Which place is cheaper, Tilcara or Mexico City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Mexico City or Tilcara? 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.
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.
Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Mexico City is $214, while the average daily cost in Tilcara is $8.25. 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 Mexico City and Tilcara in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Mexico City or Tilcara? 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.
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Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tilcara:
Prices for flights to both Tilcara 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.
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tilcara:
For Tilcara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mexico City and Tilcara, we can see that Mexico City is more expensive. And not only is Tilcara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mexico City is in North America and Tilcara 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 Tilcara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tilcara 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 Tilcara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mexico City Expensive? and Is Tilcara Expensive?.
Mexico City has a larger population, and is about 2000 times larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Mexico City and Tilcara, 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.