Which place is cheaper, Isla Mujeres or San Cristobal de Las Casas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Mexico San Cristobal de Las Casas vs. Isla Mujeres for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Isla Mujeres?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Isla Mujeres? 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 Isla Mujeres?
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.
Isla Mujeres
About eight miles from the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Mujeres is an island in the Mexican Caribbean Sea. The town, of the same name, has a population of about 13,000. Tourism has grown in the area since the 1970s and today it is a significant part of the island's economy. As such, there are plenty of amenities that cater specifically to visitors. The island's proximity to Cuba make it a common transit point for Cubans in route to the United States.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $98Isla Mujeres $144
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $98, while the average daily cost in Isla Mujeres is $144. 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 Isla Mujeres in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $45Isla Mujeres $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $90Isla Mujeres $152
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Isla Mujeres
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Isla Mujeres? 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 Isla Mujeres Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $31Isla Mujeres $34
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: $45
- Transfer San Cristobal to Guatemala -Panajachel: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Isla Mujeres?
Prices for flights to both Isla Mujeres 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 $23Isla Mujeres $45
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14Isla Mujeres $20
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:
- Bicycle rental - tour included: $9.00
- Chamula and Zinacantan Indigenous Villages Tour: $18
- Tzotzil charm Unique tour of Zinacantán and San Juan Chamula: $18
- Tour to San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan (Indigenous Peoples): $20
- City Tour Walk through San Cristobal: $20
- Tour of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan: $25
- Tour to Grutas de Rancho Nuevo and El Arcotete Ecotourism Park: $27
- Montebello Lakes and Chiflon Waterfalls Tour: $28
- Rancho Nuevo Caves and Arcotete Ecotourism Center: $30
- Adventure Drops: Chiflón Waterfall and Montebello Lakes Tour: $31
- Adventure to the Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints and Chiapa de Corzo: $32
- Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo Combo Tour: $33
Tours and Activities in Isla Mujeres
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla Mujeres are as follows:
- Romantic tour in Isla Mujeres: $126
- Scuba Diving Adventure WITHOUT CERTIFICATION! Try it today!: $169
- “ Tour in Isla Mujeres “ Transparent boat ride: $40
- 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience : $84
- Exciting Swim with Whale Sharks Private VIP Tour : $1,829
- Half Day Whale Shark and Manta Ray Snorkel Adventure in Isla Mujeres with Lunch: $185
- Half Day to Isla Mujeres (LITE TOUR IM): $99
- Half-Day Guided Tour to Parque Nacional Isla Contoy: $129
- Isla Contoy Private Day Tour, from Cancun: $1,685
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Experience: $47
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: $90
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour : $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $29Isla Mujeres $25
Sample the Local Flavors in Isla Mujeres
Also in Isla Mujeres, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Isla Mujeres Golf Cart Bar Crawl : $141
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Isla Mujeres, we can see that Isla Mujeres is more expensive. And not only is San Cristobal de Las Casas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Isla Mujeres would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Isla Mujeres than you might in San Cristobal de Las Casas.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Isla Mujeres?
San Cristobal de Las Casas is bigger, and its population is about 10.3 times larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas vs. Isla Mujeres, 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 and the activities that interest you.
Related Articles for San Cristobal de Las Casas
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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.
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