Which place is cheaper, Hot Springs or Cancun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Cancun or Hot Springs?
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 Hot Springs can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Hot Springs?
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.
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $148Hot Springs $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $148, while the average daily cost in Hot Springs is $182. 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 Hot Springs in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $98Hot Springs $100
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $196Hot Springs $200
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Hot Springs
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Hot Springs? 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 Hot Springs Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $18Hot Springs $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
-
Taxi Around Town$1.68
-
Airport Shuttle (for 2)$14
-
Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$17
-
Local Bus (for 2)$2.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cancun Airport Small-Group Transfer to Cancun Hotels: $8.00
- Cancun Airport private transfer to Cancun hotel zone: $15
- Shared Transfer from Cancun Airport : $15
- Shared Transfer from Cancun Airport: $15
- Cancun airport private transfer: $17
- Private Transfer in Cancun: $17
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer To/From Cancun International Airport: $19
- transfers between hotels in Cancun hotel strip: $20
- Private transfer to Cancun Airport from hotels in Cancun Area: $23
- Cancun Hotel Zone Private Transfer From & To Cancun Airport: $25
- Cancun Hotel Zone Private Transfer From and To Cancun Airport: $25
- Private transfer from Cancun Airport CUN to Cancun zones: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Private Departure Transfer from Hot Springs Resort to Little Rock: $71
- Hot Springs Resorts to Memphis Airport (MEM) Departure Transfer: $142
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Hot Springs?
Prices for flights to both Hot Springs 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
-
Food Meals for one dayCancun $29Hot Springs $52
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
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:
- Captain Hook: Pirate Show and Dinner Cruise in Cancun: $46
- Mayan Chichen Itza And Pirate Dinner Two Day Experience: $57
- The Ultimate Cancun Taco & Street Mexican Food Tour: $59
- Dinner Show with Pirates! (2x1 Price): $62
- (2x1 price) Dinner Show and Pirates Experience : $63
- (2x1 price) Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show: $63
- (2x1 price)Pirate Adventure! Open Bar, Dinner and Show : $63
- Pirate Show and Dinner (2x1 price)! Best Promo : $64
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Private Ultimate Cancun Taco and Street Mexican Food Tour: $69
- Guided Cancun Local Mexican Food Tour: $77
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $35Hot Springs $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Seasick Pills$0.60
-
Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$102
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- ATV Jungle Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote Transportation Included: $8.00
- Visit to 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen + Shopping Tour: $8.17
- Cancun Mayan Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket: $12
- Guided Walking Tour of the Punta Cancun Lighting Tower: $14
- Half Day National Reef Park Snorkel Adventure in Puerto Morelos: $15
- El Sol De Cancun : Panoramic Tour in Regular Cabin: $20
- Day Tour to Isla Mujeres Catamarán with Unlimited Drinks: $22
- Explore Tulum, Coba, Cenote, Playa del Carmen full day 4x1 tour: $22
- Chichén Itzá Marvels Day Trip:Cenote Oxman & Valladolid Adventure: $25
- ATV, Ziplines and Cenote swim full experience from Cancún : $25
- Adrenaline day in Cancun, Atvs, Ziplines and Cenote experience in the best park!: $25
- Zipline, Cenote and ATV Adventure with Pickup: $25
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs, AR: Magic Springs Theme & Water Park Ticket: $44
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $13Hot Springs $22
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: $37
- Small Group EkBalam Pink Lakes Cenote and Tequila Distillery Tour: $287
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Hot Springs, we can see that Hot Springs is more expensive. And not only is Cancun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Hot Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cancun or Hot Springs?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Hot Springs, 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.