Which place is cheaper, Castro or Tulum?
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 Tulum or Castro?
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 Castro 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 Castro?
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.
Castro
The capital of Chiloe, modern and dynamic, has succeeded in keeping its authenticity even though it now has many gigantic supermarkets, hotels and other touristic infrastructures. It is located on the island's eastern coast, halfway between Ancud in the north and Quellon in the south, and is a convenient base for exploring the stunning sites in the region of Chiloe Island. The tourist information is located on the town square in front of the church.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesCastro Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $144Castro $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $144, while the average daily cost in Castro is $118. 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 Castro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $59Castro $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $118Castro $76
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Castro
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or Castro? 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 Castro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $28Castro $21
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:
- Airport Transfer One Way - Cancun / Tulum - Private or Luxury: $118
- Departure Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan - Minibus: $155
- Economy Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport – Safe: $151
- Luxury SUV Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport: $283
- Luxury Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $250
- Luxury one way transfer to Tulum from Tulum airport: $220
- One Way Private Transfer Tulum Zone - Cancun Int Airport: $170
- One Way Private Tulum Transfers to or from Cancun Airport: $180
- Private Luxury SUV Transfers from Tulum Airport: $206
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Private One Way Transfer To or From Tulum Airport: $180
- Private Roundtrip Transfer from Tulum Airport to Tulum Hotels: $270
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:
- Castro Airport Private Transfer in Chiloe: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Castro?
Prices for flights to both Castro 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 $58Castro $64
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Salsa Class,Mezcalita Workshop & Mexican Dinner: $89
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $95
- Mexican Cooking Class with Tacos, Ceviche and Margaritas in Tulum: $103
- Mexican Cooking class experience in Tulum: $142
- Temazcal Mayan Ritual Tour and Cenote Swim with Yucatecan Dinner: $149
- Private Authentic Mayan Cooking Class with Tulum Hotel Transfers: $280
- Private Mayan Food Cooking Class, Cenote and Coba Ruins: $289
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more): $299
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $31Castro $21
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Ruins in Tulum Walking Tour with Audioguide (no ticket): $7.70
- Coba Ruins Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $9.99
- Tulum Mayan Ruins GPS Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Return Home: $11
- Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of Tulum: $15
- Cenotes Casa Tortuga Admission Ticket: $15
- Tickets to 4 cenotes turtle house 2 caverns and 2 outdoors: $16
- Archeological Guided Walking Tour in Tulum: $20
- Yaxmuul Cenote Park: Guided Tour with Mayan Ceremony: $23
- ATV Cenote and Ziplines Adventure in Tulum from Riviera Maya: $25
- ATV Tour from Tulum or Riviera with Ziplines and Cenote Swim Day: $25
- Adrenaline ATV Cenote and Zip Lines Experience at Tulum: $25
Tours and Activities in Castro
Here are a few actual costs in Castro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe: $96
- Lemuy Island Heritage & Nature Tour: $114
- Coastal Nature Adventure in Chiloe: $118
- Penguins in Chiloé and Fort San Antonio Day Tour: $120
- Chiloé: UNESCO Wooden Churches Full-Day Tour: $171
- Lemuy Island Tour from Castro: $178
- Dalcahue and Quinchao Island Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $209
- Dock of Souls Trekking Tour in Chiloe: $268
- Lemuy Island in Chiloe Full Day Private Tour: $284
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $25Castro $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Castro, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Castro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Castro 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 Castro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Castro 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 Castro.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Castro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Castro?
Castro has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Castro, 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.