Which place is cheaper, Valdivia or Mexico City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Mexico City or Valdivia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mexico City or Valdivia? 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: Mexico City or Valdivia?
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.
Valdivia
Valdivia is a vibrant university city situated in southern Chile. It sits at the meeting point of three rivers in the aptly named Region de Los Rios (The Rivers Region) and is approximately 200 kilometers from both Temuco and Puerto Montt. Due to a large student population, Valdivia boasts a youthful and energetic vibe that is visible in its many bars, cafes and restaurants. The city is also known for having one of Chile's best craft beer cultures, which had its early beginnings when German settlers arrived in the 1840s. The rivers, nearby Pacific coastline and wetlands offer plenty for lovers of the outdoors, too.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
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Mexico City Prices
Mexico PricesValdivia Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMexico City $225Valdivia $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Mexico City is $225, while the average daily cost in Valdivia is $90. 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 Valdivia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMexico City $41Valdivia $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMexico City $82Valdivia $86
Compare Hotels in Mexico City and Valdivia
Looking for a hotel in Mexico City or Valdivia? 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: Mexico City Hotel Prices and Valdivia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mexico City $13Valdivia $8.67
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$1.15
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Uber Ride$4.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Teotihuacan: Private Balloon Flight with optional Transfer: $1,436
- Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Visit with Transfer: $842
- Shared Balloon Flight in Teotihuacan with transfer: $293
- Mexico City to Guanajuato - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $291
- Private Transfer Mexico City to Oaxaca with Flexible Stops: $280
- Mexico Airport (MEX) Tecozautla - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $248
- Private Transfer Mexico City to San Miguel with Flexible Stops: $240
- Balloon adventure: transfer+breakfast in the cave+guided pyramids: $239
- Balloon Flight in Teotihuacan Transfers and Breakfast Included: $236
- Private Airport Transfer to Hotel de CDMX (8 to 11 people): $236
- Mexico Airport(MEX) to Chignahuapan - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $231
- Balloon Flight over Teotihuacán with Transfers Included: $228
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valdivia
Also for Valdivia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Valdivia Airport Private Transfer: $64
Is it cheaper to fly into Mexico City or Valdivia?
Prices for flights to both Valdivia 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayMexico City $46Valdivia $39
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$13
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Coffee and Snacks$4.49
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Dinner for 2$26
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:
- Mexico City Coyoacan Food Tour & Optional Frida Kahlo Museum: $20
- Cable Car, Cultural Spaces, and Traditional Food Tour: $40
- San Juan Market Food Tour Exotic Bites & Flavors: $55
- Coyoacan Market Food Tour Urban Eats & Local Legends: $55
- Tortilla Crawl: Food Tour in Mexico City: $55
- Mexico : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $58
- CDMX Historic Center Food Tour: $59
- Local Markets & Food Tour in Mexico City: $63
- 3 Hours Food Tour Best Vegan Tacos in Mexico City: $65
- 3h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Drinks: $68
- Street Food Tour with Michelin-Starred Taco: $70
- Roma–Condesa: Haute Cuisine and Renowned Restaurants Food Tour: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mexico City $15Valdivia $14
Tours and Activities in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Sabor a Calle": Mexico City Street Food Adventure: $93
- 1 Day Tour to Zacatlán and Chignahuapan from Mexico city: $200
- 1 day in Puebla and Cholula in private tour from Mexico city: $160
- 100% Private Teotihuacan Tour from Mexico City: $132
- 100% Private Tour in Teotihuacán Pyramids from Mexico City: $120
- 100% private tour in Chapultepec Castle & around (with transport): $77
- 100% private tour to hotsprings Tolantongo from Mexico city: $177
- 2D: Frida Kahlo Museum(No ticket)-Xochimilco & Cuernavaca - Taxco: $194
- 3-in-1 Tour: Teotihuacan + Breakfast in La Gruta + Transportation: $100
- 3X1 Tour in Xochimilco UNAM and Coyoacan: $60
- A Hidden Foodie Experience in Mercado de Jamaica: $135
- A Tour through the Guadalupe Basilica Grounds: $46
Tours and Activities in Valdivia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Valdivia.
- City Tour in Valdivia: $30
- Huilo Huilo Hot Springs Tour from Valdivia with Lunch: $102
- Huilo Huilo Reserve Tour from Valdivia with Lunch: $87
- Sightseeing Tour in Valdivia: $125
- Private City Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMexico City $20Valdivia $5.14
Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
- CDMX Pub Crawl: Guided Pub Crawl with Party Games: $24
- Mexico City Pub Crawl: $26
- THE MEXICO CITY PUB CRAWL: A real chilango night: $35
- Zona Rosa Pub Crawl Experience: $100
- Mexican Wine Tasting with Food Pairing: $126
- The Mexican Wine Tasting and Pairing: $127
- Distillery Tour and Lucha Libre Spirits and Showdown: $127
- Private Cheese and Wine Tour to Queretaro: $511
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mexico City and Valdivia, we can see that Mexico City is more expensive. And not only is Valdivia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mexico City is in North America and Valdivia 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 Valdivia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valdivia 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 Valdivia.
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 Valdivia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mexico City or Valdivia?
Mexico City has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Valdivia. When comparing the sizes of Mexico City and Valdivia, 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.
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.