Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
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.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, or simply Santa Cruz, is a larger city in the middle of Bolivia. It is also one of the most wealthy cities in the country. The city is also one of the fastest growing in the world. It is famous for its nightlife and it makes an excellent base for exploring many of the tourist attractions in the nearby areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Bolivia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia.
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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesSanta Cruz de la Sierra Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $141Santa Cruz de la Sierra $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $141, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is $68. 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $57Santa Cruz de la Sierra $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $114Santa Cruz de la Sierra $46
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or Santa Cruz de la Sierra? 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $27Santa Cruz de la Sierra $9.92
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:
- Airport Transfer One Way - Cancun / Tulum - Private or Luxury: $119
- Departure Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan - Minibus: $155
- Economy Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport – Safe: $148
- Luxury SUV Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport: $277
- 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 Transfer Cancun International Airport CUN to Tulum City: $125
- Private Transfer From Tulum to Cancun With a 2 Hour Stop: $205
- Private Transfer Service in Tulum: $136
- Private Transfer Tulum to Chichen Itza with Flexible Stops: $93
- Private Transfer Tulum to Chiquila Holbox with Flexible Stops: $138
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
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Taxi Ride$4.34
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Mini Bus$0.58
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 $57Santa Cruz de la Sierra $34
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.88
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: $88
- Tortilla & Taco Cooking Class – Mexican Cuisine from scratch: $93
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $93
- Tulum Vegan Food Tour: $97
- Mexican Cooking class experience in Tulum: $139
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
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Snacks$3.18
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Chips$0.29
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Banana$0.14
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Cookies$1.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
- Guided Street Food Tour: Santa Cruz de la Sierra: $10
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $30Santa Cruz de la Sierra $19
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- 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
- Ruins in Tulum Walking Tour with Audioguide (no ticket): $12
- Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of Tulum: $15
- Cenotes Casa Tortuga Admission Ticket: $15
- Archeological Guided Walking Tour in Tulum: $20
- ATV Cenote and Ziplines Adventure in Tulum from Riviera Maya: $25
- ATV Tour from Tulum or Riviera with Ziplines and Cenote Swim Day: $25
- Entrance tickets to swim in 4 Cenotes in Casa Tortuga Park: $27
- Cenotes Casa Tortuga Guide Tour with Ticket: $30
- Tulum Cenote Tour 5 Cenotes and Awaken Your Senses: $30
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking tour - A journey through the History of Santa Cruz: $11
- Lomas de Arena Sandboarding Tour: $42
- Santa Cruz: Wildlife Sanctuary and Preservation Park Tour: $85
- Day Tour /El Fuerte & Samaipata: $98
- Day Tour Jardin de las Delicias: $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $24Santa Cruz de la Sierra $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Cruz de la Sierra from other travelers:
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Beer$1.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Also in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bolivia: Bolivian Wine Tasting with Charcuterie Board: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz de la Sierra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz de la Sierra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 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.