Which place is cheaper, Iquique 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 Iquique?
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 Iquique 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 Iquique?
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.
Iquique
Located in a golden crescent of coastline, the beautiful beach city with an ocean that's several shades of blue and a historic centre that offers the perfect balance of culture and relaxation is counted among Chile's premier beach resorts. The city is home to the duty free zone called "Zofri" and a growing number of high rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, Iquique and its chaotic duty-free shopping zone (zona franca) have become the perfect summer holiday destination for Chilean families.
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 PricesIquique Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $133Iquique $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $133, while the average daily cost in Iquique is $121. 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 Iquique in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $54Iquique $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $108Iquique $86
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Iquique
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or Iquique? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $25Iquique $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Roundtrip Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $269
- Luxury SUV Private Transfer from Riviera Maya to Cancun Airport: $261
- Private Transfer Tulum-Bacalar with optional 2h in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: $261
- Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $250
- Luxury Tulum Transfer from Tulum Airport: $220
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Tulum Hotels to Merida Rejon Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $215
- Tulum to Mahahual - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $206
- Private Luxury SUV Transfers from Tulum Airport : $195
- Tulum Archaeological Zone: Cenote, Lunch & Transfer: $191
- Tulum to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $190
- One Way Private Transfer Tulum Zone - Cancun Int Airport: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Iquique
Also for Iquique, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sandboard activity in Iquique with transfer: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Iquique?
Prices for flights to both Iquique 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 $54Iquique $59
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Salsa Class with Mezcalita Workshop & Mexican Dinner in Tulum: $83
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch in a Local Home in Tulum: $87
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $88
- Temazcal Mayan Ritual Tour and Cenote Swim with Yucatecan Dinner: $120
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more) : $299
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $29Iquique $27
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Chichen Itza & Cenote Chichikan Bus Tour Experience from Tulum: $71
- Full Day Tour from Tulum to Rio Lagartos: $229
- Private Tour - The best Cenotes in Yucatan - Suytun & Oxman: $195
- Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve Guided Tour: $220
- Tulum Extreme Mayan Adventure with ATV, Zipline and Cenote: $38
- 2 Cenotes Private Tour – VIP Adventure with Expert Guide: $154
- 2 tanks Cenote Diving Adventure in Tulum for Certified Divers: $200
- 3 in 1 Experience in Tulum: $111
- 5 Hours Mayan Snorkeling Experience in Tulum: $94
- 5x1 Deluxe Tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote Transportation from Tulum: $88
- ATV Adventure and Horseback Ride with Ziplines, Cenote from Tulum: $82
- ATV Cenote and Ziplines Adventure in Tulum from Riviera Maya: $30
Tours and Activities in Iquique
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Iquique.
- City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $55
- City Tour in Iquique: $89
- Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $145
- Red Lagoon Tour: $639
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $23Iquique $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Tulum
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tulum:
- 30 Minutes Brewery Tour in Tulum: $39
- Beer Tasting and Brewery Tour: $69
When comparing the travel costs between Tulum and Iquique, 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. Even though Tulum is in North America and Iquique is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Iquique Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Iquique?
Iquique has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Iquique, 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.