Should you visit Tulum or Guadalajara?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Tulum and Guadalajara can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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. Of course, Tulum is only one of several archaeological sites in the region, and you can see a comparison of Mayan Ruins in the Yucatan here.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Guadalajara or Tulum?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $80, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara is $77. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Tulum and Guadalajara in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Tulum is $78. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
The prices for places to stay in Guadalajara can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $28, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $56.
Food
Food in Tulum costs travelers about $23 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
On average, meal and food prices in Guadalajara cost around $32 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $13.
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Food
Meals for one day
Tulum $23
Guadalajara $32
Typical Food prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
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Tulum Local Walking Food Tour:
$55
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Mexican Cooking from Scratch and Mezcal Tasting in a Local Home:
$87
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Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more):
$180
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guadalajara
For Guadalajara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Guadalajara Street Food Tour:
$15
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Santa Tere Food Tour:
$46
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Tulum is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $18 per person, per day, on local transportation in Tulum.
Guadalajara's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $26 per person, per day on transportation in Guadalajara.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
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Airport Transfers to Tulum - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE:
$256
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Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum - ROUND TRIP:
$207
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Airport Transfer Tulum:
$130
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One Way Private Tulum Transfers to or from Cancun Airport:
$123
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Mexico Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun airport:
$121
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Cancun Airport private departure transfer (Tulum to Cancun Airport):
$103
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Departure Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan:
$100
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Tulum to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Private Departure Transfer:
$87
-
Private Transfer From Cancun Airport To Tulum:
$84
-
Roundtrip private AC Airport Transfer to Tulum:
$75
-
Cancun One Way Private Transfer Airport to Hotel / Hotel to Airport:
$61
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Tulum Riviera to Cancún Airport:
$59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara
Also for Guadalajara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Guadalajara Airport to Hotels:
$19
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Hotels to Guadalajara Airport:
$19
-
Private Airport Transfer until your Stay in Guadalajara:
$21
-
Private Departure Transfer from Guadalajara Center to Guadalajara Airport:
$24
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Private Airport Transfer: Guadalajara to Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla Airport (GDL):
$26
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Mexico Private Transfer from Guadalajara City to Guadalajara (GDL) Airport:
$44
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Airport - Hotel transfer:
$48
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BEST PRICE Guadalajara transfer Hotel Airport, (in the city only):
$50
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Guadalajara hotels to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer:
$78
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BEST PRICE Guadalajara round-trip transfer Hotel Airport, (in the city only):
$94
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Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels:
$100
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Airport - Tequila Transfer:
$180
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Guadalajara?
Prices for flights to both Guadalajara 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Tulum typically cost an average of $21 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Guadalajara can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $18 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
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(4X1) Tulum, Coba, Cenote & Playa del Carmen, 1 Full Day Tour From Cancun Now!:
$71
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2 Cenotes Adventure from Tulum - Small Group - All Inclusive:
$119
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4 in 1 Day Tour - Coba, Cenote ,Tulum & Playa del Carmen:
$61
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4 in 1 Tour - Coba, Cenote, Tulum & Playa del Carmen:
$53
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4 in 1 VIP Tour Tulum, Coba, Playa del carmen & Cenote:
$66
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An exclusive experience of high cuisine mixed with theater performance:
$256
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CENOTE TOUR ( Pet Cementery, Sac Actun and Nicte Ha):
$123
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Caribbean Sea Snorkeling, underground river and cenote adventure from Tulum:
$116
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Cenote Triple Adventure Tour in Tulum:
$116
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Cenote trail jungle bike tour & 3 cenotes in Tulum with lunch:
$97
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Coba Adventure: ATV, Rappel, Ziplines, Cenote, Archeological Zone Tour:
$118
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Coba Guided Tour with Visit to Cacao and Honey Sanctuary:
$119
Tours and Activities in Guadalajara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Guadalajara.
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"T" Tour Traditional Food, History and Bike:
$5.00
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Guadalajara City Tour:
$20
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Private Guadalajara City Tour Within Your Budget:
$25
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City Tour in Electric Carriage:
$25
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Street Art Guadalajara tour:
$26
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TourTequilaTradicional - Visitando Jalisco:
$26
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Bike Tour to the Historic Center:
$27
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Street Art Tour of Guadalajara:
$27
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Guadalajara History & Muralism Walking Tour:
$29
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Full experience Entre Charros:
$30
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Private Bike Tour to historic Center:
$30
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Guadalajara Private City Tour with drinks:
$31
Alcohol
The average person spends about $17 on alcoholic beverages in Tulum per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Guadalajara, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $12.
Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:
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Traditional Cantinas Pub Crawl:
$29
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Pub Crawl Guadalajara:
$30
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Tequila and Distillery Tour from Guadalajara:
$79
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Full-Day Tour to La Rojeña Distillery by Jose Cuervo Express:
$193
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Tequila and Mundo Cuervo Distillery Tour from Guadalajara:
$513
When comparing the travel costs between Tulum and Guadalajara, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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