Which place is cheaper, Victoria or Cancun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cancun or Victoria?
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 Victoria can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Victoria?
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.
Victoria
The capital city of British Columbia, Canada, Victoria is positioned near the southern edge of Vancouver Island. It's a wonderfully pleasant city and has been nicknamed the Garden City because of its vast green space and public gardens. There is a population of just over 80,000 in the city proper and almost 350,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Dating back to 1843, it's also one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. As such, it has many historic buildings and beautiful architecture. It also has the second oldest Chinatown in North America, following San Francisco's.
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 Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $148Victoria $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $148, while the average daily cost in Victoria is $182. 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 Victoria in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $98Victoria $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $196Victoria $226
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Victoria
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Victoria? 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 Victoria Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $18Victoria $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$1.68
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$14
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$17
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Local Bus (for 2)$2.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- transfers between hotels in Cancun hotel strip: $20
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cancun APT-HTL (CUN): $45
- Transfers in Private Minibus: $97
- Transfers in Private MiniVan wi fi on board: $61
- Transfers in Luxury Sedan from Cancun Airport: $85
- Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $261
- Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $121
- Transfers From Hotel to Hotel: $100
- Transfer in Private vehicle from Cancun Airport (CUN) - Akumal City: $74
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Cancun Airport (CUN) - Akumal City: $67
- Transfer in Luxury Mercedes Benz Minivan: $91
- Transfer from Puerto de Chiquila to Cancun Airport: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Victoria
Also for Victoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Seaplane Transfer between Victoria and Whistler: $219
- Victoria to Vancouver Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
- Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Hotel Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
- Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Airport (YVR) Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $87
- Victoria to Vancouver - Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Victoria: $206
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Victoria?
Prices for flights to both Victoria 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 $29Victoria $27
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$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) Dinner Show and Pirates Experience : $63
- (2x1 price) Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show: $63
- (2x1 price)Pirate Adventure! Open Bar, Dinner and Show : $63
- Pirate Show and Dinner (2x1 price)! Best Promo : $64
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Private Ultimate Cancun Taco and Street Mexican Food Tour: $69
- Guided Cancun Local Mexican Food Tour: $77
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Victoria
For Victoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Chocolate Lovers Food Tour: $44
- Chinatown and Old Town Food Tour with Tastings: $58
- Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $59
- Victoria Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $73
- Sip, Savor, Stroll Evening Food Tour: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $35Victoria $45
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$0.60
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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
- Catamaran Cruise in Riviera Maya With Snorkeling & Beach Club: $85
- 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
- LDS Tour to Chichen Itza + Cenote : $165
- Party Adventure at Isla Mujeres from Cancun & Playa del Carmen: $93
- 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
- (4x1) Full day tour to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen : $48
Tours and Activities in Victoria
For Victoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3-Hour Bike Tour of Victoria City & the Coastal Shoreside: $77
- 60-Minute Beacon Hill Park Tour: $204
- 75-Minute The Royal Tour: $245
- 90-Minute The Capital Tour: $286
- Beacon Hill Park Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour of Victoria: $204
- Bike 3-hour City Highlights Tour & coastal ride: $94
- Butchart & Beyond: The Grand Victoria Tour: $329
- COMBO Victoria City Tour & Butchart Gardens & Entry Tix: $98
- Castles, Hoods & Legends - Bike Tour: $51
- Cultural & Historical Victoria Walking Tour: $16
- Downtown Victoria Food & City Tour: $59
- Evening Sip, Savor, Stroll Tour: $149
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $13Victoria $16
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: $37
- Small Group EkBalam Pink Lakes Cenote and Tequila Distillery Tour: $287
Sample the Local Flavors in Victoria
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Victoria:
- Guided Pub Crawl with Ferry Rides and Appetizers: $48
- 3-Hour Street Art & Craft Beer Tour of Victoria, Brewery Tour & Tasting included: $101
- Victoria Wine Tour with Wine Tastings and Charcuterie: $134
- Cowichan Valley Premium Wine Tour: $439
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Victoria, we can see that Victoria is more expensive. And not only is Cancun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Victoria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Victoria 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 Victoria Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cancun or Victoria?
Cancun has a larger population, and is about 87% larger than the population of Victoria. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Victoria, 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.