A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cabo San Lucas vs. Saint Louis for Attractions, Nightlife, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cabo San Lucas and Saint Louis can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is a scenic, idyllic, and wild city. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. It's also known for museums, nightlife, and food.

Saint Louis

Saint Louis is a under rated, unexpected, and fascinating city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Cabo San Lucas and Saint Louis: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Active nightlife
  • Nice resorts
  • Good scuba and snorkeling destination
  • Popular beach
  • Scenic old town
  • Good for hiking
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Impressive beauty
Things to Consider
  • Less museums and historical sights
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Family-friendly
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less popular with couples
  • Less popular with backpackers


Is there more to do in Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Cabo San Lucas. Although Cabo San Lucas and Saint Louis are both popular with visitors, Cabo San Lucas has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Cabo San Lucas is more popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Saint Louis is known for its museums. Cabo San Lucas is more touristy than Saint Louis and is known for its beautiful coastline, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant nightlife scene. It is also home to Land's End. Saint Louis is popular for its blues and live music scene, its authentic personality, and its position as the Gateway to the West.

How is Cabo San Lucas different from Saint Louis?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Saint Louis and Cabo San Lucas. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Saint Louis is a world-class destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Cabo San Lucas is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Saint Louis that are not to be missed. There are a surprising number of museums around town. For art museums you should visit the Contemporary Art Museum, the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. For history, the Griot Museum of Black History, the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum, and the Lewis & Clark Museum and Boathouse are all interesting. There are also science, educational, and children's museums. And of course, there's the iconic Gateway Arch.

Cabo San Lucas offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several historical sights in the area such as the Church of Saint Luke and San Jose del Cabo.


Is the Food Better in Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Cabo San Lucas makes for a great culinary experience. If you step away from the all-you-can-eat buffets in the resorts, and the tourist hot spots, you'll find some excellent local Mexican cuisine and nice fine dining restaurants. Fresh seafood and local produce make the dishes unique.

Saint Louis has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are some local dishes that originated here. Toasted ravioli had its start in St. Louis. There's also a St. Louis style pizza. Diners, cafes, and sandwiches are all part of the food scene and be prepared for cheese, meaty, and satisfying.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis Better for Nightlife?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Cabo San Lucas is an amazing city to visit for nightlife. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

Cabo San Lucas has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. It has a long reputation of being one of Mexico's best party destinations. There are wild, all-night dance parties, crazy and crowded clubs, and music that lasts well into the morning. The best nightlife can be found in the blocks around Plaza Bonita, near the marina boardwalk.

If you're looking for night time activities Saint Louis has a few options to choose from. Visitors often hang out in the downtown area, particularly around Washington Avenue, for the nightlife scene. Live music is popular, especially the blues, and there are many local venues worth checking out.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis Better for Resorts?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its resorts. However, Saint Louis is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Cabo San Lucas to choose from. Many of the resorts are along parts of the coastline where it's not safe to swim. If you really want to enjoy swimming at a beachfront property, make sure you do some research in advance. Medano Beach is a nice area to consider.

Saint Louis is not a resort destination.


Is Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Cabo San Lucas is well known for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Saint Louis is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are many scuba diving and snorkeling spots near Cabo San Lucas. There are many snorkeling and scuba diving excursions that go out on half day and full day trips. Some of the best snorkeling is found at Cabo Pulmo, which has the only living coral reef in the Sea of Cortez.

Saint Louis is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis Better for Beaches?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its beaches. However, Saint Louis is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Cabo San Lucas for it's beautiful beaches. Because of the water conditions, it's not safe to swim at many of the beaches in the area. This is particularly true on the Pacific side of the city. Many people consider Medano Beach to be one of the best in the area, but also nice are Lover's Beach, the ironically named Divorce Beach, and Chileno Beach.

Saint Louis is not a beach destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis Better for its Old Town?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its historic old town. However, Saint Louis does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Cabo San Lucas. San Jose del Cabo is an "old town" that's a bit outside of town. It's particularly nice to visit on Thursdays when there's a nice market.

Saint Louis does not have a historic old town.


Is Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis Better for Hiking?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Saint Louis is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Cabo San Lucas. It's not hard to get out into nature and you'll find many great hiking trails that go through varied and beautiful landscapes.

