Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Cancun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cancun or Saint Thomas?
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 Saint Thomas can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Saint Thomas?
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.
Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $124Saint Thomas $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $124, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $218. 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 Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $82Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $164Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Saint Thomas? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $15Saint Thomas $37
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:
- Cancun Airport to Tulum Roundtrip Private Transfer: $290
- Limo Transfer Airport Cancun - Puerto Morelos Hotel Zone: $279
- Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $261
- Round trip private transfer VAN-Airport-Hotel-Airport-Puerto Morelos: $260
- Private Transfer roundtrip (Cancun Airport-Akumal): $259
- Roundtrip Transfer Service to Costa Mujeres and Playa Mujeres: $248
- Luxury Transfers in a Mercedes Maybach GLS 600: $242
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer One Way: To or From Akumal Area Up to 15 Pass.: $239
- Full-Day Tour to Xcaret Plus with Transfer from Playa del Carmen and Lunch: $238
- Private Transfer from Cancún Airport (CUN) to Tulum : $230
- Private SUV transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $225
- Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $220
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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Taxi Ride$5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vi Top Taxi - St. Thomas Airport Transfer to Wyndham Margaritaville: $180
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours - Airport Transfer to the Ritz Carlton : $180
- VI Top Taxi and Tours - St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $90
- St Thomas Airport to St Thomas Arrival Private Transfer: $113
- Private Hotel and Resorts Transfers: $173
- Private Airport Transfer in Luxury Vehicle- St. Thomas, USVI: $179
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St.Thomas-Airport Transfer Bluebeard’s / Yacht Haven: $110
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St. Thomas Airport Transfer to Wyndham Margaritaville: $160
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay / Limetree: $110
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $160
- PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St.Thomas-Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove: $110
- PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St. Thomas- Airport Transfer to Ritz Carlton Elysian : $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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 $24Saint Thomas $54
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:
- Señor Frogs Ticket with 2-Course Dinner and Drink: $33
- Captain Hook: Pirate Show and Dinner Cruise in Cancun: $46
- The Ultimate Cancun Taco & Street Mexican Food Tour: $49
- Mayan Chichen Itza And Pirate Dinner Two Day Experience: $57
- (2x1 price) Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show: $63
- (2x1 price) Dinner Show and Pirates Experience : $63
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $67
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $67
- Cooking Show & Tequila Tasting: $73
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class : $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pizza Pi Shuttle™ (Official) - St Thomas : $95
- Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $109
- St. John Dinner Sail to Lovango with Open Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres - Westin: $119
- Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
- Cruz Bay - PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail: $159
- St. Thomas Dinner Sail to Lovango w/ Open Bar and Hors D'oeuvres - Ritz-Carlton: $159
- St. Thomas Dinner Sail to St. John with Open Bar & Hors D'oeuvres - Ritz-Carlton: $169
- Waterfront Harbor Dinner Sail from Frenchman's Reef: $209
- St Thomas Legends Luxury Dinner Sail from the Ritz Carlton: $209
- Swim w/Turtles at St. John, Pizza Pi & Snorkel a shipwreck. : $213
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $29Saint Thomas $60
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
- 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
- Holbox Island Magic Tour from Cancun : $144
- Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres Tour: $152
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Platinum Tour with Open Bar: $115
- LDS Tour to Chichen Itza + Cenote : $165
- Private Tour to Tulum Ruins and Cenotes : $257
- Reef and Sunken Ship Snorkeling Experience in Cancun: $85
- Riviera Maya Luxury Snorkeling Cruise with Lunch and Drinks: $139
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- Two-Hour Sightseeing Excursion : $58
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $169
- 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $179
- 2-Day Adventure Tour of St Thomas and St John: $199
- Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
- Afternoon Snorkeling Adventure in St Thomas: $120
- Best of Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Adventure with Picnic Lunch: $159
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
- Charlotte Amalie Walking Tour + Contemporary Art Experience: $149
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $10
- Cocktail Sunset Cruise aboard Breakaway Charters at Sapphire: $115
- Cocktail Sunset Cruise from Sapphire Beach Resort - 4:30 pm : $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $11Saint Thomas $27
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cancun or Saint Thomas?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Saint Thomas, 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.