Which place is cheaper, Tucson or Cabo San Lucas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cabo San Lucas or Tucson?
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 Tucson 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.
Where Should I go: Cabo San Lucas or Tucson?
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.
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, and The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCabo San Lucas $116Tucson $157
The average daily cost (per person) in Cabo San Lucas is $116, while the average daily cost in Tucson is $157. 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 Tucson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCabo San Lucas $53Tucson $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCabo San Lucas $106Tucson $186
Compare Hotels in Cabo San Lucas and Tucson
Looking for a hotel in Cabo San Lucas or Tucson? 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: Cabo San Lucas Hotel Prices and Tucson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cabo San Lucas $23Tucson $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer in San José del Cabo HTL-APT(SJD): $105
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer in San José del Cabo APT-HTL(SJD): $91
- Transfer in private minivan from San Jose del Cabo - Los Cabos Airport (SJD): $53
- Transfer in private minivan from Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - Cabo San Lucas: $65
- Transfer in private minivan from Cabo San Lucas - San Jose del Cabo(SJD): $67
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - Touristic Corridor: $64
- Transfer from the Airport to the Tourist Corridor IDA: $101
- Transfer from Cabo San Lucas Airport CSL to Cabo San Lucas : $34
- Transfer from Airport to Cabo San Lucas: $300
- San José del Cabo: Half-Day Guided ATV Ride with Transfers: $129
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - San Jose del Cabo: $105
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - Cabo San Lucas: $126
Is it cheaper to fly into Cabo San Lucas or Tucson?
Prices for flights to both Tucson 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
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Food Meals for one dayCabo San Lucas $42Tucson $36
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: $75
- Cabo San Lucas Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Open Bar: $75
- Tasting Cabo San Lucas Like a Local Food Tour: $75
- Sunset Boat Tour Includes Open Bar and Dinner: $79
- San Jose del Cabo Morning Food Tour: $80
- Sea to Table Fisherman's Seafood Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $80
- Seafood Galore, Los Cabos Food Tour: $80
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tequila & tacos: $85
- Sunset Dinner: $85
- Parrillada dinner with a Private Chef in your villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose: $86
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cabo San Lucas $36Tucson $16
Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas
Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Art and Wine Evening City tour in San Jose del Cabo for Adults: $119
- Camel Ride, UTV, and The Arch Tour with Lunch & Tequila Tasting!: $249
- Glass Bottom Boat Sightseeing Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $23
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $25
- Margaritas Beach and Desert ATV Tour: $80
- OffRoad 4X4 UTV Adventure with Lunch & Tequila : $199
- Romantic tour in Cabo San Lucas: $186
- Traditional Tequila Tasting Experience with Jorge Cuervo: $49
- #1 Snorkeling Tour in Catamaran. Open bar & Snacks included: $80
- "Exclusive Cabo San Lucas Trimaran Experience with Snorkeling": $180
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Adventure : $180
- 2 Hour City Tour and Whale Watching: $96
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCabo San Lucas $24Tucson $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cabo San Lucas:
- Los Cabos: Bar Crawl: $82
- Wine Tasting Sunset Cruise Tour in San Jose del Cabo: $190
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabo San Lucas and Tucson, we can see that Tucson 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 Tucson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tucson 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 Tucson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cabo San Lucas or Tucson?
Tucson has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of Cabo San Lucas and Tucson, 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.