Saint Louis is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Shopping is a popular activity in both Saint Louis and Cabo San Lucas.

Cabo San Lucas is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are many great shopping areas where you can pick up souvenirs or other interesting items to remember your trip. There are mall, markets, and boutique vendors that sell a variety of products.

Saint Louis is well-known for its shopping. There are vintage stores, boutiques, and suburban strip malls around town. There are also farmer's markets and art galleries.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis Better for Families?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Both Cabo San Lucas and Saint Louis are very good to visit with kids.

Cabo San Lucas is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the snorkeling, boat rides, and kid-friendly cuisine. There are many places where kids can get up close and personal with animals, such as Wild Canyon’s Kingdom or camel riding. You might even be able to see migrating whales during your visit. Surfing, fishing, and hiking are also popular in the area.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Saint Louis is very family-friendly. There's a surprising number of activities for kids around town. There's the St. Louis Zoo and the City Museum with many hands-on exhibits for kids. There's also the Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary and several farms with animals and nature. Forest Park is an impressive urban park as well.


Is Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis Better for Couples?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Cabo San Lucas is an amazing city to visit for romance. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Cabo San Lucas is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. It has long been a favorite honeymoon destination and couples who enjoy a beach paradise with wildlife, diving, and outdoor adventures will appreciate Cabo San Lucas. There's also amazing Mexican food and world class resorts.

Saint Louis makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Fine dining restaurants and eclectic activities make this city an often overlooked couples destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Cabo San Lucas is well known for backpackers. However, Saint Louis is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Cabo San Lucas. It's a popular tourist destination, and there are a number of hostels and activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Saint Louis is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a number of affordable motels around town but no real hostels.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Saint Louis is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Cabo San Lucas is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Saint Louis is fairly effecient and thorough. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

While Cabo San Lucas offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Buses make up the main form of public transit. They are called Subercabos and run between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.


Is Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis a more walkable city?

Cabo San Lucas
Saint Louis

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its walkability. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Cabo San Lucas is very walkable. The town is relatively easy to walk around with many things close together.

Saint Louis is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are walkable, like the downtown area and the sections around the Gateway Arch.

For even more information, also check out Is Cabo San Lucas Worth Visiting? and Is Saint Louis Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Saint Louis or Cabo San Lucas?

How long in Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cabo San Lucas and Saint Louis. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than in Saint Louis. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Cabo San Lucas, and 1-3 days is enough time in Saint Louis.

Families should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Saint Louis. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Cabo San Lucas, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Saint Louis. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Cabo San Lucas that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Saint Louis if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Cabo San Lucas.


  • How many days in Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis? Ideal Length of Stay
    Cabo San Lucas 3-7 
    Saint Louis 1-3

One day in Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the wild city of Cabo San Lucas. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Most people visit for the nightlife. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Saint Louis, you'll find museums and nightlife. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the adventurous destination of Cabo San Lucas. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Saint Louis is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.


Five days in Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the wild city of Cabo San Lucas. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint Louis. It offers something for everyone. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Cabo San Lucas. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people visit for the nightlife. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Saint Louis. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Saint Louis 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 $139, while the average daily cost in Saint Louis is $184. 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 Cabo San Lucas and Saint Louis in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cabo San Lucas $63
    Saint Louis $101
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cabo San Lucas $126
    Saint Louis $202
Compare Hotels in Cabo San Lucas and Saint Louis

Looking for a hotel in Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis? 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.

Hotels in Cabo San Lucas


Hotels in Saint Louis


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: Cabo San Lucas Hotel Prices and Saint Louis Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cabo San Lucas $28
    Saint Louis $26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:

  • Cabo San Lucas Port to San Jose Del Cabo hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $36
  • Los Cabos Luxury Escalade One-Way Airport Transfer: $157
  • San Jose Del Cabo hotels to Cabo San Lucas Port - Departure Private Transfer: $36
  • Arrival Private Transfer Service One way from Los Cabos airport to Hotel: $188
  • Arrival Share Transfer Service One way from Los Cabos airport to Hotel: $49
  • Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) to Cabo San Lucas Port - Arrival Private Transfer : $33
  • Cabo San Lucas Airport CSL to Cruise Port Arrival Transfer: $33
  • Cabo San Lucas Airport(CSL): Transfer to Cabo San Lucas Port: $161
  • Cabo San Lucas City to Cabo San Lucas Port Private Transfer : $33
  • Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port to Airport CSL Departure Transfer: $33
  • Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port to Cabo San Lucas hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $33
  • Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port: Transfer to Cabo San Lucas hotel: $161

