Which place is cheaper, Jasper National Park or Cancun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cancun or Jasper National Park?
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 Jasper National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Jasper National Park?
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.
Jasper National Park
An UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jasper National Park, located in Canada's Alberta Province, is one of a few national and provincial parks that showcase the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
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 Luxury Tours to Canada, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $148Jasper National Park $82
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $148, while the average daily cost in Jasper National Park is $82. 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 Jasper National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $98Jasper National Park $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $196Jasper National Park $90
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Jasper National Park
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Jasper National Park? 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 Jasper National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $18Jasper National Park $19
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$1.68
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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)$2.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer From & To Cancun Hotel Zone: $57
- Private Transfer to/From Cancun Airpor/Hotel zone: $44
- Airport Transfer Cancun: $60
- Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $231
- Airport Transfers to Puerto Juarez - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $180
- Airport transfers to Isla Mujeres: $175
- Amazing Combo - Horseback Riding, ATV (Single), Cenote & Ziplines with Transfer: $102
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cancun Airport CUN to Tulum by Minivan or Minibus: $117
- Atv Cancun (cenote, Ziplines, Lunch And Transfer Included) : $75
- Boat Adventure in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve with Transfer from Cancún: $192
- Buggy Trip in Cozumel Island with transfer from Riviera Maya: $176
- Cancún Airport (CUN) Cancun hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jasper National Park
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jasper National Park are as follows:
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Park Pass$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jasper National Park
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Jasper National Park:
- Jasper Thermal to Edmonton Airport (YEG) Departure Transfer: $170
- Jasper Thermal Resorts to Calgary Airport YYC Departure Transfer: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Jasper National Park?
Prices for flights to both Jasper National Park 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 $29Jasper National Park $23
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:
- 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jasper National Park
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Jasper National Park.
- Half-Day Jasper Culture Food Tour: $107
- Peak Nic - A hike and an outdoor cooking lesson: $119
- 4-Hours E-Bike Food Tour : $201
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $35Jasper National Park $7.75
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$0.60
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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 Jasper National Park
Here are a few actual costs in Jasper National Park for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 5.5-Hour Jasper Wildlife and Waterfalls Tour with Maligne Lake Cruise from Jasper: $131
- Canadian Rockies Tour by Chauffeured Sidecar from Jasper: $118
- Class 3 Sunwapta River Rafting Adventure in Jasper: $94
- Columbia Icefield Tour with Glacier Skywalk from Jasper: $222
- Explore Jasper Tour: $122
- Explore Jasper Tour with Maligne Lake Cruise: $179
- From Jasper: Jasper National Park Wildlife Discovery Tour: $53
- Icefields Parkway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Jasper Evening Wildlife Tour: $64
- Jasper Ice Climbing Experience: $176
- Jasper National Park Tour: Maligne Valley, Medicine Lake and Spirit Island: $64
- Jasper Rock Climbing Experience: $108
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $13Jasper National Park $11
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 Jasper National Park, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Jasper National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jasper National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jasper National Park 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun than you might in Jasper National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is Jasper National Park 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.