Which place is cheaper, Cartagena 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 Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cartagena? 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 Cartagena?
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.
Cartagena
The capital of the Bolivar Department of Colombia, Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in the country. It sits on Colombia's northern coast by the Caribbean Sea. It's a port city with a population of almost 900,000, making it the fifth largest city in Colombia. The city has a rich history and was the first Spanish colony on the American continent. It was also one of the first sanctuaries for freed African slaves in the Americas.
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 Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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San Cristobal de Las Casas Prices
Mexico PricesCartagena Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $112Cartagena $65
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $112, while the average daily cost in Cartagena 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 Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $44Cartagena $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $88Cartagena $64
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cartagena? 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 Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $31Cartagena $8.86
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Walking Tour with Transfers - Gabriel García Márquez & Cartagena Walled City: $110
- Transportation / Transfers: $27
- Transfer service in Cartagena: $53
- Transfer from your Hotel, Airbnb, home to the Airport: $24
- Transfer from Hotels to Rafael Nuñez Cartagena Airport: $23
- Transfer from Airport to Hotels in Cartagena Manzanillo and Barú: $62
- Transfer by speedboat (1 way) Cartagena Islas del Rosario: $50
- Transfer Private Airport Hotel in Cartagena: $96
- Transfer Cartagena: $53
- The best private Transfer from/to Cartagena airport. ONE WAY: $27
- Service private transfers Airport/Hotel and vice versa in Cartagena: $12
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Cartagena Airport (CTG): $22
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena 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 $39Cartagena $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- PROFESSIONAL STREET FOOD TOUR With AUTHENTIC TASTINGS: $39
- FLAVORS OF CARTAGENA STREET FOOD TOUR WITH MOUTHWATERING TASTINGS: $39
- FLAVORS OF CARTAGENA STREET FOOD TOUR with MOUTHWATERING TASTINGS: $39
- Cartagena Bites & Stories: Local Street Food Tour: $40
- Food Tour History °Cafe Cartagena Tasting: $40
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $42
- Cooking Class In A Real Restaurant At Old City: $43
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $52
- Sunset and Bright Plankton with Dinner at Playa Tranquila Baru: $53
- Street Food Tour with a local Foodie in Cartagena: $55
- Cartagena Cooking Class with Local Chef (Small Group Experience): $59
- Cartagena Street Food Tour: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14Cartagena $25
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:
- Rancho Nuevo Caves and Arcotete Ecotourism Center: $23
- San Cristóbal Walking Tour: Immersion in its Traditions: $23
- Tour to San Juan Chamula & Zinacantan Indian communities: $24
- Tour of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan: $26
- Adventure to the Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints and Chiapa de Corzo: $49
- Private Tour in San Cristobal de las Casas: $54
- Tour to the Viewpoints, Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo: $57
- Tour to the Chiflón Waterfalls and Montebello Lagoons: $57
- Full Day Tour of Montebello Lakes and El Chiflon Waterfall: $60
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
- San Cristobal Food Experience: Local Flavors, Stories and Culture: $66
- Agua Azul & Misol-Ha Day Tour ending in Palenque: $68
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour.: $140
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $32
- 17. Transportation for private CITY TOURS CARTAGENA: $135
- 2 Hours Cartagena Sunset Bay Cruise with Drinks: $39
- 2 hrs Tour in Cartagena Bay with Sunset View: $35
- 2-Hour Cartagena Bay Tour: $27
- 2-Hour Color and Art Tour in Getsemani: $65
- 2-Hour Private Tour of Bazurto Market: $70
- 2-Hour Tour of Getsemani Color and Art: $80
- 3 Private Islands Experience in Cartagena: $120
- 4 Destinations VIP Tour of Rosario Islands with Snorkeling and Lunch: $105
- 4 Hour Volcan de Lodo Private Tour: $88
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $29Cartagena $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl-Last Call For Alcohol-Cartagena Night Tour (Bar/Club): $16
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $26
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $28
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $28
- Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $40
- Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena: $45
- Ultimate Party Combo Cartagena Sunset Boat Party & Pub Crawl: $57
- Pub Crawl: $70
- Wine in the Wild: A Nature-Inspired Wine Tasting near Cartagena: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Cartagena, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America and Cartagena 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 Cartagena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cartagena 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 Cartagena.
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 Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Cartagena, 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.