Which place is cheaper, Eagle Beach or Cancun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cancun or Eagle Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cancun and Eagle Beach can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Eagle Beach?
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.
Eagle Beach
Aruba, only fifteen miles north of Venezuela, is a top Caribbean tourist destination. It's a small island, only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the most popular and beautiful beaches on the island is Eagle Beach. It's a popular beach with the locals, and a common destination for many who are looking for a party. The beach is particularly crowded on Easter weekend. The sand is a sugary white and the waters are a stunning crystal blue color. The beach itself is quite flat and the ocean is so calm it's like swimming in a pool. There are a handful of palm trees if you're seeking shade, but otherwise it's the ideal place to soak up some rays. You'll find some shaded picnic areas as well if you're hoping to enjoy a casual lunch.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $124Eagle Beach $341
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $124, while the average daily cost in Eagle Beach is $341. 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 Cancun and Eagle Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $82Eagle Beach $227
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $164Eagle Beach $454
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Eagle Beach
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Eagle Beach? 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: Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $15Eagle Beach $33
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$1.40
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$12
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$14
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to/From Cancun Airpor/Hotel zone: $44
- 1-Day Xavage Park with hotel transfer service from Cancun: $189
- ATV Cancun and Tulum Tour: Zipline and round trip transfer: $36
- Airport Private Transfer Puerto Aventuras: $96
- Airport Transfer Cancun: $60
- Airport Transfers to Puerto Juarez - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $154
- Airport Transfers to Puerto Morelos - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $133
- Airport transfers to Isla Mujeres: $175
- Arrival Private Transfer Cancun Airport CUN to Cancun by Minivan or Minibus: $34
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cancun Airport CUN to Tulum by Minivan or Minibus: $117
- Atv Cancun (cenote, Ziplines, Lunch And Transfer Included) : $69
- Boat Adventure in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve with Transfer from Cancún: $192
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eagle Beach:
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Round-trip Bus Ticket$2.22
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One Day Scooter Rental$40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eagle Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Eagle Beach:
- VIP luxury limousine airport transfer one way!: $190
- VIP Luxury Sedan Airport Transfer: $105
- VIP Luxury SUV Airport Transfer: $120
- Transfers & Pickups: $67
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Aruba Reina Beatrix Airport (AUA)- Aruba: $25
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Aruba Airport (AUA) - Aruba: $55
- Round-Trip Aruba Airport Transfer: $22
- Round Trip Private Airport Transfer: $120
- Private Transfer from Reina Beatrix Airport to Oranjestad Aruba: $45
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad Queen Airport to Oranjestad Port: $36
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad Port to Oranjestad Queen Airport: $36
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad Cruise Port to Oranjestad city: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Eagle Beach?
Prices for flights to both Eagle Beach and Cancun 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 dayCancun $24Eagle Beach $68
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$18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Captain Hook: Pirate Show and Dinner Cruise in Cancun: $46
- The Ultimate Cancun Taco & Street Mexican Food Tour: $49
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $66
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $66
- Private Ultimate Cancun Taco and Street Mexican Food Tour: $69
- Cooking Show & Tequila Tasting: $72
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class : $79
- Cancun Private Mural Art and Food Tour: $81
- Be amazed with PIRATE SHOW in Cancun, includes Dinner & Open Bar: $89
- Unforgettable Pirate Dinner Adventure in the Mexican Caribbean: $89
- Pirate’s Night Out: Dinner and Entertainment in the Caribbean: $89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eagle Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Eagle Beach.
- Noord, Aruba: Exclusive Private Dinner aboard the Aqua Donut: $90
- Aruba Caribbean Dinner Sail Experience: $92
- Aruba Dinner and Nightlife Tour: $93
- Sunset Sail Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $110
- Tropical Sailing Experience with BBQ Lunch or BBQ Dinner in Aruba: $115
- Sunset Sail: Aruba Dinner Cruise with Open Bar by Catamaran: $119
- Caribbean Cooking Class in Aruba: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $29Eagle Beach $121
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$0.50
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$85
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Visit to 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen + Shopping Tour: $7.76
- Tour to Kin Ha Cenotes with Craft Jewelry Workshop : $9.70
- Guided Walking Tour of the Punta Cancun Lighting Tower: $14
- Half Day National Reef Park Snorkel Adventure in Puerto Morelos: $15
- Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus City Tour: $17
- El Sol De Cancun : Panoramic Tour in Regular Cabin: $20
- Best ATV & Mavericks Experience in Cancun + Cenote + Zip Lines : $20
- Party like a Local Mexican Shot Experience in Cancun : $20
- ATV Tour from Cancun and Puerto Morelos with Ziplines and Cenote.: $20
- Cancun Lighthouse Tour with Cenote Tour and Shopping Tour: $20
- Sail to Paradise: Catamarán to Isla Mujeres Adventure!: $22
- Explore Tulum, Coba, Cenote, Playa del Carmen full day 4x1 tour: $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are a few typical costs in Eagle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Full Day Bike Rental$25
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Kayak & Snorkeling Tour$98
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Horseback Riding Tour$70
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4 Hr Snorkel Trip$74
Tours and Activities in Eagle Beach
Here are a few actual costs in Eagle Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Aruba Semi-Submarine Cruise from Oranjestad: $60
- Discover Snorkeling Tour Mangel Halto & Baby Beach: $115
- 2-Hour Horseback Riding Tour to Little Natural Bridge in Aruba: $93
- 2-Seater UTV Island Tour in Aruba: $99
- Action-Packed Half Day Aruba UTV Tour and Cave Pool: $210
- Adventure Kayak & Snorkeling at Reef Island Aruba: $130
- Antilla Shipwreck Seabob Tour: $120
- Art, Facts & Baby Beach UTV Adventure by Fofoti: $235
- Aruba ATV Adventure: Off-Road Tour in Single and Double Seaters: $109
- Aruba Beach and Cave Island Tour : $78
- Aruba Cave Pool and Secret Beach Safari Tour: $82
- Aruba Countryside Tour: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $11Eagle Beach $31
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Social Pub Crawl in Cancun: $32
- Brewery Tour / Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $129
- Small Group EkBalam Pink Lakes Cenote and Tequila Distillery Tour: $287
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Eagle Beach, we can see that Eagle Beach is more expensive. And not only is Cancun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North America and Eagle Beach is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Cancun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cancun 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 Eagle Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eagle Beach than you might in Cancun.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is Eagle Beach Expensive?.
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.