Should you visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Guadalajara?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Guadalajara? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.
Which city is cheaper, Guadalajara or San Cristobal de Las Casas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $67, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara is $78. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for San Cristobal de Las Casas and Guadalajara in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $62 in San Cristobal de Las Casas For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Guadalajara can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $28, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $56.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
San Cristobal de Las Casas $31
Guadalajara $28
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
San Cristobal de Las Casas
$62
Guadalajara
$56
Food
While meal prices in San Cristobal de Las Casas can vary, the average travelers spends about $16 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in San Cristobal de Las Casas should cost around $6.40 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in San Cristobal de Las Casas is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
On average, meal and food prices in Guadalajara cost around $32 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $13.
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guadalajara
For Guadalajara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Guadalajara Street Food Tour:
$15
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Santa Tere Food Tour:
$46
Local Transportation
To get around in San Cristobal de Las Casas, the average visitor spends $22 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Guadalajara's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $26 per person, per day on transportation in Guadalajara.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
San Cristobal de Las Casas $22
Guadalajara $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara
Also for Guadalajara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared Departure Transfer: Hotels to Guadalajara Airport:
$19
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Guadalajara Airport to Hotels:
$19
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Private transfer: Guadalajara to Guadalajara Airport (GDL):
$622
-
Private Departure Transfer from Guadalajara Center to Guadalajara Airport:
$24
-
Private Airport Transfer: Guadalajara to Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla Airport (GDL):
$26
-
Private Airport Transfer until your Stay in Guadalajara:
$21
-
Mexico Private Transfer from Guadalajara City to Guadalajara (GDL) Airport:
$44
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Guadalajara hotels to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer:
$78
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BEST PRICE Guadalajara transfer Hotel Airport, (in the city only):
$50
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BEST PRICE Guadalajara round-trip transfer Hotel Airport, (in the city only):
$94
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Airport-Chapala/Ajijic Transfer:
$180
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Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels:
$100
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Guadalajara?
Prices for flights to both Guadalajara 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.
Entertainment
In San Cristobal de Las Casas, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $9.57 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Guadalajara can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $19 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
San Cristobal de Las Casas $9.57
Guadalajara $19
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:
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Adventure in Sumidero Canyon & Chiapa de Corzo:
$50
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Agua Azul, Misol Hà Waterfalls and Palenque Ruins Tour:
$47
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Cañon del Sumidero tour from San Cristobal de las Casas:
$38
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Chamula and Zinacantan Indigenous Villages Tour:
$17
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Full Day Tour: Wonders of Agua Azul Cascades and Palenque Ruins:
$45
-
Full-Day Sumidero Canyon Tour with Boat Cruise from San Cristóbal de las Casas:
$88
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Indigenous Villages Cultural Tour: Chamula and Zinacantan from San Cristóbal de las Casas:
$31
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Las Guacamayas and Las Nubes, Montebello Lagoons. 2-Day Tour:
$278
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Magic Christmas Tour in San Cristobal:
$614
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Photo Polaroid Tour in San Cristóbal de las Casas:
$65
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San Cristóbal de las Casas Photo Walking Tour:
$30
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Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo Combo Tour:
$38
Tours and Activities in Guadalajara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Guadalajara.
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"T" Tour Traditional Food, History and Bike:
$5.00
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3 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!:
$75
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6 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!:
$140
-
Bike Tour to the Historic Center:
$27
-
City Tour Guadalajara:
$32
-
City Tour in Electric Carriage:
$25
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Commercial vs Craft Tequila Experience:
$87
-
Craft Tequila Tasting Tour by Mickey Marentes:
$149
-
Day Tour to Tequila on Jose Cuervo Express from Guadalajara:
$215
-
From Lake Chapala and Ajijic Tour:
$79
-
From Tapalpa and Attaco Private Tour:
$296
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Full Day Jose Cuervo Express Diamond VIP Experience:
$160
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting San Cristobal de Las Casas spend on average $20 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Guadalajara, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $12.
Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:
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Traditional Cantinas Pub Crawl:
$29
-
Pub Crawl Guadalajara:
$30
-
Tequila and Distillery Tour from Guadalajara:
$79
-
Full-Day Tour to La Rojeña Distillery by Jose Cuervo Express:
$193
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Tequila and Mundo Cuervo Distillery Tour from Guadalajara:
$513
When comparing the travel costs between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Guadalajara, we can see that Guadalajara is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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