Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Kathmandu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kathmandu or Cancun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kathmandu and Cancun can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Kathmandu or Cancun?
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
-
Kathmandu Prices
Nepal PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKathmandu $55Cancun $163
The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $55, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $163. 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 Kathmandu and Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKathmandu $36Cancun $94
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKathmandu $72Cancun $188
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Cancun? 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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices and Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kathmandu $6.14Cancun $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
-
Taxi Ride$1.33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
- Trishuli River Rafting Day Trip from Kathmandu with Transfers: $279
- Tribhuvan International Airport Transfer Service: $12
- Rent a Private Car with Driver for Kathmandu City Transfer: $25
- Private car transfer from Kathmandu Airport to hotels in Kathmandu: $15
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Pokhara Hotels: $244
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel: $25
- Private Transfer: Hotel to Kathmandu Airport Vehicle: $35
- Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
- Private Transfer to Bhaktapur from Kathmandu: $65
- Private Luxury Car Transfer all over Nepal: $88
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
-
Taxi Around Town$1.62
-
Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
-
Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$16
-
Local Bus (for 2)$1.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cancun Airport Small-Group Transfer to Cancun Hotels: $6.00
- Shared Cancun Airport Transfer to Moon Palace Hotel: $6.49
- Shared Transfer from Cancun Airport: $7.00
- Shared Transfer from Cancun Airport: $7.00
- Cancun Airport private transfer to Cancun hotel zone: $15
- Private Cancun Airport Transfer to Hotels One Way: $16
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Hotel Zone, Puerto Juarez, Puerto Morelos: $16
- CUN Airport to Cancun City Centre Hotels Shared Transfer: $17
- Cancun airport private Transfer: $17
- Cancun CUN Airport One Way Private Transfer to Cancun Hotel Zone: $17
- Private Transfer in Cancun: $17
- transfers between hotels in Cancun hotel strip: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun and Kathmandu 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 dayKathmandu $13Cancun $48
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
-
Dessert$1.19
-
Dinner for Two$2.65
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Saturday Hidden Kathmandu Walk and Food Tour: $9.50
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
- Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $24
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking Class: $30
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Momo Cooking Class -The Art Of Making MoMo with Home Chef: $35
- Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings: $35
- Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
- Exotic Food Tour Newari Flavors and Evening Trails 15 Tastings: $40
- Walking Food tour: Food and Drink Tasting with Guide In Kathmandu: $40
- Walking Street Food Tour in Kathmandu: $48
- Women Empowerment Project(Nepali cooking class & jewelry workshop: $50
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch for Two$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour in Cancun with a Local Guide: $61
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Tortilla Trails Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Cancun Food Tour - Taco Attack: Street Food & Tequila Tasting: $69
- Cancun Street Food Tour – Local Market & Downtown Experience: $69
- Salsa Streets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Cancun Historic Downtown Food Tour with 7+ Authentic Tastings: $76
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
- Couples Special Price! Cancun Pirate Show with Dinner & Drinks: $80
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $82
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kathmandu $7.09Cancun $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
-
Monkey Temple for Two$1.33
-
Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.32
-
Swayambhunath Stupa$1.33
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu: $70
- 1 Day Gay Tour Nepal: $155
- 1 Day Kathmandu Heritage 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch: $99
- 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $35
- 1 Day Valley Rim Biking Tour in Kathmandu: $160
- 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141
- 1 Night 2 Days Daman Tour: $215
- 1 Nights 2 Days Private Nagarkot Tour Package from Kathmandu: $150
- 2 Day Kathmandu City with Nagarkot Sunrise, Changu Narayan and Bhaktapur Tour: $236
- 2 Day Kathmandu Sightseeing with Panauti, Namobuddha Tour from Kathmandu: $163
- 2 Day Poon Hill Trek with 2 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $731
- 2 Days Hindu Pilgrimage Tour in Nepal: $146
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Seasick Pills$0.58
-
Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$98
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cancun's Hidden Gems: A Self-Guided Tour: $8.15
- 7 Days Self Guided AI Audio Tours to Cancun and Yucatan: $12
- Cancun Beach Taco Tour Culinary Journey with Tequila Tasting: $15
- Discover Isla Mujeres tour with snorkel, buffet and open bar: $15
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling, Open Bar and Buffet: $16
- Tour to Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $17
- 4X1 VIP Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen Tour: $18
- Chichen Itzá Tour from Cancun and Riviera Maya for the best price, Book now!: $18
- Chichen Itza Mayan adventure: $18
- Mayan Culture and Speedboat Adventure in Cancun: $18
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling Spinnaker and Lunch: $18
- Chichen Itza Tour Full day food included: $18
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKathmandu $5.09Cancun $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Bar Tour & Pub Crawl -Sip, Stroll, Repeat Thamel's Night: $75
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $115
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kathmandu and Cancun, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kathmandu is in Asia and Cancun 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 Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kathmandu Expensive? and Is Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Cancun?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Cancun, 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.