Which place is cheaper, Mazatlan or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Recife or Mazatlan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Mazatlan can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Recife or Mazatlan?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $166Mazatlan $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, while the average daily cost in Mazatlan is $79. 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 Recife and Mazatlan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $88Mazatlan $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $176Mazatlan $66
Compare Hotels in Recife and Mazatlan
Looking for a hotel in Recife or Mazatlan? 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: Recife Hotel Prices and Mazatlan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.47Mazatlan $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Instituto Ricardo Brennand with transfers from Recife: $41
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $101
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Carneiros Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Recife to Olinda: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Serrambi Beach: $101
- Private Transfer from Recife to Tamandare Beach: $114
- Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
- Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
- Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
- Shared Transfer from Recife to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mazatlan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mazatlan:
- Round transfer airport to hotel in Mazatlán: $50
- Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $119
- Mazatlan Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Mazatlan hotels: $236
- Private roundtrip airport to hotel transfer in Mazatlan: $262
- Mazatlan Intl Airport (MZT): Private Transfer to Mazatlan: $296
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Mazatlan?
Prices for flights to both Mazatlan and Recife 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 dayRecife $70Mazatlan $34
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11Mazatlan $9.59
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.82
- City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27
- Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $35
- Olinda City Tour and Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $94
- City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
Tours and Activities in Mazatlan
Here are a few actual costs in Mazatlan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mazatlan Sightseeing and Golden Zone: $27
- Mazatlan City Sightseeing Tour with Shopping Time and Lunch: $40
- Mazatlan Sightseeing and Shopping Tour: $40
- Mazatlan Smart Bike Tour: $40
- El Faro Lighthouse Tour with Free Digital Photos: $47
- Mazatlan - City Tour: $47
- City Tour with Tequila Tasting & Beach Hotel Day Pass Included : $49
- Grand Aquarium Ticket and City Sightseeing Tour: $57
- Sensation Splash Party All Inclusive Mazatlan Bay Cruise: $57
- Beach Activities and All Inclusive Tour: $58
- Seafront Boardwalk Beer Bike Tour: $58
- Deer Island Eco Tour with Snorkeling and Hiking: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Mazatlan $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Mazatlan, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Mazatlan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife is in South America and Mazatlan 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 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife 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 Recife Expensive? and Is Mazatlan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or Mazatlan?
Recife has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Mazatlan. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Mazatlan, 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 Recife or Mazatlan?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Recife is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Mazatlan has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Recife or Mazatlan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Mazatlan. Also, many visitors come to Mazatlan in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
Recife is around the same temperature as Mazatlan in the summer. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Mazatlan fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mazatlan this time of the year. In Recife, it's very sunny this time of the year. Recife usually receives more sunshine than Mazatlan during summer. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Mazatlan receives 216 hours of full sun in the summer.
Mazatlan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Recife usually receives less rain than Mazatlanin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRecife 26°C (79°F)Mazatlan 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Recife or Mazatlan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Recife as well as Mazatlan. Also, most visitors come to Mazatlan for the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Recife is around the same temperature as Mazatlan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Recife in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Mazatlan averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mazatlan. In the autumn, Recife often gets less sunshine than Mazatlanin October. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mazatlan receives 233 hours of full sun.
Recife receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Mazatlanin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRecife 26°C (79°F)Mazatlan 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Recife or Mazatlan in the Winter?
Both Mazatlan and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Mazatlan because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In July, Recife is generally a little warmer than Mazatlanin January. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 24°C (76°F), and Mazatlan fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
It's quite sunny in Mazatlan. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Mazatlan during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Mazatlan receives 203 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Recife. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Mazatlanin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRecife 24°C (76°F)Mazatlan 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Recife or Mazatlan in the Spring?
Both Mazatlan and Recife during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the beaches are the main draw to Mazatlan this time of year.
Recife is a little warmer than Mazatlan in the spring. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Mazatlan fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in April.
In Mazatlan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Recife. In the spring, Recife often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mazatlanin April. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mazatlan receives 250 hours of full sun.
Recife usually gets more rain in October than Mazatlanin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRecife 25°C (77°F)Mazatlan 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Mazatlan and Recife
| Recife | Mazatlan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 227 mm (8.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 18 mm (0.7 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.