Which place is cheaper, San Pedro La Laguna 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 San Pedro La Laguna?
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 San Pedro La Laguna 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 San Pedro La Laguna?
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.
San Pedro La Laguna
Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Eco Tours in Guatemala.
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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesSan Pedro La Laguna Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $133San Pedro La Laguna $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $133, while the average daily cost in San Pedro La Laguna is $45. 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 San Pedro La Laguna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $54San Pedro La Laguna $8.34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $108San Pedro La Laguna $17
Compare Hotels in Tulum and San Pedro La Laguna
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or San Pedro La Laguna? 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 $25San Pedro La Laguna $13
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:
- Tulum to Xcaret - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $114
- Tulum to Playa del Carmen - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $120
- Tulum to Mahahual - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $206
- Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $250
- Tulum to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $190
- Tulum Hotels to Merida Rejon Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $215
- Tulum Archaeological Zone: Cenote, Lunch & Transfer: $191
- Tulum Archaeological Zone and Jaguar Park With Transfer and Lunch: $152
- Tulum Airport: One-Way or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $144
- Roundtrip Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $269
- Round Trip Transfer from Tulum Airport to Hotels: $158
- Private Transfer to Tulum from Tulum Airport: $150
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro La Laguna
Also for San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer from Panajachel Atitlan to Guatemala City: $47
- Private transfer from Panajachel to Antigua Guatemala: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or San Pedro La Laguna?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro La Laguna 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 $54San Pedro La Laguna $19
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
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lemonade$2.09
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Cake$1.30
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Ice cream$0.39
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Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread$3.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
- Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $29San Pedro La Laguna $22
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Canopy Tour (for 2)$39
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Kayaking (for 2)$1.96
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Coffee Tour (for 2)$7.04
Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
- Sunrise Tour in Indian Nose Hike and Views of Lake Atitlan: $35
- Lake Atitlan Guided Tour by Boat from Panajachel: $35
- Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $35
- Tour of San Juan Lake Atitlan: $35
- Tour in the Atitlan Nature Reserve : $40
- La Nose of the Indian Mountain Tour: $40
- Authentic tour of Mayan art and culture in Lake Atitlan: $42
- Sunrise Hike Tour on Indian's Nose Mountain: $45
- Sololá Colourful Market Day Tour: $50
- 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
- Private Tour of Lake Atitlán by Mototaxi: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $23San Pedro La Laguna $5.65
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and San Pedro La Laguna, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and San Pedro La Laguna is in Central 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 San Pedro La Laguna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro La Laguna 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 San Pedro La Laguna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is San Pedro La Laguna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or San Pedro La Laguna?
San Pedro La Laguna has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and San Pedro La Laguna, 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.