Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Aqaba?
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 Aqaba or Cancun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba 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: Aqaba or Cancun?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
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 Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Aqaba Prices
Jordan PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $157Cancun $155
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $155. 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 Aqaba and Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Cancun $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Cancun $180
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba 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: Aqaba Hotel Prices and Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Cancun $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Wadi Rum: Private Transfer to Aqaba through Hotel Pickup: $66
- Wadi Rum to Aqaba Port Private Transfer – Comfortable & Reliable: $80
- Wadi Rum to Aqaba Border Private Transfer – Hassle-Free Travel: $100
- Transfers , Meet & Assistance at Wadi Araba Crossing Border: $153
- Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Petra: $59
- Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Amman Airport: $101
- Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Petra: $60
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Wadi rum: $140
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Or TalaBay: $25
- Sheikh Hussein Crossing Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $250
- Private Transfers from Wadi Rum Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $129
- Private Transfers from Aqaba Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $47
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$1.54
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$15
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Private Transfer Puerto Aventuras: $120
- Airport Transfer (Can-cun, Playa del Carmen & Tulum): $108
- Airport Transfer Cancun: $75
- Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $218
- Airport Transfers to Puerto Juarez - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $199
- Airport Transfers to Puerto Morelos - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $187
- Airport transfer Cancun to Playa Mujeres for 1 to 8 passengers: $90
- Akumal One Way or Roundtrip Private Luxury Transfer: $291
- Amazing ATV (single) Cenote and Ziplines with Transfer from Playa del Carmen: $101
- Arrival Private Transfer Cancun Airport CUN to Cancun by Minivan or Minibus: $37
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cancun Airport CUN to Tulum by Minivan or Minibus: $165
- Buggy Trip in Cozumel Island with transfer from Riviera Maya: $220
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun and Aqaba 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 dayAqaba $73Cancun $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Traditional Bedouin Cooking Experience in the Desert: $50
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight in Bedouin Camp & Dinner: $80
- "Wadi Rum Jeep Tour + Bedouin Camp & Dinner Under the Stars: $80
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $80
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $107
- 2 Day Wadi Rum Tour: Traditional Dinner and Starlit Cave Camp: $115
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$19
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: $59
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Columbus Romantic Dinner in Cancún: $64
- Cancun Food Tour - Taco Attack: Street Food & Tequila Tasting: $69
- Cancun Food Tour: Market 23, Local Flavors & Downtown Culture: $69
- 3hr Cooking Class in Cancun with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $75
- Cancun Historic Downtown Food Tour with 7+ Authentic Tastings: $76
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $78
- MYST Cancun Tickets Mexican Madness Music Show and Dinner: $79
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Cancun $32
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 03 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $61
- 04 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $73
- 05 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $68
- 2 Days Guided Hiking Tour To Wadi Rum Jebal Al Hash: $103
- 2 Days Tour | Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea From Amman.: $190
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
- 2 Hour Wadi Rum Jeep Tour: $60
- 2 Hours Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $30
- 2 To 5 Hours Glass Bottom Boat Private Tour At Read Sea: $90
- 2-Hour Desert Guided Activities Tour in Wadi Rum: $50
- 2-day Hiking Adventure and Jeep Tour from Wadi Rum: $193
- 4 Hour Jeep Tour (morning or sunset) - Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $46
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$0.55
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$94
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: $1.12
- 7 Days Self Guided AI Audio Tours to Cancun and Yucatan: $11
- Speedboat and Snorkeling Adventure in Cancun: $13
- Shared Speedboat and Snorkeling Adventure in Cancun: $14
- Discover Isla Mujeres tour with snorkel, buffet and open bar: $15
- Speedboat Jungle Tour and Snorkel: $15
- Cancun Beach Taco Tour Culinary Journey with Tequila Tasting: $15
- Chichen Itza Full Day Tour With Cenote Swim: $16
- Isla Mujeres, Catamaran tour in one day for one price: $16
- Catamaran to Isla Mujeres Snorkeling, Beach Club and Lunch Tour: $16
- Isla Mujeres tour from Cancún (open bar, lunch ): $16
- Cancun Clearboat Tour express tour for photos!: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Cancun $12
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: $82
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $115
- Brewery Tour Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $130
When comparing the travel costs between Aqaba and Cancun, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Aqaba is in Middle East and Cancun is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Cancun?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Aqaba. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba 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.