Which place is cheaper, La Paz 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 La Paz?
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 La Paz can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or La Paz?
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.
La Paz
La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.
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 Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.
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Cancun Prices
Mexico PricesLa Paz Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $153La Paz $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $153, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $56. 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 La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $89La Paz $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $178La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Cancun and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or La Paz? 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 La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $16La Paz $9.45
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$1.52
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$15
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Xcaret 1 Day Tour from Cancun with Hotel Transfer: $228
- Tulum One Way Or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $132
- Transfers From Hotel to Hotel: $120
- Transfer in Luxury Mercedes Benz Minivan: $96
- Transfer from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen: $123
- Transfer Redondo Private Airport Cancun to Playa del Carmen: $145
- Transfer Airport-Hotel ( One Way ) Apto Cancun to Playa del Carmen: $87
- Transfer Airport To Excellence Finest Atelier Playa Mujeres: $75
- Super Combo ATV in Cancun with Zipline, Snorkel, Cenote, transfer: $115
- Shared transfer R/T VAN Apto-Muelle Ferry Isla Mujeres-Apto C/ Tickets Ferry: $40
- Shared Transfer from Cancun Airport : $6.00
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer To/From Cancun International Airport: $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from your Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $54
- Private Transfer from La Paz to Uyuni.: $295
- Private Transfer from El Alto Airport to La Paz, Bolivia Hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
- Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $77
- Private Transfer La Paz Airport LPB to La Paz City by MiniVan/Bus: $28
- Private Transfer From your Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $68
- Private Transfer From Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $52
- Private Transfer From Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $68
- Private Transfer From Bus Station to Hotel in La Paz City : $68
- Private Departure Transfer: La Paz Hotels to El Alto International Airport: $37
- Bus Station Transfer Out_night : $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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 $45La Paz $29
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$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cancun Pirate Ship Adventure : Dinner & Show at Sea 2 for 1 Deal: $50
- Pirate Show in Cancun! Dinner & drinks: $62
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Pirate Shop & Dinner at Cancun! Drinks, Adventure and Fun: $65
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $77
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Cancun Private Mural Art and Food Tour: $81
- Hands-On Cooking Class in Drink & Cook Authentic Dishes: $85
- Pirate’s Night Out: Dinner and Entertainment in the Caribbean: $89
- Unforgettable Pirate Dinner Adventure in the Mexican Caribbean: $89
Typical Food Prices in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Fruit$0.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- La Paz : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $77
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $32La Paz $16
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$0.54
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$92
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: $260
- 3 in 1 Tour to Coba Cenote and Maya Village: $149
- Atv tour from Cancun with ziplines and cenote swim experience: $30
- Cancun Private Street Art Tour: $65
- Clear Boat Tour in Cancun 1.5 hours great for pictures: $19
- Coco Bongo Music And Show Ticket: $90
- Holbox plus Island Magic by boat Tour from Cancun : $144
- Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres Tour from Cancun: $152
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Platinum Tour with Open Bar: $115
- LDS Tour to Chichen Itza + Cenote : $215
- Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos Day Tour from Cancun: $105
- Private Tour to Tulum Ruins and Cenotes : $257
Tours and Activities in La Paz
For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Private Tour to Tiwanaku Ruins and Puma Punku.: $173
- Bike Tour to the Death Road: $85
- Chacaltaya 5,435m & Valle De Luna. 2 For 1 Special Tour.: $38
- Cholet Tour - Andean Architecture and Culture - El Alto: $26
- City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
- City Tour with Drone!: $204
- City Walking Tour in La Paz: $8.00
- Copacabana & Isla del Sol. 2Days1Night. SPANISH GUIDE. PRIVATE TOUR. MIN 2 PPL: $174
- Cusco Bus Ticket from La Paz City 7:30 a.m. : $60
- Customizable Private City Tour - La Paz: $45
- Death Road Biking - DOUBLE SUSPENSION BIKE (SHARED TOUR): $100
- Death Road Biking Tour: $78
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $12La Paz $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: $35
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and La Paz, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is La Paz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North America and La Paz is in South America, 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 La Paz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Paz 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 La Paz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cancun or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 50% larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and La Paz, 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.