Which place is cheaper, San Miguel de Tucuman or San Cristobal de Las Casas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or San Miguel de Tucuman?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or San Miguel de Tucuman? 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 Miguel de Tucuman?
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 Miguel de Tucuman
The capital of the Tucuman Province in Argentina, San Miguel de Tucuman is the largest city in the country's northwest. The city is probably most well known as the sight where the Declaration of Independence from Spain took place on July 9, 1816. The location of this event, a colonial-style house called "Casa Historica" or "Casita de Tucuman", remains an important landmark in the city.
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 Photography Tours in Argentina, and The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $101San Miguel de Tucuman $11
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $101, while the average daily cost in San Miguel de Tucuman is $11. 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 Miguel de Tucuman in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $47San Miguel de Tucuman $4.85
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $94San Miguel de Tucuman $9.70
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and San Miguel de Tucuman
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or San Miguel de Tucuman? 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 San Miguel de Tucuman Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $32San Miguel de Tucuman $3.08
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: $51
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Miguel de Tucuman
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Miguel de Tucuman:
-
Taxi Ride$0.01
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or San Miguel de Tucuman?
Prices for flights to both San Miguel de Tucuman 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
-
Food Meals for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $23San Miguel de Tucuman $4.01
Typical Food Prices in San Miguel de Tucuman
For San Miguel de Tucuman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Sandwich$0.01
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14San Miguel de Tucuman $3.30
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 on Motorcycle to a Hidden Waterfall! : $119
- Agua Azul, Misol Hà Waterfalls and Palenque Ruins Tour: $48
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
- Chamula and Zinacantan Indigenous Villages Tour: $30
- Food Walking Tour in San Cristobal : $70
- 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: $80
- Full Day Tour of Montebello Lakes and El Chiflon Waterfall: $45
- Full Day Tour to Palenque Archaeological Zone with Waterfalls: $109
- Full-Day Sumidero Canyon Tour with Boat Cruise from San Cristóbal de las Casas: $84
- Montebello Lakes and Chiflon Waterfalls Tour: $28
- Montebello Lakes and Waterfalls Tour from San Cristobal: $51
Tours and Activities in San Miguel de Tucuman
For San Miguel de Tucuman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover Tafí del Valle and Quilmes Ruins in a Day Tour: $82
- Entrance ticket to Aerial Park, Zip Line and Palestra: $27
- Rio Hondo Hot Springs Full Day Tour from Tucuman: $82
- Yungas Half-Day Tour from Tucuman: $51
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $30San Miguel de Tucuman $2.07
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and San Miguel de Tucuman, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas is more expensive. And not only is San Miguel de Tucuman much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America and San Miguel de Tucuman 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 Miguel de Tucuman would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Miguel de Tucuman 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 San Miguel de Tucuman.
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 Miguel de Tucuman Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or San Miguel de Tucuman?
San Miguel de Tucuman has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and San Miguel de Tucuman, 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.