Which place is cheaper, Cabo San Lucas or San Cristobal de Las Casas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Mexico San Cristobal de Las Casas vs. Cabo San Lucas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cabo San Lucas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cabo San Lucas? 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 Cabo San Lucas?
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.
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas ("Cabo") is on the far southern end of the Baja Peninsula. It has countless resorts and activities for visitors. There are world class golf courses, fine dining options, and five star resorts. Prior to the 1980s, Cabo was a quiet fishing village but with the construction of a nearby airport in 1977, the city rapidly grew into one of Mexico's most popular resort vacation spots. Today, Cabo has one of the country's most vibrant nightlife scenes. It also has plenty of water sport activities, and a great beach scene.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $97Cabo San Lucas $134
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $97, while the average daily cost in Cabo San Lucas is $134. 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 Cabo San Lucas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $45Cabo San Lucas $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $90Cabo San Lucas $122
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Cabo San Lucas
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cabo San Lucas? 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 Cabo San Lucas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $31Cabo San Lucas $27
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: $50
- Transfer San Cristobal to Guatemala -Panajachel: $90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer in San José del Cabo HTL-APT(SJD): $105
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer in San José del Cabo APT-HTL(SJD): $91
- Transfer in private minivan from San Jose del Cabo - Los Cabos Airport (SJD): $54
- Transfer in private minivan from Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - San Jose del Cabo: $54
- Transfer in private minivan from Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - Cabo San Lucas: $63
- Transfer in private minivan from Cabo San Lucas - San Jose del Cabo(SJD): $63
- Transfer in Private SUV from Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - Tourist Corridor: $46
- Transfer in Private SUV from Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - San Jose del Cabo: $46
- Transfer in Private SUV from Cabo San Lucas - Los Cabos Airport (SJD): $64
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - Touristic Corridor: $60
- Transfer from Cabo San Lucas Airport CSL to Cabo San Lucas : $33
- Transfer from Airport to San José del Cabo: $320
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cabo San Lucas?
Prices for flights to both Cabo San Lucas 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 $23Cabo San Lucas $49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Cristobal de Las Casas
For San Cristobal de Las Casas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mexican cooking classes with Toñita: $12
- City Tour with Dinner Pizza and Wine: $71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cabo San Lucas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cabo San Lucas.
- Tasting Cabo San Lucas Like a Local Food Tour: $65
- Cabo San Lucas Sunset and Dinner Cruise: $70
- Sea to Table Fisherman's Seafood Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $75
- Authentic Mexican Legacy Cooking Class in Cabo San Lucas: $75
- Eat Like A Local Cabo Food Tour: $78
- Seafood Galore, Los Cabos Food Tour: $80
- Cabo Wave Sunset Dinner Cruise: $84
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tequila & tacos: $85
- Parrillada dinner with a Private Chef in your villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose: $86
- Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise: Fajitas, Lands End and Party: $89
- Cabo Sunset Dinner-Party Cruise: $89
- Catch of the day dinner in your private villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose del Cabo: $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14Cabo San Lucas $41
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:
- Bicycle rental - tour included: $9.00
- Chamula and Zinacantan Indigenous Villages Tour: $18
- Tzotzil charm Unique tour of Zinacantán and San Juan Chamula: $18
- Tour of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan: $19
- City Tour Walk through San Cristobal: $20
- Tour to Grutas de Rancho Nuevo and El Arcotete Ecotourism Park: $26
- Montebello Lakes and Chiflon Waterfalls Tour: $28
- Tour to the Chiflón Waterfalls and Montebello Lagoons: $30
- Rancho Nuevo Caves and Arcotete Ecotourism Center: $30
- Adventure Drops: Chiflón Waterfall and Montebello Lakes Tour: $30
- Adventure to the Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints and Chiapa de Corzo: $32
- Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo Combo Tour: $32
Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas
Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Camel Ride and ATV Combo Adventure in Los Cabos: $145
- Evening Flavors of San Jose, Tacos and Food Tasting Experience: $82
- Glass Bottom Boat Sightseeing Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $23
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $25
- Magical Todos Santos Tour, Camel ranch, Lunch & Tequila: $119
- OffRoad 4X4 UTV Adventure with Lunch & Tequila : $199
- Platinum Whale Watching and Snorkel Tour (Dec 15-Apr 15): $239
- Romantic tour in Cabo San Lucas: $186
- Round Trip to Touristic Corridor : $180
- Traditional Tequila Tasting Experience with Jorge Cuervo: $59
- Your Own Private Luxury Yacht Experience in Cabo, Lunch included: $1.17
- #1 Snorkeling Tour in Catamaran. Open bar & Snacks included: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $29Cabo San Lucas $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cabo San Lucas:
- Cabo Bar Crawl - The BEST Bar and Clubs in Cabo : $55
- Wine Tasting Sunset Cruise Tour in San Jose del Cabo: $190
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Cabo San Lucas, we can see that Cabo San Lucas is more expensive. And not only is San Cristobal de Las Casas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Cristobal de Las Casas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Cristobal de Las Casas 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 Cabo San Lucas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabo San Lucas than you might in San Cristobal de Las Casas.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cabo San Lucas?
San Cristobal de Las Casas is bigger, and its population is about 3 times larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas vs. Cabo San Lucas, 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 and the activities that interest you.
Related Articles for San Cristobal de Las Casas
Related Articles for Cabo San Lucas
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.
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