Which place is cheaper, Mazatlan 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 Mazatlan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Mazatlan? 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 Mazatlan?
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.
Mazatlan
Mazatlan is located on the Pacific coast in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city has a population of almost 500,000, making it the second largest city in the state. It is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and resort hotels. Most people head to Mazatlan specifically for its beaches, but the city itself is somewhat large and diverse with many different cultures and ethnicities represented. Many foreigners come here not only to vacation, but also to retire. You'll meet people from all over Europe, as well as Canada and the United States.
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 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $101Mazatlan $79
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $101, while the average daily cost in Mazatlan is $79. 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 Mazatlan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $47Mazatlan $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $94Mazatlan $66
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Mazatlan
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Mazatlan? 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 Mazatlan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $32Mazatlan $21
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: $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mazatlan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mazatlan:
- Round transfer airport to hotel in Mazatlán: $51
- Private roundtrip airport to hotel transfer in Mazatlan: $268
- Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $119
- Mazatlan Intl Airport (MZT): Private Transfer to Mazatlan: $295
- Mazatlan Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Mazatlan hotels: $235
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Mazatlan?
Prices for flights to both Mazatlan 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 $23Mazatlan $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mazatlan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mazatlan.
- Mercado walking food tour: $78
- Mazatlan routes of taste food tour: $86
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Mazatlan: $86
- Tacos, Beer and Mezcal Food Tour in Mazatlan: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14Mazatlan $9.59
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:
- Chamula and Zinacantan Indigenous Villages Tour: $19
- Tour of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan: $20
- Rancho Nuevo Caves and Arcotete Ecotourism Center: $27
- Montebello Lakes and Chiflon Waterfalls Tour: $28
- Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo Combo Tour: $34
- Tour to the Chiflón Waterfalls and Montebello Lagoons: $34
- Tour Sumidero Canyon and Magic Town of Chiapa de Corzo: $37
- Sumidero Canyon Tour: $37
- Tour to the Viewpoints, Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo: $38
- Full Day Tour of Montebello Lakes and El Chiflon Waterfall: $45
- Tour to San Juan Chamula & Zinacantan Indian communities: $46
- Tour to Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo and Viewpoints: $48
Tours and Activities in Mazatlan
Here are a few actual costs in Mazatlan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Barrio Bites tour: $78
- Beach Activities and All Inclusive Tour: $58
- Beach Day Tour with Horseback Ride Water Sports and City Tour: $79
- BeachBlast ATV's & City Tour: $99
- Bird Watching Mazatlán - Birding Tour: $115
- City Tour with Tequila Tasting & Beach Hotel Day Pass Included : $49
- From Zipline & ATV Adventure with Tequila Tasting: $216
- Half-Day Tour to Tequila Factory and Villages from Mazatlan: $75
- Half-Day Ziplining Experience from Mazatlán: $110
- Jungle and beach ATV tour + lunch + tequila tasting: $120
- Mazatlán: Beach & Jungle ATV Tour w/ Lunch & Tequila Tasting: $130
- Mazatlán: Tequila Factory & Country Sightseeing: $106
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $30Mazatlan $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Mazatlan, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas is more expensive. And not only is Mazatlan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mazatlan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mazatlan 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Cristobal de Las Casas than you might in Mazatlan.
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 Mazatlan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Mazatlan?
Mazatlan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Mazatlan, 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.