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

Should you visit Cancun or Sucre?

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

Where Should I go: Cancun or Sucre?

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.

Sucre

Sucre is famous for its gorgeous town center and delightful climate, making it for many Bolivia's most beautiful city. Also considered the symbolic heart of the nation, 'La ciudad blanca' or the white city has preserved stunning whitewashed buildings sheltering pretty patios and other beauties of colonial architecture. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991 and is under strict controls on development. It offers many attractions including historic buildings and a renowned theatre, but you can also wander around prehistoric sites and discover indigenous culture in the surrounding towns and countryside.

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 3-Day Tours from La Paz, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Sucre or Cancun?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $148, while the average daily cost in Sucre is $43. 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 Sucre in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cancun $98
    Sucre $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cancun $196
    Sucre $22
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Sucre

Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Sucre? 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 Sucre


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 Sucre Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cancun $18
    Sucre $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun

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


  • Taxi Around Town
    $1.68
  • Airport Shuttle (for 2)
    $14
  • Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)
    $17
  • Local Bus (for 2)
    $2.04

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun

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

  • Private RoundTrip Transfer to Xplor Adventure Park from Cancun: $297
  • Cancun Airport to Tulum Roundtrip Private Transfer: $290
  • Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $261
  • Round trip private transfer VAN-Airport-Hotel-Airport-Playa del Carmen: $260
  • Round trip private transfer VAN-Airport-Hotel-Airport-Puerto Morelos: $260
  • Round trip Private airport transfer to Playa del Carmen Flat Rate per vehicle: $241
  • Full-Day Tour to Xcaret Plus with Transfer from Playa del Carmen and Lunch: $238
  • Airport Transfers to Costa Mujeres - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $232
  • Private Transfer from Cancún Airport (CUN) to Tulum : $222
  • Private One Way 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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sucre

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Sucre are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sucre

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

  • Private transfer Sucre - Uyuni, stopover in Potosí Mines: $227
  • Private Transfer from Sucre Airport SRE to Sucre by SUV or Car: $23
  • Private MiniVan or Bus Transfer from Sucre Airport SRE to Sucre: $28
  • Departure Transfer from Sucre to Sucre Airport by MiniVan or Bus: $27

Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Sucre?

Prices for flights to both Sucre 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 $29
    Sucre $18
Typical Food Prices in Cancun

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


  • Lunch for Two
    $21

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
  • Mayan Chichen Itza And Pirate Dinner Two Day Experience: $57
  • The Ultimate Cancun Taco & Street Mexican Food Tour: $59
  • Dinner Show with Pirates! (2x1 Price): $62
  • (2x1 price) Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show: $63
  • (2x1 price) Dinner Show and Pirates Experience : $63
  • (2x1 price)Pirate Adventure! Open Bar, Dinner and Show : $63
  • Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
  • Dinner Show on a Pirate Ship from Cancun with Open Bar: $65
  • Guided Cancun Local Mexican Food Tour: $78
  • Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
  • Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79

Typical Food Prices in Sucre

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Sucre:


  • Dinner
    $4.48
  • Juice
    $0.87
  • Juice
    $1.01
  • Chocolate
    $1.73
  • Cappuccino
    $4.34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sucre

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

  • Traditional Bolivian Cooking Class w/ Cocktail Making by La Boca del Sapo, Sucre: $40

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cancun $35
    Sucre $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun

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


  • Seasick Pills
    $0.60
  • Whale Shark Tour (for 2)
    $102

Tours and Activities in Cancun

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

  • ATV Jungle Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote Transportation Included: $8.00
  • Bacalar tour + Lunch + Boat, from Cancun and Riviera Maya: $139
  • Coco Bongo Music And Show Ticket: $105
  • Full Day All Inclusive Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres : $99
  • Holbox Island Magic Tour from Cancun : $144
  • Riviera Maya Luxury Snorkeling Cruise with Lunch and Drinks: $139
  • (4x1) Full day tour to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen : $48
  • (4x1) Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen tour in one day: $50
  • 1-Day Tour to Bacalar with Kayaking, Marmol Beach Club and Cenote: $115
  • 1-Day Xavage Park Tour from Cancun: $186
  • 12 hour Holbox Plus Tour with Cenote Lunch and Transportation: $105
  • 15 Hours Guided Tour Holbox Island in Mexico: $115

Tours and Activities in Sucre

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sucre.

  • 2-Day Icla Canyon Tour from Sucre: $87
  • From Tour in English Uyuni salt flat tour 2 Days: $150
  • From Uyuni salt flat tour 2 days 1 night: $125
  • Guided Walking Tour in Sucre: $20
  • Hiking Tour in El Palmar from Sucre Bolivia: $250
  • JATUN YAMPARA - Agro-artisan Indigenous Nucleus -Full Day Tours + Lunch: $79
  • JATUN YAMPARA - Nucleo Indigena, Agroartesanal - Half Day Tours: $58
  • Private Cultural Tour in Sucre with Visit to 3 Museums: $44
  • Private Half Day Tour: Sucre Walking Tour with Hotel Pick up: $67
  • Sucre - Walking City Tour - Half Day - English Speaking guide: $64
  • Sucre City Tour With Visit to Cretaceous Park: $123
  • Sucre City Tour with a German local! Something different!: $19

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cancun $13
    Sucre $13

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: $38
  • Brewery Tour / Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico: $116


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Sucre, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Sucre much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North America and Sucre 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 Sucre would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sucre 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 Sucre.

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


Which is Bigger, Cancun or Sucre?

Cancun has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Sucre. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Sucre, 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.