Should you visit Playa del Carmen or La Paz?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or La Paz? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
La Paz
La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.
Which city is cheaper, La Paz 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 $51, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $74. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Playa del Carmen and La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $25. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Playa del Carmen the cost is $50 on average.
The average price for accommodation for two people in La Paz is $64. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Playa del Carmen cost around $15 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $6.00.
The average traveler spends about $24 per day in La Paz for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Playa del Carmen $15
La Paz $24
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.
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Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors:
$54
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Local Walking Food Tour:
$54
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Walking Food Tour in Downtown Playa del Carmen:
$55
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Vegan Mexican Walking Food Tour:
$69
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Playa del Carmen Food Tour:
$71
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Playa del Carmen Authentic Mexican cooking class and Market Tour:
$91
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Hands-on ● Mexican Cooking Class:
$92
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Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Playa del Carmen:
$103
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Playa del Carmen Mexican Cooking class and Local Markets Tour:
$105
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Traditional Mexican Food Cooking Lesson:
$109
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $15 per day to get around in Playa del Carmen.
The average price of local transportation around La Paz is $14 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
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Shuttle Transfer Cancun Airport - Playa del Carmen:
$13
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Private Transfer to Xcaret Park:
$15
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Private Transfer to Xplor / Xenses / Xplor Fire:
$15
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Transfer in Private Car from-to Xcaret to Cancun Airport (CUN):
$32
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Playa del Carmen to Cancún Airport:
$33
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Transfer in Private Minivan from Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport:
$40
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El Dorado Maroma to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Private Departure Transfer:
$41
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Private Transfer to Xavage / Xoximilco:
$45
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Playa del Carmen to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Private Departure Transfer:
$46
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Private Transfer to Xel-Há Park:
$50
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Parasailing in Playa del Carmen with transfer:
$50
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Departure Private Transfer Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan:
$52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:
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Airport Transfer In_ Day:
$25
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Airport Transfer In_night:
$25
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Airport Transfer Out_day:
$25
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Airport Transfer Out_night:
$25
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Bus Station Transfer In_day:
$25
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Bus Station Transfer Out_day:
$25
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Bus Station Transfer Out_night:
$25
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Day Transfer from Airport to Hotel and Cable Car:
$20
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Departure Private Transfer La Paz City to La Paz Airport LPB by Minibus:
$25
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Departure Private Transfer La Paz City to La Paz Airport LPB by Minibus:
$25
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Departure Private Transfer La Paz City to La Paz Airport LPB by S-Cross Sx4:
$25
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La Paz Airport Transfer One Way:
$373
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $11 per person, per day in Playa del Carmen. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
La Paz's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $7.85 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Playa del Carmen Shopping Tour Fifth Avenue and Mamitas Beach Club:
$9.99
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Playa del Carmen Street Art Tour:
$27
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Playa del Carmen City Tour:
$27
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3D Museum of Wonders Admission Ticket:
$32
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Reef Snorkeling Experience in Playa del Carmen:
$34
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PDC Running Experience w/Breakfast:
$35
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Playa del Carmen PhotoWalk and City Tour:
$37
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Playa del Carmen Private PhotoWalk Tour:
$41
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Playa del Carmen Private Art Tour and Gallery Visit:
$41
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Playa del Carmen Bike Art Tour:
$42
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Chichen itza full day tour:
$43
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Chichen Itza FULL DAY TOUR:
$43
Tours and Activities in La Paz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:
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Virtual City Tour - La Paz:
$4.00
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La Paz City Walking Tour Including Historical Streets:
$5.00
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La Paz City Walking Tour:
$5.00
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La Paz Walking Tour:
$5.00
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Cable Car Tour of La Paz:
$8.00
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La Paz city, nomad bohemian tour:
$10
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Titicaca Lake - Bus Ticket - From La Paz City - Ow:
$12
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Cable Car, Cementery, Shaman and El Alto Adventure in La Paz:
$17
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Private Cable Car City Tour:
$18
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Full Day Tiwanaku Archeological Site Shared Tour:
$20
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Bus City Tour Sightseeing La Paz:
$23
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Tiwanaku and Puma Punku - Shared Tour -:
$23
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Playa del Carmen may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $7.82 on alcoholic beverages in La Paz per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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:
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Playa Del Carmen Private Mexican Wine Tasting:
$152
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and La Paz, we can see that La Paz 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 La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in Playa del Carmen.
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