A Travel Price Comparison for Mexico Playa del Carmen vs. Cabo San Lucas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Playa del Carmen or Cabo San Lucas?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Playa del Carmen 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: Playa del Carmen or Cabo San Lucas?

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Cabo San Lucas or Playa del Carmen?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $79, while the average daily cost in Cabo San Lucas is $135. 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 Playa del Carmen and Cabo San Lucas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Playa del Carmen $39
    Cabo San Lucas $62
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Playa del Carmen $78
    Cabo San Lucas $124
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Cabo San Lucas

Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen 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.

Hotels in Playa del Carmen


Hotels in Cabo San Lucas


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: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices and Cabo San Lucas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Playa del Carmen $23
    Cabo San Lucas $27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:

  • Cancun International Airport From/to Akumal - Private Transfer: $130
  • Punta Sam / Isla Blanca to Cancún Airport (CUN)- Departure Private Transfer: $27
  • Transfer in Private vehicle from Xcaret - Cancun Airport (CUN): $88
  • 2x1 Tour: Isla Contoy, Isla Mujeres, Open Bar, Lunch and Transfers: $190
  • Access to Xel-Há Park with Transfer: $145
  • Airport Transfer Playa del Carmen: $98
  • Airport Transfers to Akumal - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $203
  • Airport Transfers to Playa del Carmen - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $200
  • Airport Transfers to Puerto Aventuras - Private van (ROUND TRIP) FLAT RATE: $190
  • Akumal to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Departure Private Transfer: $40
  • Akumal to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $76
  • Amazing ATV (single) Cenote and Ziplines with Transfer from Playa del Carmen: $80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:

  • Cabo San Lucas Port to San Jose Del Cabo hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $36
  • Los Cabos Luxury Escalade One-Way Airport Transfer: $139
  • Los Cabos Luxury Private Tesla Transfer from Airport to Diamante Area: $310
  • San Jose Del Cabo hotels to Cabo San Lucas Port - Departure Private Transfer: $36
  • Airport Transfer to Cabo San Lucas & Pacific side Hotels & Villas Round Trip: $139
  • Airport to Hotels in Puerto Los Cabos Private Roundtrip Transfer: $230
  • Airport transfers and all: $95
  • Arrival Private Transfer Service One way from Los Cabos airport to Hotel: $66
  • Arrival Share Transfer Service One way from Los Cabos airport to Hotel: $28
  • Cabo Airport CSL to Cabo San Lucas Round Trip Private Transfer: $65
  • Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) to Cabo San Lucas Port - Arrival Private Transfer : $32
  • Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) to Cabo San Lucas Port- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $65

Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Cabo San Lucas?

Prices for flights to both Cabo San Lucas and Playa del Carmen 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
    Playa del Carmen $23
    Cabo San Lucas $50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.

  • Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $57
  • Private Cooking Class Paella Preparation: $64
  • Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $65
  • Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $69
  • Playa del Carmen Food Tour: $71
  • crazy walking food tour Inlakech Playa del Carmen: $73
  • Vegan Mexican Walking Food Tour: $74
  • Hands-on Mexican Cooking Class: $92
  • Seafood Tour in Playa del Carmen: $93
  • PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $99
  • Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen: $110
  • Playa del Carmen Mexican Cooking Experience and Local Markets Tour: $145

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.

  • Sea to Table Fisherman's Seafood Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $62
  • Cabo San Lucas Sunset and Dinner Cruise: $70
  • Tasting Cabo San Lucas Like a Local Food Tour: $75
  • Authentic Mexican Legacy Cooking Class in Cabo San Lucas: $75
  • Eat Like A Local Cabo Food Tour: $78
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise at Cabo San Lucas Bay: $79
  • Seafood Galore, Los Cabos Food Tour: $80
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tequila & tacos: $85
  • Parrillada dinner with a Private Chef in your villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose: $86
  • Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise: Fajitas, Lands End and Party: $89
  • Sunset Mexican Dinner Cruise Fajitas dinner & live music: $89
  • Cabo Sunset Dinner-Party Cruise: $89

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Playa del Carmen $17
    Cabo San Lucas $42

Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen

Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Tulum Legends: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Ancient Mayan City: $6.99
  • Ek Balam Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Tulum Ruins: Self-Guided Tour with Audio Narration & Map: $9.99
  • Shopping Tour & Tulum Mayan Ruins: $11
  • Tulum Ruins, Cancun Self Guided Walking Tour (GPS, Audio and Trivia): $15
  • Entrance to the Xcajum Ecotourism Park: $20
  • Yal-Kú Park in Riviera Maya Admission Ticket: $23
  • Full-Day Tour to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $23
  • General Admission Ticket to Chikin Ha in Playa del Carmen: $26
  • Chichen Itza and Cenote Full Day Tour from Playa del Carmen: $28
  • Ice Bath Experience on the Beach: $30
  • Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to/from Cozumel: $36

Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas

Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Your Own Private Luxury Yacht Experience in Cabo, Lunch included: $1.20
  • Boat Tour to Cabo San Lucas Arch and Rock Formations: $18
  • Glass Bottom Boat Sightseeing Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $23
  • Glass Bottom Boat Tour - Cabo San Lucas: $23
  • Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $25
  • Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $25
  • Glass Bottom Boat Sightseeing Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $25
  • Tours in Cabo to the Arch and Land's End in the only Clear Boat : $30
  • Tours in Cabo to the Arch and Land's End in the only Clear Boat!: $30
  • Early Morning Médano Beach Paddle Boarding Tour: $30
  • Tour to The Arch and Lover's Beach (optional) from Cabo: $30
  • The Fenway Bar Experience: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Playa del Carmen $21
    Cabo San Lucas $28

Sample the Local Flavors in Playa del Carmen

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:

  • Ek Balam, Mayan Cenote, Artisanal Distillery and Valladolid : $169

Sample the Local Flavors in Cabo San Lucas

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cabo San Lucas:

  • Cabo Bar Crawl - The BEST Bar and Clubs in Cabo : $55
  • Wine Tasting Sunset Cruise Tour in San Jose del Cabo: $190

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Cabo San Lucas, we can see that Cabo San Lucas is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen.

Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Cabo San Lucas?

Playa del Carmen is bigger, and its population is about 28% larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the population of Playa del Carmen vs. 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 and the activities 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.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
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Playa del Carmen vs. Cabo San Lucas Travel Comparison

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