Which place is cheaper, Fort-de-France 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 Fort-de-France?
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 Fort-de-France 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 Fort-de-France?
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.
Fort-de-France
As the largest city and capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France serves as the main entryway for visitors traveling to the island. It is a busy city with a significant population, which creates an atmosphere bustling with traffic amidst its historic and cultural sights.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesFort-de-France Prices
Martinique Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $135Fort-de-France $221
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $135, while the average daily cost in Fort-de-France is $221. 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 Fort-de-France in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $55Fort-de-France $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $110Fort-de-France $178
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Fort-de-France
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or Fort-de-France? 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 Fort-de-France Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $26Fort-de-France $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Tulum Airport: One-Way or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $302
- Round-trip Private Transfer Cancun Airport to TULUM Downtown: $275
- Tulum to Cancun Airport Private Departure Transfer with Beer: $275
- Luxury SUV Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport: $263
- Private Transfer Tulum-Bacalar with optional 2h in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: $250
- Luxury Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $250
- Private Transfer Tulum to Mérida with Flexible Stops: $247
- Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $240
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Tulum Hotels to Merida Rejon Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $207
- Tulum Archaeological Zone: Cenote, Lunch & Transfer: $203
- Private Transfer From Tulum to Cancun With a 2 Hour Stop: $201
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France
Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66
- Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France - Arrival Transfer: $66
- Transfer from Fort de France Port to Martinique Airport (FDF): $73
- Private Transfer Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France Port: $73
- Private Transfer from Fort de France Port to Fort de France: $73
- Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $73
- Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France - Round-Trip Transfer: $132
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Fort-de-France?
Prices for flights to both Fort-de-France 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 $54Fort-de-France $114
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.75
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: $86
- Tortilla & Taco Cooking Class – Mexican Cuisine from scratch: $91
- Mexican Cooking Class with Tacos, Ceviche and Margaritas in Tulum: $95
- Mexican Cooking class experience in Tulum: $132
- Temazcal Mayan Ritual, Cenote, Yucatecan Dinner from Tulum: $149
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more): $299
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort-de-France
For Fort-de-France, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food tour in the rainforest and St Pierre - Pile et Face: $104
- Martinique: Food tour to Saint-Pierre and waterfall: $124
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $29Fort-de-France $35
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- 3 Cenotes & Hidden Lagoon Swim Tour with Lunch from Tulum: $139
- 5 Cenotes Half Day Experience Riviera Maya Cliff Jumping: $40
- 5x1 Deluxe Tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote Transportation from Tulum: $114
- ATV Cenote and Zipline Adventure from Tulum: $129
- ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines and Cenote Swim: $156
- ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines and Cenote Swim: $151
- ATV cenote tour Tulum – Mayan Jungle ATV & Cavern Experience: $58
- Adrenaline ATV Cenote and Zip Lines Experience at Tulum: $25
- Adrenaline Tulum Atv tour with ziplines and Cenote adventure: $39
- Adventure at Chichen Itza! Cenote and Valladolid from Tulum City: $98
- Adventure in the Mayan Jungle with ATV and Zip Line in Tulum: $42
- Akumal Bay: Swim with Sea Turtles and Cenote Private Tour: $180
Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.
- Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
- Small train tour of a banana farm in Martinique: $22
- Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
- Mangrove Guided Tour: $43
- Karaib Tour: $66
- Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $71
- Martinique: Cruise and Snorkel with Sea Turtles, Fish and Corals: $75
- Fort de France - hidden squares and secret corners - a walking tour of FDF: $75
- Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Unmissable Martinique North tour: $75
- Scenic Tropical Rainforest & Island Tour: $82
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $23Fort-de-France $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Fort-de-France
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort-de-France:
- Small-Group Tour: Unmissable Martinique with Rum Distillery, Ruins, and More: $75
- North Tour: rainforest, rum distillery, black sand beach etc: $154
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Fort-de-France, we can see that Fort-de-France is more expensive. And not only is Tulum much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Fort-de-France is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Tulum would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tulum 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 Fort-de-France would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fort-de-France than you might in Tulum.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Fort-de-France Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Fort-de-France?
Fort-de-France has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Fort-de-France, 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.