Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or Rosario Islands?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Rosario Islands or Guadalajara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Rosario Islands and Guadalajara can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Rosario Islands or Guadalajara?
Rosario Islands
The Rosario Islands, also referred to as Coral Islands of Rosario, is an archipelago located off the coast of Colombia, approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Cartagena. The Rosario Islands are integrated by 28 islands and all of them form one of the 46 Natural National Parks of Colombia, created to protect one of the most important coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Only three of these islands are property of the Colombian state. Before establishing the national park in 1977, wealthy families used this natural paradise to build their summer houses, but then the government allowed them to keep their properties, only if they paid annual rent and taxes to be there, and complied with certain rules to preserve the ecosystem of the islands. People can visit the national park area of the islands, and tours are available. Isla Rosario has an aquarium and open-sea oceanarium that people can visit. Activities on the Rosario Islands include swimming, snorkeling and fishing, among others. The best time to visit Colombia in general, and especially the Rosario Islands is the dry-season months from December to March. These uninterrupted sunny days are just perfect for a Caribbean coastal experience and to enjoy all the activities it has to offer.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.
-
Rosario Islands Prices
Colombia PricesGuadalajara Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRosario Islands $108Guadalajara $138
The average daily cost (per person) in Rosario Islands is $108, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara is $138. 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 Rosario Islands and Guadalajara in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRosario Islands $33Guadalajara $38
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRosario Islands $66Guadalajara $76
Compare Hotels in Rosario Islands and Guadalajara
Looking for a hotel in Rosario Islands or Guadalajara? 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: Rosario Islands Hotel Prices and Guadalajara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rosario Islands $46Guadalajara $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara
Also for Guadalajara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
- Guadalajara Airport Private Transfer to Ajijic & Chapala: $289
- Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $202
- Guadalajara to Tequila - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $179
- Private Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels Safe & Stress-Free: $159
- Tequila to Guadalajara - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $179
- Tequila to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer: $101
- Transfer by car to or from Guadalajara Airport: $35
- Transfer from International Airport to Tequila Jalisco: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Rosario Islands or Guadalajara?
Prices for flights to both Guadalajara and Rosario Islands 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
-
Food Meals for one dayRosario Islands $48Guadalajara $75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guadalajara
For Guadalajara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Street Food Tour and City Tour Guadalajara - Best Rated : $44
- Guadalajara Private Food Tour: $70
- Authentic Mexican Cooking & Tequila tasting experience-Casa Humo: $108
- Mexican Cooking Classes and Market Visit in Guadalajara: $195
- VIP Tequila Night Tour with Dinner and Tasting: $199
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rosario Islands $14Guadalajara $25
Tours and Activities in Rosario Islands
Here are a few actual costs in Rosario Islands for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- One-day tour to Playa Blanca by land Popular sector: $50
- Tour to Chichen Itza Cenote and Valladolid Plus: $67
Tours and Activities in Guadalajara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Guadalajara.
- Bar Tour of the Coolest Quarter of Guadalajara: $17
- Great Experience With A Tour Guide With Spark: $21
- Guadalajara City Center Walking Tour: $25
- Guadalajara Tour: $27
- 3 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!: $36
- Walking Tour Historic Center Guadalajara: $39
- Lucha Libre Tour at the Arena Coliseo de Guadalajara as a local: $39
- Chapala Ajijic Area Tour from Guadalajara: $40
- Tequila Route Experience from Guadalajara: $40
- Classic Tequila Tour and CANTARITOS EL GÜERO: $41
- Guadalajara Private Walking Tour: $42
- History and Murals: Walking Tour Guadalajara: $44
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayRosario Islands $5.98Guadalajara $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Guadalajara Mexico: $25
- Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town: $65
- full day Tequila tour visiting artisanal distillery and downtown.: $95
- Guided Tour of Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery: $105
- Full-Day Tour to La Fortaleza Distillery and Cantaritos: $155
- Private Adventure Day Tour to Tequila and Cazcanes Distillery: $156
- Private Adventure to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $161
- Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery: $167
- Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
- Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
- Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery: $211
- Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery in One Day: $264
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rosario Islands and Guadalajara, we can see that Guadalajara is more expensive. And not only is Rosario Islands much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rosario Islands is in South America and Guadalajara 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 Rosario Islands would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rosario Islands 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 Guadalajara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guadalajara than you might in Rosario Islands.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rosario Islands Expensive? and Is Guadalajara Expensive?.
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.