Should you visit Veracruz or Guadalajara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Veracruz and Guadalajara can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or Guadalajara?
Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or Veracruz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $143, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara is $138. 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 Veracruz and Guadalajara in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz or Guadalajara? 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:
Veracruz Hotel Prices and
Guadalajara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port:
$42
-
Roundtrip Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER):
$37
-
Shared Arrival Transfer: General Heriberto Jara International Airport to Veracruz Hotels:
$23
-
Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER):
$18
-
Private Transfer to Veracruz Airport (VER):
$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara
Also for Guadalajara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Guadalajara Airport Private Transfer to Ajijic & Chapala:
$289
-
Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$202
-
Guadalajara to Tequila - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver:
$179
-
Tequila to Guadalajara - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver:
$179
-
Private Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels Safe & Stress-Free:
$159
-
Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$107
-
Tequila to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer:
$101
-
Transfer from International Airport to Tequila Jalisco:
$89
-
Transfer by car to or from Guadalajara Airport:
$35
Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or Guadalajara?
Prices for flights to both Guadalajara and Veracruz 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
-
Food
Meals for one day
Veracruz $78
Guadalajara $75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guadalajara
For Guadalajara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Private Street Food Tour and City Tour Guadalajara - Best Rated :
$44
-
Guadalajara Private Food Tour:
$70
-
Authentic Mexican Cooking & Tequila tasting experience-Casa Humo:
$108
-
Mexican Cooking Classes and Market Visit in Guadalajara:
$195
-
VIP Tequila Night Tour with Dinner and Tasting:
$199
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Veracruz
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.
-
1 day tour of Tlacotalpan and Alvarado from Veracruz:
$127
-
3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress:
$23
-
Alvarado And Tlacotalpan Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio:
$105
-
Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket:
$25
-
Catemaco And Los Tuxtlas Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio:
$105
-
City Tour en Veracruz y Acuario:
$100
-
Full Day Coffee Guided Tour in Coatepec:
$98
-
Full Day Tour to Alvarado and Tlacotalpan from Veracruz or Boca del Río:
$92
-
Full Day Tour to Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas with Transportation:
$92
-
Full Day Tour to La Antigua, Cempoala and Quiahuiztlán:
$87
-
Full-Day Tour to El Tajin and Vanilla Factory from Veracruz:
$138
-
Jalcomulco Rapids Adventure from Veracruz or Boca del Río:
$141
Tours and Activities in Guadalajara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Guadalajara.
-
Walking Tour Experience in Ajijic Mexico:
$50
-
3 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!:
$36
-
A unique tour! Visiting Hacienda Casa herradura From Guadalajara:
$120
-
Architecture of Luis Barragan Walking Tour with Street Food:
$70
-
Bar Tour of the Coolest Quarter of Guadalajara:
$17
-
Cantaritos and Tequila Factory Tour:
$89
-
Chapala Ajijic Area Tour from Guadalajara:
$40
-
Chapala Lake & Ajijic Tour with "Tres Potrillos Ranch":
$65
-
Chapala and Ajijic Private Full-Day Tour:
$128
-
Charreria heritage tour be a charro for a day:
$50
-
City Tour Downtown Guadalajara Historical and Cultural Walking Tour:
$79
-
City tour in Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque:
$90
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:
-
Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Guadalajara Mexico:
$25
-
Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town:
$65
-
full day Tequila tour visiting artisanal distillery and downtown.:
$95
-
Guided Tour of Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery:
$105
-
Full-Day Tour to La Fortaleza Distillery and Cantaritos:
$155
-
Private Adventure Day Tour to Tequila and Cazcanes Distillery:
$156
-
Private Adventure to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila:
$161
-
Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery:
$167
-
Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila:
$190
-
Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila:
$190
-
Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery:
$211
-
Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery in One Day:
$264
When comparing the travel costs between Veracruz and Guadalajara, we can see that Veracruz 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Veracruz Expensive? and Is Guadalajara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or Guadalajara?
Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Veracruz. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz and Guadalajara, 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.
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