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Cartagena vs San Cristóbal de las Casas cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇨🇴 Cartagena
🇲🇽 San Cristóbal de las Casas
At a glance
- Where San Cristóbal de las Casas is clearly cheaper: Cocktail & wine (49%↓), Transit (43%↓), Hotel night (43%↓)
- Where Cartagena is clearly cheaper: Street food (60%↓), Entry ticket (55%↓), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (46%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
San Cristóbal de las Casas is easier to travel (3.0 vs 3.2). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling — Cartagena 4 vs San Cristóbal de las Casas 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Cartagena | San Cristóbal de las Casas | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | COL$ 20,000$4.88 | MX$ 100$5.38 | Cartagena −9% |
| Street food1 item | COL$ 4,000$0.98 | MX$ 45$2.42 | Cartagena −60% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | COL$ 75,000$18.3 | MX$ 250$13.4 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −27% |
| Coffeeone cup | COL$ 9,000$2.2 | MX$ 50$2.69 | Cartagena −18% |
| Beerone bottle | COL$ 8,000$1.95 | MX$ 45$2.42 | Cartagena −19% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | COL$ 30,000$7.32 | MX$ 70$3.76 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −49% |
| Bottled water | COL$ 2,500$0.61 | MX$ 14$0.75 | Cartagena −19% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | COL$ 4,000$0.98 | MX$ 22$1.18 | Cartagena −18% |
| Taxi5 km in town | COL$ 15,000$3.66 | MX$ 70$3.76 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | COL$ 6,000$1.46 | MX$ 50$2.69 | Cartagena −46% |
| Transitone ride | COL$ 3,900$0.95 | MX$ 10$0.54 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −43% |
| Scooter rentalper day | COL$ 40,000$9.76 | MX$ 250$13.4 | Cartagena −27% |
| Hotel night3-star | COL$ 350,000$85.4 | MX$ 900$48.4 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −43% |
| Studio rent (month) | COL$ 2,200,000$537 | MX$ 7,500$403 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −25% |
| Laundry | COL$ 8,000$1.95 | MX$ 28$1.51 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −23% |
| SIM card1 week data | COL$ 30,000$7.32 | MX$ 200$10.8 | Cartagena −32% |
| Haircutcut | COL$ 20,000$4.88 | MX$ 120$6.45 | Cartagena −24% |
| Massage1 hour | COL$ 100,000$24.4 | MX$ 450$24.2 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | COL$ 120,000$29.3 | MX$ 450$24.2 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −17% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | COL$ 30,000$7.32 | MX$ 300$16.1 | Cartagena −55% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Cartagena or San Cristóbal de las Casas?
San Cristóbal de las Casas is 23% cheaper than Cartagena. Daily budget $136 vs $94.1; a month $2,150 vs $1,817.
Which is easier to travel, Cartagena or San Cristóbal de las Casas?
San Cristóbal de las Casas is easier: San Cristóbal de las Casas 3.0/5 vs Cartagena 3.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Cartagena and San Cristóbal de las Casas?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Cartagena is about $2,150 and San Cristóbal de las Casas about $1,817 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.