Which place is cheaper, Eagle Beach or Playa del Carmen?
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 Playa del Carmen or Eagle Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Eagle Beach? 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 Eagle Beach?
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.
Eagle Beach
Aruba, only fifteen miles north of Venezuela, is a top Caribbean tourist destination. It's a small island, only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the most popular and beautiful beaches on the island is Eagle Beach. It's a popular beach with the locals, and a common destination for many who are looking for a party. The beach is particularly crowded on Easter weekend. The sand is a sugary white and the waters are a stunning crystal blue color. The beach itself is quite flat and the ocean is so calm it's like swimming in a pool. There are a handful of palm trees if you're seeking shade, but otherwise it's the ideal place to soak up some rays. You'll find some shaded picnic areas as well if you're hoping to enjoy a casual lunch.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesEagle Beach Prices
Aruba Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $89Eagle Beach $500
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $89, while the average daily cost in Eagle Beach is $500. 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 Eagle Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $36Eagle Beach $290
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $72Eagle Beach $580
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Eagle Beach
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Eagle Beach? 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: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $22Eagle Beach $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Akumal to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $83
- CUN Airport One-Way/Round-Trip Transfers to Playa del Carmen: $115
- Cancún Airport Transfer to Playa del Carmen One Way: $127
- Cancún: Cozumel 2-Tank Diving Tour with Lunch & Transfers: $327
- Cancun Airport and Secrets Moxche Playa del Carmen Transfer: $120
- Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen Roundtrip Private Transfer: $165
- Cancun, Riviera Maya and Tulum Airport Transfers : $190
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $130
- Chetumal Airport to Bacalar - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $108
- Chetumal to Chetumal Airport (CTM) - Departure Private Transfer : $66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eagle Beach:
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Round-trip Bus Ticket$2.84
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One Day Scooter Rental$51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eagle Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Eagle Beach:
- Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport (AUA) - Departure Transfer: $39
- Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport(AUA) Departure Transfer: $39
- Aruba Private Airport Transfer: Personalized Arrival: $31
- Aruba Private Van Airport Transfer (Max 5): $55
- Aruba Queen Airport(AUA) to Aruba Island - Round-Trip Transfer: $79
- Aruba Queen Beatrix Airport(AUA) to Aruba Island-Arrival Transfer: $39
- Aruba Restaurant Transfers Service (Round-Trip): $50
- Aruba VIP Airport Transfers (Round-Trip) : $40
- Arubabound Transfers: $40
- Private Airport Transfer Round-Trip Aruba: $49
- Private Guided Beach Meditation & Hike + Transfer + Breakfast: $165
- Private One-Way Transfer Reina Beatrix Airport to Aruba: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Eagle Beach?
Prices for flights to both Eagle Beach 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
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Food Meals for one dayPlaya del Carmen $37Eagle Beach $150
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: $56
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $63
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $79
- Yucatecan Cooking Class & Unlimited Margaritas – Playa del Carmen: $85
- Playa del Camen Vegan Mexican Food Tour: $85
- Temazcal Mayan Ceremony and Dinner in Mayan Village: $89
- Mayan Cooking Class: Chicken Pibil in Secret Cenote: $95
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $109
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $109
- Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eagle Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Eagle Beach.
- Aruba Dinner and Nightlife Tour: $86
- Noord, Aruba: Exclusive Private Dinner aboard the Aqua Donut: $90
- Aruba Caribbean Dinner Sail Experience: $92
- Sunset Sail Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $110
- Sunset Sail: Aruba Dinner Cruise with Open Bar by Catamaran: $119
- Tropical Sailing Experience with BBQ Lunch or BBQ Dinner in Aruba: $135
- Caribbean Cooking Class in Aruba: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $15Eagle Beach $155
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bus Ticket connecting Cancun Central and Playa del Carmen: $6.43
- Mexico City Self-Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen : $16
- Isla Mujeres Sailing tour from Riviera Maya: $16
- Full day tour Chichen Itza : $18
- 4X1 Enjoy a tour to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen : $18
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2025: $19
- Ice Bath Experience on the Beach: $20
- Full day Chichén Itzá Tour from Cancún and Riviera Maya: $22
- Chichen Itza Tour Options with Cenote Swim from Playa del Carmen: $31
- Wild Tulum Day: ATV Tour + Zip Lines + Cenote + Rappel & Lunch!: $35
- Adrenaline Atv tour from Playa del Carmen : $35
Typical Entertainment Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are a few typical costs in Eagle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Full Day Bike Rental$32
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Kayak & Snorkeling Tour$126
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Horseback Riding Tour$89
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4 Hr Snorkel Trip$95
Tours and Activities in Eagle Beach
Here are a few actual costs in Eagle Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Champagne and Diamond Shopping Experience in Aruba: $5.00
- Aruba Ostrich Adventures Entrance Ticket and Unique Tour: $15
- Aruba Mangel Halto and Baby Beach Snorkeling Guided Tour: $37
- Scenic Aruba Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $40
- Explore Aruba Party Bus Tour: $41
- Aruba Countryside Tour: $44
- Aruba Downtown Historic and Cultural Walking Tour: $45
- Aruba Happy Hour Tour: $50
- Aruba Jet Ski Rentals — Exciting Water Adventures Await: $58
- Aruba Sunset Sail Cruise aboard The Dolphin Catamaran: $59
- Full-Day Aruba History and Must-See Landmarks Tour: $59
- Highlights of Aruba Island Tour: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $19Eagle Beach $40
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:
- Madness tour bar crawl Playa del carmen open bar: $99
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Eagle Beach, we can see that Eagle Beach is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Eagle Beach is in Caribbean Islands, 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 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 Eagle Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eagle Beach than you might in Playa del Carmen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Playa del Carmen Expensive? and Is Eagle Beach Expensive?.
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.