Should you visit Montevideo or Cabo San Lucas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montevideo and Cabo San Lucas 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: Montevideo or Cabo San Lucas?
Montevideo
As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.
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 The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
Which place is cheaper, Cabo San Lucas or Montevideo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $70, while the average daily cost in Cabo San Lucas is $169. 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 Montevideo and Cabo San Lucas in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Montevideo 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:
Montevideo Hotel Prices and
Cabo San Lucas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
1 - way - Transfer from Carrasco Interational Airport to Montevideo:
$70
-
Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers:
$41
-
Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo - Arrival Private Transfer:
$40
-
Carrasco Airport(MVD) to Montevideo - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$73
-
Montevideo to Carrasco Airport (MVD) - Departure Private Transfer:
$37
-
Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer:
$45
-
Shared One-Way Transfer: Airport ↔ Hotel:
$49
-
Private Transfer Montevideo Airport to Hotel O Hotel - Aero:
$23
-
Private Transfer Montevideo to José Ignacio:
$135
-
Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo Port:
$85
-
Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport to Montevideo:
$40
-
Private Transfer from Montevideo Cruise Port to Montevideo city:
$80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:
-
Private Round Trip Transfer Los Cabos Airport to Cabo San Lucas:
$300
-
Los Cabos Luxury Private Tesla Transfer from Airport to the Pacifica Area:
$293
-
Private Round-trip Transfer from SJD Airport to Cabo San Lucas:
$284
-
Cabo San Lucas Port to San Jose Del Cabo hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$284
-
Private Airport Transfers in Los Cabos:
$268
-
Los Cabos Luxury Private Tesla Transfer from Airport to Cabo San Lucas Area:
$261
-
Private Airport Transfer to Los Cabos Hotels:
$250
-
Private Los Cabos Airport to San Jose del Cabo Transfer:
$250
-
Los Cabos Luxury Private Tesla Airport Transfer:
$236
-
Los Cabos Luxury Private Tesla Transfer from Airport to Tourist Corridor Area:
$236
-
Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer: SJD to Los Cabos - up to 13:
$230
-
Los Cabos Airport Transfers:
$220
Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Cabo San Lucas?
Prices for flights to both Cabo San Lucas and Montevideo 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
Montevideo $22
Cabo San Lucas $84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Montevideo Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide:
$65
-
Private Uruguayan Cooking Class with Local Chef:
$85
-
Uruguayan Wine Pairing Dinner at City Winery Uruguay:
$90
-
Show + Dinner - El Milongon (No Transport):
$93
-
The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.:
$98
-
Dinner and Tango Show at Primuseum Restaurant:
$100
-
Dinner and Tango Show at the Historic Bar Fun Fun, Established in 1895:
$100
-
El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango and Folklore:
$107
-
Traditional Dinner & Tango Show at Primuseum:
$110
-
Food Tour with Asado, Chivito, and Mate:
$221
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.
-
Seafood Galore, Los Cabos Food Tour:
$80
-
Sunset Fajita Dinner Cruise in Cabo San Lucas:
$80
-
Flavors of Authentic Mexican Food Tour:
$84
-
Taste Tacos & Street Food Like a Local: Cabo San Lucas Food Tour:
$85
-
San Jose del Cabo Tacos and Food Tour:
$89
-
Private Mexican Cooking Class in Your Cabo San Lucas Villa or Condo:
$90
-
San José del Cabo for Meat Lovers Food Tour:
$90
-
Catch of the day dinner in your private villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose del Cabo:
$90
-
Sunset Mexican Dinner Cruise and Live Music in Cabo San Lucas:
$95
-
The Only Sunset Dinner Cruise in Cabo with a Live Pirate Show:
$98
-
Sunset Booze Cruise with Drinks, Fajita Dinner and Party Vibes:
$98
-
Cabo Pirate Adventure: Family Sunset Dinner & Show:
$99
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
-
Montevideo's Culture and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$5.00
-
El Juguetero Museum Entry Ticket:
$7.00
-
Museo Andes 1972 / Crash Memorial Admission Ticket:
$8.00
-
Guided Tour of the National Hat Factory:
$10
-
Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour:
$13
-
Experience the Local Magic at a Bohemian Nightclub with a Live Show:
$20
-
Complete Half-Day Tour with Guide and 6 Stops:
$20
-
Half-day Regular City Tour at Montevideo:
$25
-
Half-Day City Tour with Live Guide:
$25
-
Montevideo Jogging Tour:
$25
-
Tourist Bus Discover Montevideo:
$25
-
Bodegas Carrau Winery Tour with Tastings:
$25
Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas
Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
"Exclusive Cabo San Lucas Trimaran Experience with Snorkeling":
$180
-
1 Hour Jet Ski Adventure:
$180
-
2 Hour Sunset Tour on Catamaran in Cabo San Lucas:
$85
-
2 Hours Horseback Riding Adventure in Cabo:
$130
-
2 in 1 Tour | Arc Tour with Beach Drop:
$21
-
2-Hour Camel Ride Beach and Desert Adventure Experience:
$120
-
2-Hour Whale Watching Tour in Cabo with Breakfast:
$130
-
2-Hours Sunset Experience at Los Cabos with Jazz and Bar! from Los Cabos:
$165
-
2x1 Tour: Cabo San Lucas Arch + Camels Ride + Pick up!:
$55
-
30-Minute Jetski Adventure in Los Cabos:
$65
-
4-Hour Snorkeling Tour in Cabo San Lucas and Corridor:
$109
-
4x4 ATV Adventure with Tequila Tasting and Mexican Buffet Lunch:
$75
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
-
Bodega Pizzorno wine tasting in Montevideo:
$45
-
Wine tasting of 4 wines from 4 wineries & empanadas in Montevideo:
$50
-
Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting:
$125
-
Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers:
$198
-
Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay:
$205
-
Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience:
$220
-
Wine Tasting Tour for Cruise Passengers:
$450
Sample the Local Flavors in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cabo San Lucas:
-
Cabo Bar Crawl to the Best Bars and Clubs in Cabo:
$60
-
Wine Tasting Sunset Cruise Tour in San Jose del Cabo:
$280
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Cabo San Lucas, we can see that Cabo San Lucas is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montevideo is in South 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 Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Montevideo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montevideo Expensive? and Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Cabo San Lucas?
Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of Montevideo 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.
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