Comparison · Guadalajara vs San Miguel de Allende · Mexico
Guadalajara vs San Miguel de Allende
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Isacdaavid, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Guadalajara for Mariachi, Tequila and lower day-to-day costs; choose San Miguel de Allende for Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Cobbled colonial streets and free sights. Guadalajara is generally less expensive, and the two are about 272 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 272 km
- Less expensive
- Guadalajara
- Best time for Guadalajara
- October–March
- Best time for San Miguel de Allende
- February–April and October–November
Side by side
| Guadalajara | San Miguel de Allende | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Mexico |
| Known for | Mariachi, Tequila and Orozco murals | Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Cobbled colonial streets and Art galleries |
| Best time to visit | October–March | February–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$170 | $130–$250 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | May, 33°C (91°F) | May, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 25°C (77°F) | January, 23°C (73°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 12 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | GDL | BJX, QRO |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Guadalajara for…
Mariachi, Tequila and lower day-to-day costs. Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest metropolitan area and the capital of Jalisco, is the home ground of mariachi, tequila, birria and the charreada. Its historic centre is a run of linked plazas around the twin-spired cathedral, the Teatro Degollado and the…
Choose San Miguel de Allende for…
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Cobbled colonial streets and free sights. San Miguel de Allende is a hillside colonial town at about 1,900 metres in the state of Guanajuato, built around the pink stone spires of the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel and the laurel-shaded Jardín. Its cobbled streets of ochre and terracotta houses…
Top sights compared
| # | Guadalajara | San Miguel de Allende |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guadalajara Cathedral | Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel |
| 2 | Hospicio Cabañas | El Jardín |
| 3 | Palacio de Gobierno | Museo Histórico Casa de Allende |
| 4 | Teatro Degollado | Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez (Bellas Artes) |
| 5 | Plaza Tapatía | Templo de la Concepción (Las Monjas) |
Food compared
| Guadalajara | San Miguel de Allende |
|---|---|
| Torta ahogada | Enchiladas mineras |
| Birria | Gorditas |
| Carne en su jugo | Tacos al pastor |
| Pozole rojo | Carnitas |
Which is cheaper?
Guadalajara is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $90–$170 per person there, against $130–$250 in San Miguel de Allende (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Guadalajara on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Guadalajara and San Miguel de Allende are about 272 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Guadalajara and 4 in San Miguel de Allende.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Guadalajara or San Miguel de Allende cheaper?
Guadalajara is usually less expensive: about $90–$170 a day mid-range against $130–$250 (estimates).
+Is Guadalajara or San Miguel de Allende better for a first trip?
Pick Guadalajara for Mariachi, Tequila and lower day-to-day costs, or San Miguel de Allende for Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Cobbled colonial streets and free sights.
+How far is Guadalajara from San Miguel de Allende?
About 272 km in a straight line.