Which place is cheaper, Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Ushuaia? 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 Ushuaia?
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.
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
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 3-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires.
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San Cristobal de Las Casas Prices
Mexico PricesUshuaia Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $112Ushuaia $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in San Cristobal de Las Casas is $112, while the average daily cost in Ushuaia is $0.00. 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 Ushuaia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Cristobal de Las Casas $44Ushuaia -
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Cristobal de Las Casas $88Ushuaia $0.00
Compare Hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas and Ushuaia
Looking for a hotel in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Ushuaia? 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 $31Ushuaia -
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: $103
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers to Cerro Castor: $25
- Tierra del Fuego National park taxi Transfer: $299
- Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour & Transfers: $77
- Escondido and Fagnano Lakes with transfer: $147
- Antarctic Experience W/Snowmobile Ride & Transfer: $294
- Airport Transfer: $10
- Ushuaia to Ushuaia Airport (USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Ushuaia in 4 days: Unmissable excursions and transfers included: $270
- Ushuaia city to Ushuaia Airport(USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Ushuaia Guided Visit to the National Park with Transfer: $140
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia city - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into San Cristobal de Las Casas or Ushuaia?
Prices for flights to both Ushuaia 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 $39Ushuaia -
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ushuaia Martial Sunset Experience with Hike and Dinner: $90
- Martial Glacier Night Hike with Dinner & Wine: $100
- Ushuaia - Secrets of Tierra del Fuego - History + Quad + Dinner: $140
- Sunset Emerald Lagoon Hiking with Mountain Dinner: $170
- Beaver Sighting with Dinner off Lake Fagnano: $185
- Tierra del Fuego National Park PM - with Dinner included: $210
- Discovering Lakes Escondido and Fagnano with sunset dinner: $210
- Snow and Fire with Dinner in Firepit, Sledge Ride and Snowmobile: $234
- Ushuaia-Premier Pass (Motorcycle + Snowmobile + Skiing + Tubes + Snowshoes + Quad + Lunch + Pizza): $290
- Fire and Snow Night Tour with Dinner: $307
- Snow Adventure with Dinner & Transfers: $315
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Cristobal de Las Casas $14Ushuaia -
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 to the Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints and Chiapa de Corzo: $49
- Agua Azul & Misol-Ha Day Tour ending in Palenque: $68
- Bike Tour Chiapas Indigenous Peoples: $62
- Blue Water Misol-ha and Palenque Tour from San Cristobal.: $79
- Canyoning El Chorreadero Cave- Adventure Chiapas: $164
- Combo 3 tours. Magical and Ancestral Chiapas: $127
- Food Walking Tour San Cristobal de las Casas: $75
- From San Cristobal Tour to Agua Azul, Misol Ha and Palenque: $90
- 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
- Palenque Archaelogical Site, Agua Azul and Misolha Waterfalls Combo Tour: $105
- Private Tour in San Cristobal de las Casas: $54
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- 2-day tour:Tierra del Fuego NP + Beagle Channel Navigation + Fagnano & Escondido: $292
- 4×4 Off Road Tour to Escondido and Khami Lakes: $200
- 4WD Adventure at Fagnano Lake from Ushuaia: $239
- 4WD Off-Road Lakes Adventure in Tierra del Fuego: $173
- 4x4 Adventure - Lakes Off Road with Roast: $160
- 4x4 Lake Fagnano Adventure from Ushuaia: $229
- 5-Hour National Park + City tour - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $245
- 5.5-Hour Nat Park w/ Hiking *Shore Excursion* USHUAIA (Shared tour for cruises): $150
- 5.5-Hour National park w/ hiking Shore excursion - USHUAIA (Private Tour): $290
- 7-Hour Lakes Escondido & Fagnano - USHUAIA (Shared tour): $105
- Adventure through Lagos 4X4 in Ushuaia: $198
- Albino's Eye Glacier Full-Day Trekking Tour from Ushuaia: $266
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Cristobal de Las Casas $29Ushuaia -
Sample the Local Flavors in Ushuaia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Ushuaia:
- City tour and Wine tasting: $125
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Ushuaia, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America and Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia.
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 Ushuaia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Ushuaia?
San Cristobal de Las Casas has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Ushuaia. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Ushuaia, 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.