Should you visit Cabo San Lucas or La Paz?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas ("Cabo") is on the far southern end of the Baja Peninsula. It has countless resorts and activities for visitors. There are world class golf courses, fine dining options, and five star resorts. Prior to the 1980s, Cabo was a quiet fishing village but with the construction of a nearby airport in 1977, the city rapidly grew into one of Mexico's most popular resort vacation spots. Today, Cabo has one of the country's most vibrant nightlife scenes. It also has plenty of water sport activities, and a great beach scene.
La Paz
La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.
Which city is cheaper, La Paz or Cabo San Lucas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cabo San Lucas is $91, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $56. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Cabo San Lucas and La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Cabo San Lucas is $82. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
The average price for accommodation for two people in La Paz is $62. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
The average traveler spends about $35 per day in Cabo San Lucas for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The average traveler spends about $10 per day in La Paz for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cabo San Lucas $35
La Paz $10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cabo San Lucas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cabo San Lucas.
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Cabo San Lucas Sunset and Dinner Cruise:
$50
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Eat Like A Local Cabo Food Tour:
$59
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Parrillada dinner with a Private Chef in your villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose:
$59
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Catch of the day dinner in your private villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose del Cabo:
$62
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Cabo San Lucas "Catch of the Day" Seafood Tour:
$62
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Sunset Mexican Dinner Cruise. Fajitas dinner & live music:
$68
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Jumbo Shrimp Dinner in Your Private Villa or Condo in Cabo or San Jose del Cabo:
$78
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Lobster Tail Dinner with a Private Chef in Your Villa in Cabo or San Jose:
$80
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Sunset Dinner Cruise with Open Bar from Cabo San Lucas:
$89
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Los Cabos Sunset Dinner Cruise:
$89
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Whale-Watching Dinner Cruise in Los Cabos:
$89
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Sunset Dinner Cruise in Cabo San Lucas:
$89
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Cabo San Lucas is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $17 per person, per day, on local transportation in Cabo San Lucas.
The average price of local transportation around La Paz is $6.66 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:
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Arrival Share Transfer Service One way from Los Cabos airport to Hotel:
$21
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Departure Private Transfer Service One way from Hotel to Los Cabos airport:
$66
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Cabo San Lucas hotels to Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - Private Departure Transfer:
$92
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Transfer in private minivan from Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo(SJD):
$113
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Private Round Trip Transfer - Los Cabos Int. Airport and Local Area:
$180
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Wild Canyon Adventures Park Pass with transfers included:
$199
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Transfer in Private Car from Cabo San Lucas to Los Cabos Airport (SJD):
$201
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Private Tesla Transfer from Los Cabos Airport to Cabo San Lucas Area:
$261
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Round trip transfer from Cabo to La Paz up to 5 passengers:
$400
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Round trip transfer from Cabo to La Paz up to 10 passengers:
$457
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Round trip transfer from Cabo San Lucas to La Paz up to 15 passengers:
$514
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Private transfer: Cabo San Lucas to Cabo San Lucas Airport (SJD):
$622
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:
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Airport Transfer In_ Day:
$25
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Airport Transfer In_night:
$25
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Airport Transfer Out_day:
$25
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Airport Transfer Out_night:
$25
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Bus Station Transfer In_day:
$25
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Bus Station Transfer Out_day:
$25
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Bus Station Transfer Out_night:
$25
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Day Transfer from Airport to Hotel and Cable Car:
$20
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Departure Private Transfer La Paz City to La Paz Airport LPB by Minibus:
$25
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Departure Private Transfer La Paz City to La Paz Airport LPB by Minibus:
$25
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Departure Private Transfer La Paz City to La Paz Airport LPB by S-Cross Sx4:
$25
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La Paz Airport Transfer One Way:
$373
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Cabo San Lucas typically cost an average of $27 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
La Paz's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $9.99 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas
Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Glass Bottom Boat Tour - Cabo San Lucas:
$17
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Glass Bottom Boat Sightseeing Tour in Cabo San Lucas:
$20
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Glass Bottom Boat Tour:
$20
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Land's End Tour in a Glass Bottom Boat (VisitA Cabo):
$26
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Cabo's Only Clear Boat Tour- see it all in one tour!:
$28
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Glass Bottom Boat Tour to the Arch in Cabo San Lucas:
$30
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Cabo's only Clear Boat Tour to Lands End, Lover's Beach, the Arch and more!:
$33
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Lands End & Snorkeling Adventure:
$33
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Cabo San Lucas only Clear Boat Tour to Lands End:
$33
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Sunset Tour & Land's End in a Glass Bottom Boat (VisitA Cabo):
$36
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Clear Glass-Bottom Boat Cabo Tour:
$36
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The Fenway Bar Experience:
$39
Tours and Activities in La Paz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:
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Virtual City Tour - La Paz:
$4.00
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La Paz City Walking Tour Including Historical Streets:
$5.00
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La Paz City Walking Tour:
$5.00
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La Paz Walking Tour:
$5.00
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Cable Car Tour of La Paz:
$8.00
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La Paz city, nomad bohemian tour:
$10
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Titicaca Lake - Bus Ticket - From La Paz City - Ow:
$12
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Cable Car, Cementery, Shaman and El Alto Adventure in La Paz:
$17
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Private Cable Car City Tour:
$18
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Full Day Tiwanaku Archeological Site Shared Tour:
$20
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Bus City Tour Sightseeing La Paz:
$23
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Tiwanaku and Puma Punku - Shared Tour -:
$23
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Cabo San Lucas may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $18 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $2.17 on alcoholic beverages in La Paz per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, we can see that Cabo San Lucas is more expensive. And not only is La Paz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Paz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Paz 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 Cabo San Lucas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabo San Lucas than you might in La Paz.
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