Which place is cheaper, Freeport or Isla Mujeres?
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 Isla Mujeres or Freeport?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Isla Mujeres and Freeport. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Isla Mujeres or Freeport?
Isla Mujeres
About eight miles from the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Mujeres is an island in the Mexican Caribbean Sea. The town, of the same name, has a population of about 13,000. Tourism has grown in the area since the 1970s and today it is a significant part of the island's economy. As such, there are plenty of amenities that cater specifically to visitors. The island's proximity to Cuba make it a common transit point for Cubans in route to the United States.
Freeport
When you picture the Bahamas you likely picture the beaches, resorts and playgrounds of Nassau. Just to the northwest of this tourist paradise is a tropical city founded on industry. Freeport began as mostly swampland and is now the second most populous city in the Bahamas.
This city is less of a tourist attraction - a place where you'll find the true Bahaman culture mixed in with some relaxing spots to help you unwind and get into your island vacation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas.
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Isla Mujeres Prices
Mexico PricesFreeport Prices
Bahamas Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIsla Mujeres $164Freeport $290
The average daily cost (per person) in Isla Mujeres is $164, while the average daily cost in Freeport is $290. 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 Isla Mujeres and Freeport in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIsla Mujeres $71Freeport $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIsla Mujeres $142Freeport $282
Compare Hotels in Isla Mujeres and Freeport
Looking for a hotel in Isla Mujeres or Freeport? 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: Isla Mujeres Hotel Prices and Freeport Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Isla Mujeres $32Freeport $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Isla Mujeres
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Isla Mujeres:
- Private Transfer: Playa Mujeres to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $135
- Punta Sam / Isla Blanca to Cancún Airport (CUN)- Departure Private Transfer: $62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Freeport
Also for Freeport, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Roundtrip Airport Transfers Grand Lucayan Resort Freeport: $30
- Round-Trip Airport Transfer Viva Club Fortuna Freeport: $30
- Round-Trip Airport Transfer Between Freeport Airport and Pelican Bay Resort : $30
- Round-trip Airport Transfers to Castaway Resorts, Freeport: $30
- Private Transfer from Freeport Port to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO): $68
- Private Transfer from Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Freeport Port: $68
- Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Old Bahama Bay - Private Transfer: $78
- Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Freeport - Arrival Private Transfer: $78
- Old Bahama Bay to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) - Private Transfer: $78
- Freeport to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) Departure Private Transfer: $78
- Luxury SUV Transfer from Airport, cruise port, Celebration Key : $133
- Shared Round Trip Limousine Transfer : $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Isla Mujeres or Freeport?
Prices for flights to both Freeport and Isla Mujeres 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 dayIsla Mujeres $72Freeport $110
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Freeport
For Freeport, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Around Town/Bahamian Cooking Experience: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Isla Mujeres $19Freeport $40
Tours and Activities in Isla Mujeres
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla Mujeres are as follows:
- Scuba Diving Adventure WITHOUT CERTIFICATION! Try it today!: $160
- 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience : $84
- ATV Mangrove Adventure: $65
- Adventure and Snorkel with the Whale Shark From Playa del Carmen: $230
- Adventure and Snorkel with the Whale Shark departing from Cancun: $200
- Chill at -18°C Isla Mujeres Ice Bar (tickets): $25
- Contoy Island Tour from Cancun and Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $145
- Crystal Boat Tour to Isla Mujeres and Reefs: $39
- Isla Contoy Snorkeling Experience with Buffet: $166
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Adventure at the Underwater Museum: $52
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: $84
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour Adventure: $53
Typical Entertainment Prices in Freeport
For Freeport, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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10 Dive Package$299
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4 Hr. Kayak Tour$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Freeport
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Freeport.
- Tour of Coral Vita and breach brak at Banana bay beach club: $51
- Swim with the Pigs Freeport @Creative Eco Adventures: $72
- Mamma Gal Celeb-Key Shared Tour: $75
- Mamma Gal Native Experience : $80
- Grand Bahama Catamaran Sunset Cruise with Drinks and Snacks: $89
- Rumbo Tour : $90
- Mamma Gal East End Native Experience : $95
- Go Kart Adventure Caves Pirates Beaches: $109
- Bahamas Sea Scooter Snorkeling Adventure: $120
- Clear Kayak Tour: $120
- CocoNutz Cruisers Electric Bicycle Tour: $123
- Freeport Shore Excursion: Garden of the Groves and City Tour: $126
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIsla Mujeres $23Freeport $30
Sample the Local Flavors in Freeport
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Freeport:
- Brewery & Taste with Beach & Shop at Largest Market on Freeport 4-hrs : $85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla Mujeres and Freeport, we can see that Freeport is more expensive. And not only is Isla Mujeres much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Isla Mujeres is in North America and Freeport 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 Isla Mujeres would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Isla Mujeres 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 Freeport would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Freeport than you might in Isla Mujeres.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Isla Mujeres Expensive? and Is Freeport Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Isla Mujeres or Freeport?
Freeport has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the sizes of Isla Mujeres and Freeport, 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.