Which place is cheaper, Cabo San Lucas or Guatemala City?
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 Guatemala City or Cabo San Lucas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or Cabo San Lucas? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Guatemala City or Cabo San Lucas?
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas ("Cabo") is on the far southern end of the Baja Peninsula. It has countless resorts and activities for visitors. There are world class golf courses, fine dining options, and five star resorts. Prior to the 1980s, Cabo was a quiet fishing village but with the construction of a nearby airport in 1977, the city rapidly grew into one of Mexico's most popular resort vacation spots. Today, Cabo has one of the country's most vibrant nightlife scenes. It also has plenty of water sport activities, and a great beach scene.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
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Guatemala City Prices
Guatemala PricesCabo San Lucas Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $56Cabo San Lucas $159
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in Cabo San Lucas is $159. 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 Guatemala City and Cabo San Lucas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24Cabo San Lucas $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48Cabo San Lucas $114
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Cabo San Lucas
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Cabo San Lucas? 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and Cabo San Lucas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.25Cabo San Lucas $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $33
- Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $167
- Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $26
- Private Airport Transfer from Guatemala to La Aurora airport: $26
- Private Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $25
- Private Arrival Transfer: La Aurora International Airport to Antigua Hotel: $35
- Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $25
- Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $80
- Private Transfer - Guatemala Airport (GUA) to Puerto Quetzal Port: $209
- Private Transfer From La Aurora AirPort to Panajachel Atitlan : $67
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Los Cabos International Airport to Hotel: $23
- Los Cabos Shuttle Airport Roundtrip Transfers: $36
- Los Cabos Airport Private Transfer SJD to Multiple Destinations: $38
- Los Cabos Airport (SJD) to San Jose del Cabo hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $72
- Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) to Cabo San Lucas Port - Arrival Private Transfer : $74
- Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port to Cabo San Lucas hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $74
- Cabo San Lucas to Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port- Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port to Airport CSL Departure Transfer: $74
- Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) to Cabo San Lucas -Arrival Transfer : $80
- Private transfer at VAN Airport Los Cabos - San Jose del Cabo: $85
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer in San José del Cabo APT-HTL(SJD): $91
- Airport transfers and all: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Cabo San Lucas?
Prices for flights to both Cabo San Lucas and Guatemala City 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 dayGuatemala City $27Cabo San Lucas $80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- PRIVATE MAYAN COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF EN Guatemala City: $65
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $175
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cabo San Lucas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cabo San Lucas.
- Authentic Mexican Legacy Cooking Class in Cabo San Lucas: $75
- San Jose del Cabo Food Tour & Visit to the Market: $79
- Flavors of Authentic Mexican Food Tour: $79
- San Jose del Cabo Morning Food Tour: $84
- San José del Cabo for Meat Lovers Food Tour: $90
- Sunset Mexican Dinner Cruise and Live Music in Cabo San Lucas: $95
- Parrillada dinner with a Private Chef in your villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose: $95
- Jumbo Shrimp Dinner in Your Private Villa or Condo in Cabo or San Jose del Cabo: $99
- Cabo San Lucas Sunset Dinner Cruise with Open Bar: $99
- Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music & Open Bar on Cabo Wave: $99
- Sunset E-bike Beach Ride with Mexican Dinner and Margaritas: $109
- San Jose del Cabo City Highlights with Tequila Tasting and Dinner: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.22Cabo San Lucas $39
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
- 2-Hour Culture and Historical Tour From Guatemala: $29
- Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $30
- Guatemala city Walking Tour and public bus: $30
- Walking Tour of Guatemala City's Historical Center: $35
- Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City : $35
- Private Tour: Antigua Guatemala Walking Tour from Antigua Guatemala: $35
- Guatemala city walking tour on afternoon 14.00, 2 persons and up: $39
- Private Tour in the Historic Center of Guatemala City: $45
- City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
- Private Night City Photo Tour in Guatemala: $50
- Historical and natural bike tour in Guatemala City: $50
Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas
Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Shared Experience Glass Bottom Boat to the Arch in Cabo San Lucas: $15
- Boat Tour to Cabo San Lucas Arch and Rock Formations: $17
- The Ultimate Camel Safari Experience in Los Cabos: $17
- Cabo San Lucas Arch Tour and we go down to Playa del Amor: $19
- 2 in 1 Tour | Arc Tour with Beach Drop: $20
- Tour to Arch in the only Clear Boat in Cabo Cruise Hotel PICKUP!: $24
- Tour to Arch in the Clear Boat Cruise Ship Terminal Hotel PICKUP!: $27
- Tour to The Arch and Lover's Beach (optional) from Cabo: $30
- The Fenway Bar Experience: $30
- Transparent Boat Tour Cabo San Lucas Arch and Playa del Amor: $36
- Whale Watching Tour with Arch and Beach in Cabo San Lucas: $38
- Shared Tour to the Arch of Cabo San Lucas: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.93Cabo San Lucas $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City
Also in Guatemala City, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105
Sample the Local Flavors in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cabo San Lucas:
- Wine Tasting Sunset Cruise Tour in San Jose del Cabo: $280
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Cabo San Lucas, we can see that Cabo San Lucas is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guatemala City is in Central America and Cabo San Lucas is in North 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Cabo San Lucas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabo San Lucas than you might in Guatemala City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guatemala City Expensive? and Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Cabo San Lucas?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and Cabo San Lucas, 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.