Which place is cheaper, Kansas City or Cancun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cancun or Kansas City?
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 Kansas City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Kansas City?
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.
Kansas City
A large, mid western city that sits on the border between Missouri and Kansa, Kansas City has a population of about 450,000. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it is a surprisingly beautiful city with more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome. Most of the city's suburbs are concentrated in the south but the city is beginning to grow to the north as well. The climate in Kansas City can vary dramatically, in large part because it is so far from any form of water. Winters can range from mild to extremely cold and snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall and quite comfortable but summer months can be incredibly hot and humid.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $124Kansas City $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $124, while the average daily cost in Kansas City is $161. 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 Kansas City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $82Kansas City $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $164Kansas City $176
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Kansas City
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Kansas City? 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 Kansas City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $15Kansas City $44
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:
- transfers between hotels in Cancun hotel strip: $20
- Xplor-ticket included 1 Day Tour from Cancun with hotel transfer : $171
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cancun HTL-APT (CUN): $55
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cancun APT-HTL (CUN): $45
- Travel safe from the Airport to your hotel and back with Jeromi Transfers!: $75
- Transfers in Private Minibus: $97
- Transfers in Private MiniVan wi fi on board: $61
- Transfers in Luxury Sedan from Cancun Airport: $85
- Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $261
- Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $121
- Transfers From Hotel to Hotel: $120
- Transfer in Private vehicle from Cancun Airport (CUN) - Akumal City: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Kansas City?
Prices for flights to both Kansas City 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 $24Kansas City $47
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
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $66
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $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
- Unforgettable Pirate Dinner Adventure in the Mexican Caribbean: $89
- Pirate’s Night Out: Dinner and Entertainment in the Caribbean: $89
- Be amazed with PIRATE SHOW in Cancun, includes Dinner & Open Bar: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $29Kansas City $11
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:
- 2 Day Combo Tour, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor and Chichen Itza Option: $244
- 2 Hours Speed Boat Tour and Snorkeling in Nichupte Lagoon: $39
- Bacalar tour + Lunch + Boat, from Cancun and Riviera Maya: $139
- Coco Bongo Music And Show Ticket: $90
- Full Day All Inclusive Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres : $99
- Full Day Chichen-Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Complete Tour: $37
- Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres Tour: $152
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Platinum Tour with Open Bar: $115
- LDS Tour to Chichen Itza + Cenote : $165
- Party Adventure at Isla Mujeres from Cancun & Playa del Carmen: $93
- Reef and Sunken Ship Snorkeling Experience in Cancun: $85
- Riviera Maya Luxury Snorkeling Cruise with Lunch and Drinks: $139
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $11Kansas City $12
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 Kansas City, we can see that Kansas City 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 Kansas City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kansas City 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 Kansas City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cancun or Kansas City?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Kansas City. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Kansas City, 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.