Which place is cheaper, Iquique 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 Iquique?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Iquique? 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 Iquique?
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.
Iquique
Located in a golden crescent of coastline, the beautiful beach city with an ocean that's several shades of blue and a historic centre that offers the perfect balance of culture and relaxation is counted among Chile's premier beach resorts. The city is home to the duty free zone called "Zofri" and a growing number of high rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, Iquique and its chaotic duty-free shopping zone (zona franca) have become the perfect summer holiday destination for Chilean families.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $101Iquique $96
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $101, while the average daily cost in Iquique is $96. 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 Iquique in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $47Iquique $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $94Iquique $86
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Iquique
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Iquique? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $32Iquique $23
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: $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Iquique
Also for Iquique, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sandboard activity in Iquique with transfer: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Iquique?
Prices for flights to both Iquique 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 $23Iquique $34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14Iquique $27
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 on Motorcycle to a Hidden Waterfall! : $119
- Agua Azul, Misol Hà Waterfalls and Palenque Ruins Tour: $48
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
- Chamula and Zinacantan Indigenous Villages Tour: $30
- Food Walking Tour in San Cristobal : $70
- 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: $80
- Full Day Tour of Montebello Lakes and El Chiflon Waterfall: $45
- Full Day Tour to Palenque Archaeological Zone with Waterfalls: $109
- Full-Day Sumidero Canyon Tour with Boat Cruise from San Cristóbal de las Casas: $84
- Montebello Lakes and Chiflon Waterfalls Tour: $28
- Montebello Lakes and Waterfalls Tour from San Cristobal: $51
Tours and Activities in Iquique
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Iquique.
- City Tour in Iquique: $89
- City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $50
- Guided City Tour with Boat Trip to Esmeralda Buoy: $60
- Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $145
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $30Iquique $20
When comparing the travel costs between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Iquique, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas 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. Even though San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America and Iquique is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Iquique Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Iquique?
Iquique has a larger population, and is about 76% larger than the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Iquique, 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.