A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Fernando vs. Guadalajara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Fernando or Guadalajara?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or Guadalajara, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: San Fernando or Guadalajara?

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.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or San Fernando?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $153, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara 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 Fernando and Guadalajara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Fernando $74
    Guadalajara $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Fernando $148
    Guadalajara $84
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Guadalajara

Looking for a hotel in San Fernando or Guadalajara? 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.

Hotels in San Fernando


Hotels in Guadalajara


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: Guadalajara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Fernando $50
    Guadalajara $39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara

Also for Guadalajara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private transfer from Guadalajara to Sayulita: $240
  • Airport-Chapala/Ajijic Transfer: $229
  • Private Transfer from Guadalajara to Morelia: $226
  • Private Transfer from Guadalajara to Tequila: $189
  • Guadalajara Airport (GDL): Transfer to Guadalajara hotels: $174
  • Airport to City Transfer: $151
  • Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels: $119
  • Tequila to Guadalajara - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
  • Guadalajara to Tequila - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
  • Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $98
  • Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
  • Private Transfer from Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Manzanillo Port: $76

Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Guadalajara?

Prices for flights to both Guadalajara and San Fernando 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 day
    San Fernando $48
    Guadalajara $48

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guadalajara

For Guadalajara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Authentic Mexican Cooking & Tequila tasting experience-Casa Humo: $111
  • Mexican Cooking Classes and Market Visit in Guadalajara: $149
  • VIP Tequila Night Tour with Dinner and Tasting: $189

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Fernando $28
    Guadalajara $28

Tours and Activities in Guadalajara

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Guadalajara.

  • 10-Day Audio Guide Tour of Guadalajara: $12
  • 3 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!: $77
  • 3-Hour Guadalajara Bike and Food Guided Tour: $65
  • 6 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!: $144
  • Air Adventure Paraglide over Incredible Landscapes: $155
  • Bike Tour in Guadalajara: $54
  • Canopy Experience Panoramic Flight in Zip Lines: $43
  • Chapala Ajijic Area Tour from Guadalajara: $40
  • Chapala and Ajijic Private Tour: $120
  • Charreria heritage tour be a charro for a day: $50
  • City tour in Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque: $94
  • Complete Tour on the Tequila Route from Guadalajara: $58

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Fernando $22
    Guadalajara $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:

  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Guadalajara: $25
  • Cultural tour, city fields and distillery: $32
  • Guadalajara Arquitecture and Brewery Tour: $56
  • Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town: $77
  • Private Adventure to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $173
  • Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery: $173
  • Sip & Savor Tequila Experience Distillery w/ Lunch fr Guadalajara: $180
  • Private Tour La Fortaleza Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery: $209
  • Private Tour to Tequila Ocho Distillery and the Town of Arandas: $209


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Guadalajara, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Guadalajara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands and Guadalajara is in North 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 Guadalajara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Fernando Expensive? and Is Guadalajara Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Guadalajara?

Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando and Guadalajara, 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.

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