Which place is cheaper, Tijuana or Tokyo?
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 Tokyo or Tijuana?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tokyo or Tijuana? 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: Tokyo or Tijuana?
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan, The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico, and The Best Budget Tours to Mexico.
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Tokyo Prices
Japan PricesTijuana Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTokyo $177Tijuana $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in Tokyo is $177, while the average daily cost in Tijuana 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 Tokyo and Tijuana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTokyo $74Tijuana -
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTokyo $148Tijuana $0.00
Compare Hotels in Tokyo and Tijuana
Looking for a hotel in Tokyo or Tijuana? 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: Tokyo Hotel Prices and Tijuana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tokyo $17Tijuana -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yokohama Port: Private Customizable Tour with Transfer: $352
- Tokyo:TeamLab Private Transfer with Hotel Pickup & Drop-off: $202
- Private Transfers to/from Narita Airport(NRT): $79
- Private Transfer to/from Haneda Airport 7 Seater: $124
- Private Transfer from/to Yokohama Port: $179
- Private Transfer from Haneda/Narita Airport to Hotel: $308
- Private Transfer Between Narita Airport & City: $169
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Yokohama Port: $67
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Hakone or Mt.Fuji: $156
- Private One-Way Transfer to/from Haneda Airport(HND): $42
- Private Customize Day Tour With Hotel Transfer: $210
- Private Airport Transfer in a Luxury SUV with Meet & Greet: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Tokyo or Tijuana?
Prices for flights to both Tijuana and Tokyo 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 dayTokyo $62Tijuana -
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.03
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.03
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Meal at Airport$6.56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hide's Table A Unique Dinner Gathering Every Wednesday Night: $19
- Tokyo : Vintage, Music & Food Tour in Shimokitazawa with a Local: $22
- Shinjuku: 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- Shinjuku 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- Shibuya 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- Guided Tsukiji’s Local Food Tour: $32
- Ueno Private Walking Tour and Night Food Tour: $38
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Japanese Sushi Cooking Class: $48
- Weekend Japanese Cooking Demonstration with a Tokyo Mom, Toshiko: $49
- Traditional Matcha Making Cooking Class & Tea Ceremony in Tokyo: $50
- Tokyo Shinjuku Night Food Tour: $51
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tokyo $66Tijuana -
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- "Enjoy Tokyo Tour" Harajuku Meiji-jingu & Delicious Sake Tasting: $64
- "Ginza → Tsukishima" Walking and Japanese Style Fun Dining Tour: $160
- (Private tour)ShinjukuUnfiltered Secret bar restaurant Tour: $256
- 1 Day Private Charter Tokyo Tour (Green Number Plates): $30
- 1 Day Tour Explore Nikko’s World Heritage and National Park: $188
- 1 Day Tour to Mt. Fuji and Hakone from Tokyo: $189
- 1 Day Tour to Oshino Hakkai Ole Hot Spring in Mount Fuji: $77
- 1-Day Mt Fuji and Hakone Sightseeing trip from Tokyo: $338
- 1-Day Mt.Fuji Hiking Tour(Subashiri 5th to 7th) from Tokyo: $101
- 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour: $124
- 100% PRIVATE Anime, Manga, Game & Pop Culture Tour in Akihabara: $99
- 10:30 local gathering and rafting tour half day (3 hours): $38
Tours and Activities in Tijuana
For Tijuana, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- San Diego: Tijuana Culture & Culinary Tour: $500
- Walking Tour with a local guide: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTokyo $32Tijuana -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$3.77
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Nightlife Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Tokyo Sake Terroir Journey – Guided by Sake Brewery Professional: $90
- Shibuya Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local Foods-: $102
- Mt. Fuji & Hakushu Distillery Whisky Museum Bus Tour from Tokyo: $102
- Shinjuku Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local foods-: $103
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $109
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo: $122
- Saitama Seiun Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting: $128
- Chiba Nabedana Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting: $128
- Sake Brewery and Spiritual Nature Tour in Okutama Tokyo: $131
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tokyo and Tijuana, we can see that Tokyo is more expensive. And not only is Tijuana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tokyo is in Asia and Tijuana 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 Tijuana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tijuana 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo than you might in Tijuana.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tokyo Expensive? and Is Tijuana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tokyo or Tijuana?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Tijuana. When comparing the sizes of Tokyo and Tijuana, 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.