Which place is cheaper, Fort-de-France or San Cristobal de Las Casas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Fort-de-France?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Fort-de-France? 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 Fort-de-France?
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.
Fort-de-France
As the largest city and capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France serves as the main entryway for visitors traveling to the island. It is a busy city with a significant population, which creates an atmosphere bustling with traffic amidst its historic and cultural sights.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $101Fort-de-France $165
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $101, while the average daily cost in Fort-de-France is $165. 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 Fort-de-France in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $47Fort-de-France $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $94Fort-de-France $170
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Fort-de-France
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Fort-de-France? 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 Fort-de-France Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $32Fort-de-France $17
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France
Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer Fort de France Airport to and from Les Trois Ilets: $103
- Private Transfer from Martinique Airport to Fort de France Port: $71
- Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $71
- Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Fort-de-France?
Prices for flights to both Fort-de-France 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 $23Fort-de-France $63
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 Fort-de-France
For Fort-de-France, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food tour in the rainforest and St Pierre - Pile et Face: $104
- Private Food Tour of Martinique in Fort-de-France: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14Fort-de-France $33
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:
- 2 Days Tour Sumidero Canyon+Montebello lakes & Chiflon waterfalls: $211
- 2 Days tour Sumidero Canyon & Chiapa de Corzo+Indian communities : $171
- Adventure on Motorcycle to a Hidden Waterfall! : $119
- Adventure through the Arcotete, Mamut and Rancho Nuevo Caves: $59
- Agua Azul, Misol Hà Waterfalls and Palenque Ruins Tour: $48
- Bicycle rental - tour included: $9.00
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
- Chamula and Zinacantan Indigenous Villages Tour: $30
- Food Walking Tour in San Cristobal : $71
- From San Cristóbal Tour to Agua Azul, Misol Ha and Palenque with Guide 1 day: $65
- Full Day Tour in Lagos de Montebello and El Chiflón: $79
- Full Day Tour of Montebello Lakes and El Chiflon Waterfall: $45
Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.
- Admission Ticket Balata's Garden: $19
- Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
- Beachcombing in Paradise South Caribbean V.I.P Tour: $295
- Diving and Snorkeling Catamaran Private Tour in Martinique: $262
- Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $64
- Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
- Full Day Private Historic Tour of Rum Production in Martinique: $119
- Full Day Tour of Martinique's Diverse Produce Industries: $107
- Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
- Half Day Private Custom Tour of Martinique: $180
- Half Day Private Tour of Southern Martinique: $165
- Half-Day Nature and Panorama Tour in Martinique: $108
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $30Fort-de-France $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Fort-de-France
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort-de-France:
- Small-Group Tour: Unmissable Martinique with Rum Distillery, Ruins, and More: $75
- North Tour: rainforest, rum distillery, black sand beach etc: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Fort-de-France, we can see that Fort-de-France is more expensive. And not only is San Cristobal de Las Casas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America and Fort-de-France is in Caribbean Islands, 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 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 Fort-de-France would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fort-de-France than you might in San Cristobal de Las Casas.
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 Fort-de-France Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Fort-de-France?
San Cristobal de Las Casas has a larger population, and is about 43% larger than the population of Fort-de-France. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Fort-de-France, 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.