Comparison · Mexico City vs San Miguel de Allende · Mexico
Mexico City 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: Gobierno CDMX, CC0
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Quick answer
Choose Mexico City for Tacos al pastor and National Museum of Anthropology; choose San Miguel de Allende for Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel and Cobbled colonial streets. Mexico City is generally less expensive, and the two are about 235 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 235 km
- Less expensive
- Mexico City
- Best time for Mexico City
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for San Miguel de Allende
- February–April and October–November
Side by side
| Mexico City | San Miguel de Allende | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Mexico |
| Known for | Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and Frida Kahlo | Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Cobbled colonial streets and Art galleries |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | February–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$220 | $130–$250 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | April, 27°C (81°F) | May, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 21°C (70°F) | January, 23°C (73°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 12 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | MEX, NLU, TLC | BJX, QRO |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Mexico City for…
Tacos al pastor and National Museum of Anthropology. Mexico City sits at about 2,240 metres in a high valley ringed by volcanoes, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. Its historic centre around the Zócalo holds the Templo Mayor ruins, the cathedral and Diego Rivera's murals, while Chapultepec…
Choose San Miguel de Allende for…
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel and Cobbled colonial streets. 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
| # | Mexico City | San Miguel de Allende |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zócalo | Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel |
| 2 | Metropolitan Cathedral | El Jardín |
| 3 | Templo Mayor | Museo Histórico Casa de Allende |
| 4 | National Palace murals | Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez (Bellas Artes) |
| 5 | Palacio de Bellas Artes | Templo de la Concepción (Las Monjas) |
Food compared
| Mexico City | San Miguel de Allende |
|---|---|
| Tacos al pastor | Enchiladas mineras |
| Chilaquiles | Gorditas |
| Tamales and atole | Tacos al pastor |
| Tlacoyos | Carnitas |
Which is cheaper?
Mexico City is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $120–$220 per person there, against $130–$250 in San Miguel de Allende (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Mexico City on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende are about 235 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Mexico City and 4 in San Miguel de Allende.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Mexico City or San Miguel de Allende cheaper?
Mexico City is usually less expensive: about $120–$220 a day mid-range against $130–$250 (estimates).
+Is Mexico City or San Miguel de Allende better for a first trip?
Pick Mexico City for Tacos al pastor and National Museum of Anthropology, or San Miguel de Allende for Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel and Cobbled colonial streets.
+How far is Mexico City from San Miguel de Allende?
About 235 km in a straight line.