Which place is cheaper, Fort-de-France or Cancun?
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 Cancun or Fort-de-France?
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 Fort-de-France can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Fort-de-France?
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.
Fort-de-France
As the largest city and capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France serves as the main entryway for visitors traveling to the island. It is a busy city with a significant population, which creates an atmosphere bustling with traffic amidst its historic and cultural sights.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Cancun Prices
Mexico PricesFort-de-France Prices
Martinique Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $167Fort-de-France $225
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $167, while the average daily cost in Fort-de-France is $225. 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 Fort-de-France in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $96Fort-de-France $91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $192Fort-de-France $182
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Fort-de-France
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Fort-de-France? 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 and Fort-de-France Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $18Fort-de-France $18
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$1.66
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$14
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$17
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Local Bus (for 2)$2.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Cancun Airport to Chiquilá Holbox Ferry: $285
- Limo Transfer Airport Cancun - Puerto Morelos Hotel Zone: $279
- Private Transfer roundtrip (Cancun Airport-Akumal): $259
- Cancun VIP Roundtrip Private Airport Transfer to Hotel Zone: $259
- Cozumel: El Cielo & KUZÁ Beach & Adventure Park with Transfer: $246
- Private Transfer from Cancún Airport (CUN) to Tulum: $241
- Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $233
- Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $220
- Private One Way Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $220
- Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $220
- Private Round Trip Transfer (Cancun Airport - Playa del Carmen): $219
- Airport Transfers to Puerto Juarez - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $211
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France
Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Fort de France Port to Martinique Airport (FDF): $76
- Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $76
- Private Transfer from Fort de France Port to Fort de France: $76
- Private Transfer Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France Port: $76
- Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France - Round-Trip Transfer: $137
- Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France - Arrival Transfer: $68
- Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Fort-de-France?
Prices for flights to both Fort-de-France 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 $49Fort-de-France $116
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$21
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: $62
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Salsa Streets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Tortilla Trails Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- 4h Cooking Class in Cancun with 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $75
- Cancun Historic Downtown Food Tour with 7+ Authentic Tastings: $76
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
- Couples Special Price! Cancun Pirate Show with Dinner & Drinks: $80
- Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun Couples Special: $80
- Couples Special Pirate Show & Dinner! Drinks, Adventure and Fun: $82
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort-de-France
For Fort-de-France, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food tour in the rainforest and St Pierre - Pile et Face: $104
- Martinique: Food tour to Saint-Pierre and waterfall: $124
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $35Fort-de-France $36
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$0.59
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$100
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day ATV, Horse Ride, Ziplines and Cenote Adventure from Cancun: $40
- 1 Day Tour to Bacalar, Cenotes and 7 color Lagoon with lunch from Cancun: $125
- 1-Day Tour to Bacalar with Kayaking, Marmol Beach Club and Cenote: $119
- 1-hour Clear Boat Tour in Nichupte Lagoon from Cancun: $23
- 2 Day Deluxe Tour Tulum and Chichén Itzá: $120
- 2-day tour: Isla Mujeres catamaran and Chichen Itzá: $121
- 20 minutes Jet Pack flight experience in Cancun!: $119
- 2x1 Tulum tour and Chichen Itza tour for 1 price in 2 days: $139
- 3 Hidden Cenotes Experience & Puerto Morelos Reef Snorkeling: $89
- 3 adrenaline activities Atvs Zipline and a swim experience in a cenote: $60
- 3 in 1 Jungle Tour Adventure Cancun: $69
- 3 in 1 Tour to Coba Cenote and Maya Village Riviera Maya: $139
Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.
- Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
- Fort de France - hidden squares and secret corners - a walking tour of FDF: $75
- Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $73
- Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
- Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
- Half-Day Nature and Panorama Tour in Martinique: $108
- Karaib Tour: $66
- Mangrove Guided Tour: $43
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Unmissable Martinique North tour: $75
- Martinique: Cruise and Snorkel with Sea Turtles, Fish and Corals: $75
- Martinique: Dolphin and Turtle-Watching Catamaran Day Tour: $136
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $13Fort-de-France $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: $88
- Brewery Tour Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $130
Sample the Local Flavors in Fort-de-France
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort-de-France:
- Small-Group Tour: Unmissable Martinique with Rum Distillery, Ruins, and More: $75
- North Tour: rainforest, rum distillery, black sand beach etc: $159
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Fort-de-France, we can see that Fort-de-France 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 Fort-de-France 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 Fort-de-France would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fort-de-France 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 Fort-de-France Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cancun or Fort-de-France?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Fort-de-France. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Fort-de-France, 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.