Which place is cheaper, Oranjestad 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 Oranjestad?
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 Oranjestad can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Oranjestad?
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Cancun Prices
Mexico PricesOranjestad Prices
Aruba Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $153Oranjestad $431
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $153, while the average daily cost in Oranjestad is $431. 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 Oranjestad in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $89Oranjestad $241
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $178Oranjestad $482
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Oranjestad
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Oranjestad? 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 Oranjestad Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $16Oranjestad $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:
- Cancun Private Round trip Airport Transfer: $65
- Airport Transfer Cancun: $60
- Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $215
- Akumal One Way Or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $139
- Atv Cancun (cenote, Ziplines, Lunch And Transfer Included) : $49
- Best SpeedBoat and Snorkeling tour with Transfer from Cancun: $25
- Cancún Airport (CUN) Cancun hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Akumal - Private Arrival Transfer: $107
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Akumal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $214
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Cancun hotel or address - Private Arrival Transfer: $38
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to El Dorado Maroma - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $212
- Cancún Airport (CUN) to Playa del Carmen - Private Round-Trip Transfer: $180
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Oranjestad
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Oranjestad:
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Round-trip Bus Ticket$2.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad:
- Reina Beatrix Airport: Round-Trip Shared Transfer: $22
- Private Round-Trip Transfer from Aruba Airport to Hotel: $68
- Aruba: Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $22
- Aruba Oranjestad Queen Airport (AUA): Transfer to island: $131
- Aruba (AUA) : Airport Private Transfer to Aruba City: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Oranjestad?
Prices for flights to both Oranjestad 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 $45Oranjestad $139
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oranjestad
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Oranjestad.
- Aruba: Sip and Savor Local Food Tour: $95
- Oranjesta: Sunset Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $32Oranjestad $116
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:
- ATV Tour, Zip Lines, Horseback Riding, Cenote and Tequila Tasting: $10
- Tour to Kin Ha Cenotes with Craft Jewelry Workshop : $12
- Tulum Mayan Ruins + Shopping Tour + Tulum Jaguar Park: $13
- Discover Isla Mujeres tour with snorkel, buffet and open bar : $14
- Visit to 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen + Shopping Tour: $14
- Speedboat jungle tour and snorkel: $15
- Tour to Tulum and Cenote for the best price! : $16
- Full Day Tour to Coba and Tulum Cenote Swim and Lunch: $16
- Catamaran Adventure in Cancun: $16
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling, Open Bar and Buffet: $16
- Chichen Itza full day tour: $16
- Chichen Itza Tour Full day food included: $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Oranjestad
Here are a few typical costs in Oranjestad for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Full Day Bike Rental$32
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Horseback Riding Tour$89
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Golf$159
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Kayak & Snorkeling Tour$126
Tours and Activities in Oranjestad
Here are a few actual costs in Oranjestad for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-Hour Aruba Highlights Guided Tour: $49
- Aruba Arikok National Park Hiking Tour: $57
- Aruba Downtown Historic And Cultural Walking Tour: $75
- Aruba: 4-Hour ATV Adventure: $142
- Aruba: Amazing UTV Island Tour: $99
- Aruba: Arikok Park Rancho Loco Natural Pool Horseback Tour: $160
- Aruba: Barhopping Party Bus Tour with DJ and Dancing: $92
- Aruba: Beach Hopping Snorkeling Tour: $57
- Aruba: Guided Countryside Exploration Tour: $45
- Aruba: Natural Pool, Caves & Baby Beach Jeep Adventure: $89
- Aruba: North Coast EZ Raider Adventure: $95
- Aruba: Northcoast UTV Afternoon Adventure: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $12Oranjestad $40
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 Oranjestad, we can see that Oranjestad is more expensive. And not only is Cancun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North America and Oranjestad is in Caribbean Islands, 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 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 Oranjestad would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oranjestad 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 Oranjestad Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cancun or Oranjestad?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Oranjestad. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Oranjestad, 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.