Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Accra?
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 Accra or Cancun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Accra or Cancun, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Accra or Cancun?
Accra
Accra is the capital city of Ghana, located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Popular attractions include the National Museum of Ghana, local beaches, markets, and cultural landmarks like those dedicated to Civil Rights activist W.E.B. DuBois.
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Ghana, The Best Safaris in Ghana, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Accra Prices
Ghana PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAccra $54Cancun $167
The average daily cost (per person) in Accra is $54, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $167. 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 Accra and Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAccra $23Cancun $96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAccra $46Cancun $192
Compare Hotels in Accra and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Accra or Cancun? 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: Accra Hotel Prices and Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Accra $20Cancun $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Accra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Accra:
- Private Transfer from Kotoka Airport Accra Ghana (ACC) to Accra city: $119
- Kotoka Airport Exclusive Wheelchair Accessible Transfers!: $130
- From Private Airport Transfer, Pickup & Drop-off Services: $35
- Arrival & Departure Airport Hotel Transfers: $70
- Airport & City Transfers: $100
- Accra Private Airport Transfer: Zero-Stress Meet & Greet: $80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.66
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$14
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$17
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Local Bus (for 2)$2.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Cancun Airport Transfer to Moon Palace Hotel: $6.00
- Cancun Airport Shared Transfer: $6.00
- Cancun Airport Small-Group Transfer to Cancun Hotels: $7.00
- Cancun Airport Private Transfers To or From All Hotel Zones: $14
- Cancun airport private transfer: $15
- Private Cancun Airport Transfer to Hotels One Way: $18
- transfers between hotels in Cancun hotel strip: $20
- Private Transfer to/from CUN Airport - Up to 14 Pax: $21
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer To/From Cancun International Airport: $23
- Private transfer to Cancun Airport from hotels in Cancun Area: $23
- Transfer hotel Cancun to Cancun Airport from 1 to 8 people: $25
- Private Transfer from Cancun Airport (CUN): $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Accra or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun and Accra 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 dayAccra $20Cancun $49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Accra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Accra.
- Accra Osu Night Market Food Tour with Akosua Serwaa: $80
- Ghana Jollof Cooking Class with Bottomless Wine: $80
- Accra Makola Market Food Tour With Full Lunch: $83
- Home Cooking Class by Auntie K: $89
- Private Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Class in Accra: $90
- 12-Course Heritage Tasting Dinner & Optional Nightlife Experience: $130
- Private Ghanaian Cooking Class at Accra's Premier Food Hub: $200
- Food Tour in Accra: $297
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour in Cancun with a Local Guide: $62
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Salsa Streets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Tortilla Trails Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- 4h Cooking Class in Cancun with 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $75
- Cancun Historic Downtown Food Tour with 7+ Authentic Tastings: $76
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
- Couples Special Price! Cancun Pirate Show with Dinner & Drinks: $80
- Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun Couples Special: $80
- Couples Special Pirate Show & Dinner! Drinks, Adventure and Fun: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Accra $4.08Cancun $35
Tours and Activities in Accra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Accra are as follows:
- 1 Day Accra City Tour: $81
- 2-Day Accra & Cape Coast Tour: $200
- 2-day Tour of Downtown Accra: $216
- 5 Hours Boat Cruise at Dodi in Akosombo with Lunch Live Music: $280
- A Tour of Shai Hills Reserve, Volta River and a Bead Factory.: $120
- Aburi ATV - Quad Biking and Waterfall Private Tour: $270
- Aburi Botanic Gardens, Boti Falls,Umbrella Rock & Cocoa Farm Tour: $150
- Aburi Botanical Gardens and Asenema Waterfalls Day Tour: $165
- Aburi Botanical Gardens and Cocoa farm - Private Tour: $168
- Aburi Gardens & Cocoa Tours: $190
- Aburi Gardens,First Ever Cocoa Farm & Waterfalls Day Adventure: $95
- Accra City (Private Tour): $110
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.59
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$100
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cancun's Hidden Gems: A Self-Guided Tour: $3.55
- 7 Days Self Guided AI Audio Tours to Cancun and Yucatan: $12
- Chichen Itzá Tour from Cancun and Riviera Maya for the best price, Book now!: $14
- Speedboat Jungle Tour and Snorkel: $15
- Discover Isla Mujeres tour with snorkel, buffet and open bar: $15
- Cancun Beach Taco Tour Culinary Journey with Tequila Tasting: $15
- Explore Mayan Culture full day tour: $16
- Isla Mujeres tour in a Catamaran with snorkel, open bar, lunch: $16
- Speedboat and Snorkeling Adventure in Cancun: $16
- Chichen Itza Mayan adventure: $16
- Speedboat and Snorkel Adventure: $16
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Snorkeling and Open Bar Adventure: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAccra $5.85Cancun $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- A bespoke wine tastings crafted for unforgettable moments: $88
- Brewery Tour Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Accra and Cancun, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Accra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Accra is in Africa and Cancun is in North 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 Accra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Accra 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun than you might in Accra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Accra Expensive? and Is Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Accra or Cancun?
Accra has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Accra and Cancun, 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.