Which place is cheaper, Roatan 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 Roatan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Roatan? 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 Roatan?
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.
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
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 Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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San Cristobal de Las Casas Prices
Mexico PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $105Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $105, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $41Roatan $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $82Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Roatan? 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 $29Roatan $17
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $25
- Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Roatan West Bay Beach Break with Roundtrip Transfer: $65
- Roatan Private Catamaran Shipwreck, Blue Channel and Starfish with Transfer: $79
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $95
- Parasailing, Beach Break, Chocolate Factory with Transfer: $150
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $59
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $80
- Extreme Zipline, City Tour, Chocolate, Rum Factory, Beach Break, Transfer: $105
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $150
- Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $60
- Catch a ride to West Bay & back to Port, Hotel, or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $75
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $36Roatan $15
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Roatan Cooking Class and Cultural Experience: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $13Roatan $25
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:
- Tour to San Juan Chamula & Zinacantan Indian communities: $21
- San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán: cultural tour from San Cristóbal: $22
- Tour of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan: $24
- Adventure to the Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints and Chiapa de Corzo: $49
- Tour to the Viewpoints, Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo: $53
- Tour to the Chiflón Waterfalls and Montebello Lagoons: $53
- Private Tour in San Cristobal de las Casas: $54
- Full Day Tour of Montebello Lakes and El Chiflon Waterfall: $60
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
- Agua Azul & Misol-Ha Day Tour ending in Palenque: $68
- Food Walking Tour San Cristobal de las Casas: $70
- Tour to Agua Azul and Misol Waterfalls and Palenque Archaeological Zone: $82
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- 3-Hours Private Tour in Roatan with Pick Up: $66
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkeling and West Bay Beach Break: $80
- ATV Adventure , Zip Line , Horseback Ride Combo Tour: $175
- ATV Off Road Tour and Cultural Experience in Roatan: $129
- ATV Ride and Animals Park Tour Mahogany Bay and Ports Roatan: $135
- ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $132
- ATVS, Sloths and Monkeys, Beach Break Private Tour: $130
- Adventures of Roatan ATV Pineapple beach break: $159
- Animal Sightings and Walking Tour at Gumbalimba Park with Addons: $115
- Beer and Food Tasting Experience at Roatan Island Brewing Company: $100
- Catamaran Cruise, Open Bar, Food and Snorkeling: $165
- Costumed tours in paradise: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $27Roatan $6.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
- Roatan Coffee and Chocolate Tour with Brewery Stop: $90
- Roatan Horseback Ride, Island Tour and Brewery Tasting: $125
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Roatan, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America and Roatan is in Central 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
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 Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Roatan?
San Cristobal de Las Casas has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Roatan, 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.