Which place is cheaper, Bogota or San Cristobal de Las Casas?
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 San Cristobal de Las Casas or Bogota?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Bogota? 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: San Cristobal de Las Casas or Bogota?
San Cristobal de Las Casas
Far away from the luxuries of Cancun and Cabo, Mexico's San Cristobal de las Casas is a stunning colonial city located in the southern state of Chiapas. Due to its strategic location, the town is commonly used as a transfer point for travelers looking to cross the border between Guatemala and Mexico. San Cristobal also has an immensely strong appeal among budget-minded travelers as it's one of Mexico's most affordable cities.
Bogota
Sprawling across a high altitude in the Columbian Andes region, Bogota is the capital city of Columbia. It is a mix of the old and new with century-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering skyscrapers, museums representing the history, art, and culture of the region, as well as a mix of distinct neighborhoods from quaint and historic to trendy and contemporary.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.
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San Cristobal de Las Casas Prices
Mexico PricesBogota Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $113Bogota $65
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $113, while the average daily cost in Bogota is $65. 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas and Bogota in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $45Bogota $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $90Bogota $54
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Bogota
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Bogota? 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: San Cristobal de Las Casas Hotel Prices and Bogota Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $31Bogota $9.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Cristobal de Las Casas
Also for San Cristobal de Las Casas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas to TGZ Airport: $103
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bogota
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bogota are as follows:
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Taxi from Airport$7.82
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Taxi Ride$0.41
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2 Bus Passes$0.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bogota
Also for Bogota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zipaquirá and Salt Cathedral with tickets, guide and transfers: $117
- VIP Transfer to Salt Cathedral & Lake Guatavita from Bogota: $44
- VIP Private Transfer: El Dorado Airport → Bogota Hotels SUV 24hrs: $9.99
- Transfers Bogota - Zipaquirá: $59
- Transfer with wait for Andrés carne de res experience (Chia): $99
- Private Visit to Zipaquira's Town & Salt Cathedral + In&Out Transfer + (6 hours): $176
- Private Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Bogota: $15
- Private Transfer from Bogotá-El Dorado (BOG) Airport to Bogotá City: $36
- Private Transfer from Aeropurto to Bogota Hotels: $25
- Private Salt Cathedral and Nemocón Salt Mines + In & out Transfer + (8 hours): $242
- Private Hotel to Airport Transfer service in Bogota: $18
- Private Departure Transfer: Bogotá Hotel to El Dorado Airport BOG: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Bogota?
Prices for flights to both Bogota and San Cristobal de Las Casas 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 daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $39Bogota $24
Typical Food Prices in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$1.63
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Hot Dog$0.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Viejo Bogota Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $55
- Bogotá Local Food Tour - La Candelaria: $65
- PALOQUEMAO MARKET FOOD TOUR. EXOTIC FRUIT. LOCAL SNACKS. /Min 2 pax: $69
- Food Tour EN the Usaquén neighborhood: $75
- Dinner and party at Andres Carne de Res DC: $115
- Andres Carne de Res: Transportation, ticket, dinner & local guide: $136
- Gastronomic Tour and Cooking Workshop: $213
- Tropical Abundance: Interactive Cooking Class in Bogota: $269
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14Bogota $14
Tours and Activities in San Cristobal de Las Casas
For San Cristobal de Las Casas, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adventure to the Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints and Chiapa de Corzo: $54
- Agua Azul & Misol-Ha Day Tour ending in Palenque: $68
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
- Blue Water Misol-ha and Palenque Tour from San Cristobal.: $80
- Canyoning El Chorreadero Cave- Adventure Chiapas: $165
- Food Walking Tour San Cristobal de las Casas: $76
- From San Cristobal Tour to Agua Azul, Misol Ha and Palenque: $90
- Full Day Tour of Montebello Lakes and El Chiflon Waterfall: $60
- Full-Day Sumidero Canyon Tour with Boat Cruise from San Cristóbal de las Casas: $84
- Indigenous Communities Tour of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán: $46
- Palenque Archaelogical Site, Agua Azul and Misolha Waterfalls Combo Tour: $105
- Private City Tour San Cristobal de las Casas: $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bogota
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bogota's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Beer$1.36
Tours and Activities in Bogota
For Bogota, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- *Private tour* to Guatavita sacred lagoon + Nemocon salt mine: $166
- 1 Day Mountains and Valleys Offroad Tour: $147
- 3 Hour Road Bike Shared Tour in Bogota: $120
- 3-Hour Walking Tour and Musical Picnic in the Heart of Ibague: $23
- 3-in-1 Panoramic City Tour Beyond the Ordinary: $40
- 3-in-1 Panoramic city tour with walking tour and experiences: $40
- 3h 30 -Hour StopOver—Walking Tour: Bogota Historical Center: $93
- 4 Guided Museum & City Tour with Coffee & Snack in Bogotá: $53
- 4-hour Paragliding Adventure from Bogota: $231
- 5 hour Bogotá City & Monserrate Hill Tour: $138
- 5-hour Bogota Street Art Tour with transportation: $250
- 5-hour Tour through Bogotá during the stopover. Includes round-trip from airport: $160
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $29Bogota $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Bogota
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bogota:
- Pub CrawL la Candelaria/Bogotá Español: $33
- Drinking Games Party Bus 1H Open Bar Pub Crawl to 4 to 6 Clubs: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Bogota, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas is more expensive. And not only is Bogota much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America and Bogota 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 Bogota would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bogota 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Cristobal de Las Casas than you might in Bogota.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Expensive? and Is Bogota Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Bogota?
Bogota has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Bogota, 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.