Which place is cheaper, Belize City or Tulum?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tulum or Belize City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tulum and Belize City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Tulum or Belize City?
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.
This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $122Belize City $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $122, while the average daily cost in Belize City is $88. 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 Tulum and Belize City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $60Belize City $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $120Belize City $98
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Belize City
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or Belize City? 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: Tulum Hotel Prices and Belize City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $28Belize City $5.82
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Xcaret to Tulum - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $76
- Transfer from Tulum airport to Bacalar: $233
- Horseback Riding in the Jungle w/ Transfers and Lunch: $100
- Tulum to Xcaret - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $76
- Tulum to Playa del Carmen - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $82
- Tulum to Mahahual - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $160
- Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $182
- Tulum to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Private Departure Transfer: $70
- Tulum to Bacalar - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $153
- Roundtrip Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $269
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $254
- Round-trip Private Transfer Cancun Airport to TULUM - up to 9 pax: $299
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Belize city water taxi terminal to Airport transfer: $30
- We do transfers from airport to any where in Belize.: $49
- Transfer Belize city to bacalar: $50
- Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $60
- Belize: Belize City to/from San Ignacio Shuttle Transfer: $68
- Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Shuttle Transfer: $113
- Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Belize City?
Prices for flights to both Belize City and Tulum 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 dayTulum $34Belize City $27
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$3.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $86
- Vegan Walking Food Tour with Tasting: $87
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch and Mezcal Tasting in a Local Home in Tulum: $87
- Mayan Night Guided Tour, Cenote Swim and Mayan Dinner: $209
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more) : $299
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City
For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $32Belize City $29
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Private Tour - The best Cenotes in Yucatan - Suytun & Oxman: $195
- Romantic tour in Tulum: $169
- 4-Hour Cenotes Tour with Hotel Pickup in Riviera Maya: $109
- 5 Hours Mayan Snorkeling Experience in Tulum: $90
- 5x1 Deluxe Tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote Transportation from Tulum: $88
- 5x1: Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Mayan Village Full Day Tour: $99
- ATV Cenote and Zipline Adventure from Tulum: $119
- ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines and Cenote Swim: $137
- ATV Jungle Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote & Tulum Pickup: $75
- ATV Tour with Ziplines and Cenote Swim Experience in Quintana Roo: $59
- Adventure Tulum: $105
- Adventure in the Mayan Jungle with ATV and Zip Line in Tulum: $90
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Belize City Tour: $40
- Belizean Bits & Bites Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize: $50
- Hassle free Cave Tubing Adventure from Belize City with Lunch: $55
- Charlie's Cave Tubing Tour for cruisers (lunch included): $65
- Second largest Barrier Reef Adventure Snorkeling: $70
- Guided Cave Kayaking Tour with Pickup: $77
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and River Wallace and Manatee Watch Tour: $85
- Cave Tubing Experience from Belize City: $85
- Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
- Half-Day Altun Ha Temple & Belize City Tour: $86
- Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break : $90
- Howler Monkey Sanctuary Tour from Belize City: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $25Belize City $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Tulum
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tulum:
- 30 Minutes Brewery Tour in Tulum: $39
- Wine Tasting at Pan y Vino Tulum: $58
- Beer Tasting and Brewery Tour: $69
Sample the Local Flavors in Belize City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Belize City:
- Belize: City Highlights Tour with Rum Distillery Visit: $49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Belize City, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Belize City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Belize City is in Central 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 Belize City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belize City 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 Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum than you might in Belize City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Belize City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Belize City?
Belize City has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Belize City, 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.
When is the best time to visit Tulum or Belize City?
Tulum has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Belize City experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Tulum or Belize City in the Summer?
Both Belize City and Tulum during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Tulum for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Belize City year-round.
In July, Tulum is generally around the same temperature as Belize City. Daily temperatures in Tulum average around 28°C (83°F), and Belize City fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Belize City, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tulum. In the summer, Tulum often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Belize City. Tulum gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belize City receives 226 hours of full sun.
Belize City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tulum. Tulum usually gets less rain in July than Belize City. Tulum gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTulum 28°C (83°F)Belize City 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Tulum or Belize City in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tulum and Belize City. Many visitors come to Tulum in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Belize City attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tulum is around the same temperature as Belize City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tulum averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Belize City fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
In Tulum, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tulum usually receives more sunshine than Belize City during autumn. Tulum gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Belize City receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Belize City receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Tulum gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Tulum usually receives less rain than Belize City. Tulum gets 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. November to April in Tulum is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Tulum. The hurricane season in Tulum is June to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTulum 27°C (81°F)Belize City 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Tulum or Belize City in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Tulum as well as Belize City. Most visitors come to Tulum for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Belize City throughout the year.
In the winter, Tulum is around the same temperature as Belize City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tulum in January average around 23°C (74°F), and Belize City averages at about 24°C (74°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tulum this time of the year. In the winter, Tulum often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Belize City. Tulum gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belize City receives 199 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Belize City. Tulum usually gets less rain in January than Belize City. Tulum gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTulum 23°C (74°F)Belize City 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Tulum or Belize City in the Spring?
Both Belize City and Tulum are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Tulum because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Belize City because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Tulum is generally around the same temperature as Belize City. Daily temperatures in Tulum average around 27°C (81°F), and Belize City fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
It's quite sunny in Belize City. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tulum. Tulum usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Belize City during spring. Tulum gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Belize City receives 256 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Tulum usually receives less rain than Belize City. Tulum gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Tulum is November to April. The rainy season in Tulum is June to October. June to October is the hurricane season in Tulum.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTulum 27°C (81°F)Belize City 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Belize City and Tulum
| Tulum | Belize City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (78°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
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.