Which place is cheaper, Kailua-Kona 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 Kailua-Kona?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Kailua-Kona? 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 Kailua-Kona?
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.
Kailua-Kona
Kailua Kona, or Kona, as it is commonly referred, is the largest city on the western side of the Big Island of Hawaii. It's a popular destination for sport fishing, snorkeling, and its beautiful sunsets. Kona is protected by the mountains so it receives very little rain annually and has about 300 days of sunshine every year. The closest airport is Kona International Airport at Keahole, which receives flights from the mainland United States, Canada, as well as Honolulu and other islands. Once in town, you can walk around Kona, but if you hope to explore anywhere else on the Big Island you will need a car. To take full advantage of your Hawaiian vacation it really is recommended that you rent a car for at least a few days while you're on the island.
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 Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $101Kailua-Kona $231
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $101, while the average daily cost in Kailua-Kona is $231. 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 Kailua-Kona in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $47Kailua-Kona $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $94Kailua-Kona $282
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Kailua-Kona
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Kailua-Kona? 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 Kailua-Kona Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $32Kailua-Kona $45
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Rental Car for One Day$35
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Kailua-Kona?
Prices for flights to both Kailua-Kona 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 $23Kailua-Kona $58
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:
- City Tour with Dinner Pizza and Wine: $71
Typical Food Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Buffet Breakfast for Two$53
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14Kailua-Kona $40
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
- Tour of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan: $19
- Tour to Grutas de Rancho Nuevo and El Arcotete Ecotourism Park: $27
- Rancho Nuevo Caves and Arcotete Ecotourism Center: $27
- Montebello Lakes and Chiflon Waterfalls Tour: $28
- Tour to San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan (Indigenous Peoples): $30
- Chamula and Zinacantan Indigenous Villages Tour: $30
- Tour to the Chiflón Waterfalls and Montebello Lagoons: $33
- Tour Sumidero Canyon and Magic Town of Chiapa de Corzo: $35
- Sumidero Canyon Tour: $36
- Tour to the Viewpoints, Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo: $37
- Zinacantán and San Juan Chamula Tours Departing in San Cristóbal de las Casas: $38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kailua-Kona
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kailua-Kona are as follows:
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Diving with Manta Rays for Two$162
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Body Board Rental (1 Day)$12
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1 Day Kayak Rental$47
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2 Tank Morning Scuba Dive$115
Tours and Activities in Kailua-Kona
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kailua-Kona are as follows:
- From Kona-Volcanoes & waterfall tour in a small group: $295
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $30Kailua-Kona $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Kailua-Kona, we can see that Kailua-Kona 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 Kailua-Kona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kailua-Kona 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 Kailua-Kona Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Kailua-Kona?
San Cristobal de Las Casas has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Kailua-Kona. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Kailua-Kona, 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.