfer Mexico City to Mexico City Airport MEX in an SUV:
$100
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Departure Private Transfers: Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Business Car:
$63
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Departure Private Transfers: Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury SUV:
$64
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Departure Private Transfers: Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury Van:
$67
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Departure Shared Transfer to Mexico City Airport:
$28
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Mexico Airport Transfers : Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Business Car:
$60
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Mexico Airport Transfers : Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury SUV:
$67
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Mexico Airport Transfers : Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury Van:
$67
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Mexico City - Mexico City International Airport(MEX) -Private Departure Transfer:
$44
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Mexico City Airport Round Shared Transfer:
$66
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Private Airport Transfer between Chiang Mai to/from Chiang Rai:
$156
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Private Airport Transfer: B. Juarez International Airport (MEX) to Mexico City:
$27
Is it cheaper to fly into Mexico City or Ensenada?
Prices for flights to both Ensenada and Mexico City 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Mexico City can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $9.89 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Ensenada's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $7.05 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Museo del Tequila y el Mezcal Tour and Tasting:
$20
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Customizable Tour with a Private Guide:
$25
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Tickets to Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera Museum Skip The Line FREE CANCELATION:
$25
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Full-Day City Tour with Anthropology Museum:
$27
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Mexico City Tour with Anthropology Museum entrance fee included:
$27
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Tickets & Transport to Frida Kahlo's Museum & Diego Rivera's Studio:
$28
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Private tour to Anthropology Museum:
$29
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Xochimilco & Coyoacan Full-Day Tour with Frida Kahlo Museum:
$32
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Teotihuacan + Basilica de Guadalupe + Tlatelolco Tour!:
$34
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Teotihuacan, Shrine of Guadalupe & Tlatelolco All-Inclusive Tour:
$35
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Full City Tour/español-ingles:
$36
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From Teotihuacan and Guadalupe Shrine Day Tour:
$36
Tours and Activities in Ensenada
Here are a few actual costs in Ensenada for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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4 days Dirt Bike Tour at Baja North:
$2,515
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Dirt Bike One Day Tour from Ensenada to San Felipe (Point to Point):
$875
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Ensenada Shore Excursion: Blowhole and La Bufadora Tour with Horseback Riding:
$132
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Ensenada Shore Excursion: City Tour & La Bufadora:
$68
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Ensenada Shore Excursion: Entre Santos and El Cielo Winery Tours with Lunch:
$160
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Ensenada Shore Excursion: Wine and Cheese Tour with Lunch in Ojos Negros Valley:
$225
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Ensenada Travels Tours:
$64
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Tuk Tuk, Beach and Bar Tour:
$90
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Ensenadas Ziplines , Pai Pai Zoo and Bufadora Private tour.:
$300
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Family-Friendly Baja Wine and Food Adventure:
$425
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Ford model T tours:
$100
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Guadalupe Valley Wine Route Tour in Baja California:
$77
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Mexico City spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Ensenada may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
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Full-Day Peña de Bernal Wine Tours:
$220
Sample the Local Flavors in Ensenada
Also in Ensenada, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Private wine tour:
$65
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Private Full-Day Wine Tour in Valle de Guadalupe:
$89
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Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tour, All Inclusive by AKA Expeditions.:
$140
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Valle de Guadalupe Off The Beaten Path Wine Tasting:
$505
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mexico City and Ensenada, we can see that Mexico City is more expensive. And not only is Ensenada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ensenada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ensenada 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 Mexico City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mexico City than you might in Ensenada.
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