A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cancun vs. Newton for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cancun or Newton?

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 Newton can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cancun or Newton?

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.

Newton

Newton, a large suburb of Boston, consists of 13 villages or neighborhoods: Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Lower Falls, Newton Centre, Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newtonville, Nonantum, Oak Hill, Thompsonville, Upper Falls, Waban, and West Newton. It's a good sized city with a population of over 80,000. Each village has its own historical and architectural character. Many of the villages were founded around railroad stations when the Boston & Worcester line opened in 1833 along the north side of the city. Another railroad line started along the south side of town in 1851. It's now the "D" line of the MBTA's Green Line. Walking tours of most villages are available and recommended for history buffs.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles.


Which place is cheaper, Newton or Cancun?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Cancun Prices
    Mexico Prices
    Newton Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Cancun $161
    Newton $166

The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $161, while the average daily cost in Newton is $166. 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 Newton in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cancun $93
    Newton $82
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cancun $186
    Newton $164
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Newton

Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Newton? 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.

Hotels in Cancun


Hotels in Newton


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 Newton Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cancun $17
    Newton $80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:


  • Taxi Around Town
    $1.60
  • Airport Shuttle (for 2)
    $13
  • Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)
    $16
  • Local Bus (for 2)
    $1.95

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun

Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Akumal One Way or Roundtrip Private Luxury Transfer: $291
  • Cancun Airport to Tulum Roundtrip Private Transfer: $290
  • Cancun VIP Roundtrip Private Airport Transfer to Hotel Zone: $259
  • Private Transfer roundtrip (Cancun Airport-Akumal): $259
  • Cancun Airport Private Transfer to Tulum (Round Trip): $250
  • Luxury Transfers in a Mercedes Maybach GLS 600: $232
  • Holbox Private Transfer from Cancun Hotels or Airport: $229
  • Private One Way Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $220
  • Private 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
  • Private round airport transfer from Cancun - Puerto Aventuras - airport.: $210

Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Newton?

Prices for flights to both Newton 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 day
    Cancun $47
    Newton $43
Typical Food Prices in Cancun

For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch for Two
    $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun

For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Romantic Sunset Dinner Cruising Experience: $53
  • Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
  • Cancun Food Tour - Taco Attack: Street Food & Tequila Tasting: $69
  • Salsa Streets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
  • Cancun Food Tour: Market 23, Local Flavors & Downtown Culture: $69
  • Cancun Historic Downtown Food Tour with 7+ Authentic Tastings: $76
  • Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
  • Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
  • Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
  • Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun Couples Special: $80
  • Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $81
  • Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $81

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cancun $34
    Newton -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Seasick Pills
    $0.57
  • Whale Shark Tour (for 2)
    $97

Tours and Activities in Cancun

For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 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: $22
  • 2 Islands Tour - Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres from Playa del Carmen: $160
  • 2 in 1 Catamaran to Isla Mujeres Tour from Cancun with Open Bar: $50
  • 2 in 1 Parasailing and Jet Sky Tour in Cancun: $140
  • 2-Day Deluxe Tour: Tulum and Chichén Itzá: $120
  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cancun $13
    Newton -

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: $85
  • Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $115
  • Brewery Tour Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $130


When comparing the travel costs between Cancun and Newton, we can see that Newton is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is Newton Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cancun or Newton?

Cancun has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Newton. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Newton, 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.