Which place is cheaper, Cali 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 Cali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cali? 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 Cali?
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.
Cali
Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.
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, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia.
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San Cristobal de Las Casas Prices
Mexico PricesCali Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $108Cali $36
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $108, while the average daily cost in Cali is $36. 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 Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $43Cali $7.10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $86Cali $14
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Cali
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cali? 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 Cali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $30Cali $6.64
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: $98
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Airport Private- Hotels North: $36
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport: $19
- Cali to or from Coffee Region Private Transfer: $136
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by car: $131
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $174
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minibus: $179
- Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali 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 $37Cali $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour: $23
- Street Food Tour Cali Authentic Flavors and Street Art: $29
- Food tour in Cali with exotic fruits, breads and drinks: $34
- Traditional Colombian Cooking Class in Cali: $71
- Food Tour San Antonio: $90
- Discover Pacific Flavors Cali Cooking Class and Market Tour: $177
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $13Cali $13
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: $49
- Agua Azul & Misol-Ha Day Tour ending in Palenque: $68
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
- Canyoning El Chorreadero Cave- Adventure Chiapas: $157
- Combo 3 tours. Magical and Ancestral Chiapas: $127
- Food Walking Tour San Cristobal de las Casas: $72
- From San Cristobal City Walking Tour: $38
- 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
- Guided Tour at San Cristobal from Ocosingo to Tonina with Snacks: $109
- Magic Private Christmas Tour in San Cristobal: $225
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- A day to enjoy nature and have an adventure in the Jordan river: $65
- Afro Tour The Colors of Cali: $57
- Buga, Hacienda Piedechinche and Cane Museum Tour from Cali: $250
- Cali ATV tours - Take your adrenaline to the maximum on the road: $239
- Cali City Tour: $29
- Cali City Tour: $224
- Cali City Tour Safe, Comfortable and Authentic Culture: $105
- Cali Cloud Forest Birdwatching & Nature Tour at KM18: $149
- Cali Day Tour to San Cipriano. Rivers, witches and waterfalls: $140
- Cali Food Market Tour Galería Alameda with Exotic Tastings: $29
- Cali River Waterfall Tour (4 hours): $64
- Cali Salsa Tour: Learn the history, dance and play instruments: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $27Cali $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Cali
Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Street Salsa and Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $35
- Salsa Friday in Calle del Sabor + Bar Crawl in Cali: $40
- Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Cali, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America and Cali 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 Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Cali.
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 Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cali?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Cali, 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.