Which place is cheaper, San Fernando 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 San Fernando?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or San Fernando? 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 San Fernando?
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.
San Fernando
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $101San Fernando $153
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $101, while the average daily cost in San Fernando is $153. 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 San Fernando in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $47San Fernando $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $94San Fernando $148
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and San Fernando
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or San Fernando? 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 $32San Fernando $50
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: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or San Fernando?
Prices for flights to both San Fernando 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 $23San Fernando $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:
- Mexican cooking classes with Toñita: $12
- City Tour with Dinner Pizza and Wine: $71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14San Fernando $28
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:
- 2 Days Tour Sumidero Canyon+Montebello lakes & Chiflon waterfalls: $211
- 2 Days tour Sumidero Canyon & Chiapa de Corzo+Indian communities : $171
- Adventure on Motorcycle to a Hidden Waterfall! : $119
- Adventure through the Arcotete, Mamut and Rancho Nuevo Caves: $59
- Agua Azul, Misol Hà Waterfalls and Palenque Ruins Tour: $48
- Bicycle rental - tour included: $9.00
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
- Chamula and Zinacantan Indigenous Villages Tour: $30
- Food Walking Tour in San Cristobal : $71
- From San Cristóbal Tour to Agua Azul, Misol Ha and Palenque with Guide 1 day: $65
- Full Day Tour in Lagos de Montebello and El Chiflón: $79
- Full Day Tour of Montebello Lakes and El Chiflon Waterfall: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $30San Fernando $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and San Fernando, we can see that San Fernando 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 San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands, 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando 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 San Fernando Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or San Fernando?
San Cristobal de Las Casas has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and San Fernando, 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.