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Louis

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Louis:

  • Arrival transfer St. Louis Airport STL to St. Louis by Car or SUV: $115
  • Departure Transfer St. Louis to St. Louis Airport by Car or SUV: $115
  • Private Transfer from Port Louis Airport (MRU) to Port Louis Port: $76
  • Private Transfer in Saint Louis, MO (STL): $65
  • Private Transfers for Departure from Queens to JFK Airport: $29
  • St. Louis City to St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
  • St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL) to St. Louis City - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
  • St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL) to St. Louis City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131

Is it cheaper to fly into Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis?

Prices for flights to both Saint Louis and Cabo San Lucas 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cabo San Lucas $51
    Saint Louis $54

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.

  • Sunset Dinner Cruise with Domestic Open Bar: $64
  • Tasting Cabo San Lucas Like a Local Food Tour: $70
  • Cabo San Lucas Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Open Bar: $75
  • Seafood Galore, Los Cabos Food Tour: $80
  • Sea to Table Fisherman's Seafood Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $80
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tequila & tacos: $85
  • San Jose del Cabo Morning Food Tour: $86
  • Parrillada dinner with a Private Chef in your villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose: $86
  • San José del Cabo for Meat Lovers Food Tour: $90
  • Catch of the day dinner in your private villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose del Cabo: $90
  • Private Mexican Cooking Class in Your Cabo San Lucas Villa or Condo: $90
  • Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise: Fajitas, Lands End and Party: $94

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Louis

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Louis.

  • The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show - St. Louis, MO: $86

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cabo San Lucas $43
    Saint Louis $46

Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas

Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Your Own Private Luxury Yacht Experience in Cabo, Lunch included: $1.20
  • Tour paseo al Arco + bajada en playa: $12
  • Boat Tour to Cabo San Lucas Arch and Rock Formations: $18
  • Glass bottom boat tour: $19
  • Cabo San Lucas Arch Tour and we go down to Playa del Amor: $19
  • Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $20
  • Water Taxi Tour: $20
  • Glass Bottom Boat Sightseeing Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $23
  • Glass Bottom Boat Tour - Cabo San Lucas: $23
  • Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $23
  • Classic Tour to the Arch in Glass Bottom: $23
  • Tour to The Arch from Cabo San Lucas : $29

Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint Louis

Here are a few typical costs in Saint Louis for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Gateway Arch parking
    $6.00

Tours and Activities in Saint Louis

Here are a few actual costs in Saint Louis for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Interstate 55: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $5.20
  • St Louis Cardinals Baseball Game Ticket at Busch Stadium: $8.66
  • Landmarks Downtown-East Walking Tour: $15
  • Landmarks Downtown-West Walking Tour: $15
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure in St. Louis by Zombie Scavengers: $20
  • Lemp Haunted Neighborhood Walking Tour: $25
  • True Crime Walking Tour in Soulard Neighbourhood: $30
  • St. Louis Narrated Trolley Tour: $30
  • Private Gastronomy Barbecue Tour in St. Louis: $125
  • St. Louis Arch and River Cruise Small Group Walking Tour: $144
  • Best of St. Louis Small Group Tour w/St Louis Arch & River Cruise: $174
  • Romantic Tour in The City of Love: $175

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cabo San Lucas $28
    Saint Louis $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Cabo San Lucas

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cabo San Lucas:

  • Cabo Bar Crawl - The BEST Bar and Clubs in Cabo : $55
  • Wine Tasting Sunset Cruise Tour in San Jose del Cabo: $190

Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Louis

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Louis:

  • The Haunted Lemp Brewery Bottle Works Tour: $25


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabo San Lucas and Saint Louis, we can see that Saint Louis is more expensive. And not only is Cabo San Lucas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cabo San Lucas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cabo San Lucas 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 Saint Louis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Louis than you might in Cabo San Lucas.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive? and Is Saint Louis Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cabo San Lucas or Saint Louis?

Saint Louis has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of Cabo San Lucas and Saint Louis, 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.