Which place is cheaper, Isla Mujeres or Puerto Iguazu?
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 Puerto Iguazu or Isla Mujeres?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Isla Mujeres? 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: Puerto Iguazu or Isla Mujeres?
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
Isla Mujeres
About eight miles from the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Mujeres is an island in the Mexican Caribbean Sea. The town, of the same name, has a population of about 13,000. Tourism has grown in the area since the 1970s and today it is a significant part of the island's economy. As such, there are plenty of amenities that cater specifically to visitors. The island's proximity to Cuba make it a common transit point for Cubans in route to the United States.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesIsla Mujeres Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $59Isla Mujeres $174
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $59, while the average daily cost in Isla Mujeres is $174. 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 Puerto Iguazu and Isla Mujeres in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $42Isla Mujeres $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $84Isla Mujeres $150
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Isla Mujeres
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu or Isla Mujeres? 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: Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices and Isla Mujeres Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.22Isla Mujeres $34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $14
- Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $21
- Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $22
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $22
- Puerto Iguazu Airport Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR: $40
- Wanda Mines Guided Tour with Transfer / From Iguassu Falls: $56
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Brazil Duty Free Shop with Transfers: $60
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
- Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Isla Mujeres
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Isla Mujeres:
- Catamaran Sailing Adventure Isla Mujeres Unlimited + Transfer From Cancun: $89
- Cancun Hotel Zone Private Transfers: From/to Cancun Airport: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Isla Mujeres?
Prices for flights to both Isla Mujeres and Puerto Iguazu 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 dayPuerto Iguazu $6.59Isla Mujeres $77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $34
- Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $36
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $75
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
- Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner: $125
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $130
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $152
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
- Iguazu Falls: Argentina Side Tour with Dinner & Tango Show: $278
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $35Isla Mujeres $20
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full-Day Tour: $18
- Hito Tres Fronters and La Aripuca City Tour: $27
- Foz do Iguaçu: Brazil/Argentina Sides Iguazu Falls Day Tour: $41
- Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
- From San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Tour: $46
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Iguazu Falls Argentine Side Tour & Ecological Train Ride: $55
- Iguazú Falls National Park Entry Ticket or Flexipass 3 days: $60
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina + Boat Option (Private Tour): $71
- Iguazu Falls Guided Tour Argentina side: $73
- Full-Day Tour to the San Ignacio Mission Ruins and Wanda Mines: $74
- Official Tickets: Argentina Side: $75
Tours and Activities in Isla Mujeres
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla Mujeres are as follows:
- 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience: $88
- Adventure and Snorkel with the Whale Shark From Playa del Carmen: $230
- Catamaron Sunset Tour on Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $157
- Chill at -18°C Isla Mujeres Ice Bar (tickets): $25
- Contoy Island Tour from Cancun and Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $177
- Contoy Island Tour with Untouched Paradise and Beach Day: $139
- Crystal Boat Tour to Isla Mujeres and Reefs: $41
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Adventure at the Underwater Museum: $59
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: $89
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour Adventure: $63
- Excursion Crystal Boat Tour at the Caribbean: $29
- MUSA and the Manchones Reef: 2 Tank Dive Tour: $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $8.22Isla Mujeres $24
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Isla Mujeres, we can see that Isla Mujeres is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Iguazu is in South America and Isla Mujeres 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 Puerto Iguazu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Iguazu 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 Isla Mujeres would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Isla Mujeres than you might in Puerto Iguazu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is Isla Mujeres Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Isla Mujeres?
Puerto Iguazu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu and Isla Mujeres, 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.