Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or San Cristobal de Las Casas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Machu Picchu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Machu Picchu? 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 Machu Picchu?
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.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.
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 Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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San Cristobal de Las Casas Prices
Mexico PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $105Machu Picchu $124
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $105, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $124. 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 Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $41Machu Picchu $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $82Machu Picchu $90
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Machu Picchu? 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 Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $29Machu Picchu $32
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: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu 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 $36Machu Picchu $36
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:
- IXIMORÍ Authentic Cooking Class in San Cristóbal de las Casas: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $13Machu Picchu $79
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 to the Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints and Chiapa de Corzo: $49
- Agua Azul & Misol-Ha Day Tour ending in Palenque: $68
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
- Canyoning El Chorreadero Cave- Adventure Chiapas: $152
- Food Walking Tour San Cristobal de las Casas: $70
- From San Cristobal Tour to Agua Azul, Misol Ha and Palenque: $90
- Full Day Tour of Montebello Lakes and El Chiflon Waterfall: $60
- Full-Day Sumidero Canyon Tour with Boat Cruise from San Cristóbal de las Casas: $84
- Las Guacamayas and Las Nubes, Montebello Lagoons. 2-Day Tour: $299
- Palenque Archaelogical Site, Agua Azul and Misolha Waterfalls Combo Tour: $105
- Private Tour in San Cristobal de las Casas: $54
- Route of the Mills Mountain Bike Tour: $85
Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu
For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Gardens of Mandor$2.91
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $27Machu Picchu $7.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Machu Picchu, we can see that Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu is in South America, 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 Machu Picchu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu Expensive?.
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.