Which place is cheaper, Montanita 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 Montanita?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Montanita? 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 Montanita?
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.
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
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 G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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San Cristobal de Las Casas Prices
Mexico PricesMontanita Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $107Montanita $117
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $107, while the average daily cost in Montanita is $117. 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 Montanita in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $42Montanita $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $84Montanita $82
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Montanita
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Montanita? 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 $29Montanita $39
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: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Montanita?
Prices for flights to both Montanita 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 $37Montanita $48
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $13Montanita $31
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 through the Grottos del Arcotete, and Rancho Nuevo: $39
- Adventure to the Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints and Chiapa de Corzo: $42
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $61
- Canyoning El Chorreadero Cave- Adventure Chiapas: $156
- Food Walking Tour San Cristobal de las Casas: $71
- From San Cristobal : Sima Tour of the Cotorras and El Aguacero: $112
- From San Cristobal Tour to Agua Azul, Misol Ha and Palenque: $83
- 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
- Maya Cultural Tour From San Cristobal: Chamula, Zinacantan: $45
- Montebello Lakes and Chiflon Waterfalls Tour: $48
- Palenque Archaelogical Site, Agua Azul and Misolha Waterfalls Combo Tour: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $27Montanita $7.86
When comparing the travel costs between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Montanita, we can see that Montanita 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 Montanita 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 Montanita 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.