Which place is cheaper, Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Iguazu?
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 Puerto Iguazu or Cabo San Lucas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu 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: Puerto Iguazu or Cabo San Lucas?
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
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 Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesCabo San Lucas Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $55Cabo San Lucas $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $55, while the average daily cost in Cabo San Lucas is $161. 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 Puerto Iguazu and Cabo San Lucas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $39Cabo San Lucas $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $78Cabo San Lucas $116
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Cabo San Lucas
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $2.98Cabo San Lucas $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer: $109
- Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers: $399
- Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls: $185
- Iguazú Falls Argentine and Brazilian Sides with Airport Transfers: $79
- Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
- Iguazu Falls (Argentina & Brazil) + Biocenter with Transfers: $126
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $22
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
- Iguazu Falls in 2 Days: Argentina & Brazil with Transfers: $99
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
- Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:
- Transfer to Cabo San Lucas from Round Trip Airport: $272
- San Jose Del Cabo hotels to Cabo San Lucas Port - Departure Private Transfer: $137
- Private transfer from the airport to the tourist corridor.: $94
- Private transfer SJD Airport to San Jose del Cabo Hotels One Way: $100
- Private or Luxury One Way Transfer Airport Los Cabos SJD CSL: $185
- Private Transfer to Cabo San Lucas from Cabo Airport: $220
- Private Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Los Cabos 1-10px: $255
- Private Transfer from San Jose Del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas Port: $96
- Private Transfer from SJD to Cabo San Lucas / San Jose del Cabo: $96
- Private Transfer from Los Cabos Airport to Cabo San Lucas: $210
- Private Transfer from Los Cabos Airport (SJD) to Cabo San Lucas hotels: $137
- Private Transfer from Airport to San Jose del Cabo Hotels: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Cabo San Lucas?
Prices for flights to both Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Iguazu 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 dayPuerto Iguazu $6.11Cabo San Lucas $81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $34
- Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $39
- ASADOR: Argentine Asado Cooking Class: $70
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $75
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
- Rafain Churrascaria Dinner Show from Puerto Iguazu: $125
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $130
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $152
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
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.
- Mexican Cooking Class and Garden Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $75
- Flavors of Authentic Mexican Food Tour: $79
- Seafood Galore, Los Cabos Food Tour: $80
- Cabo Sunset Tour with Dinner and Open Bar: $80
- Small-Group Food Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $82
- Sunset Fajita Dinner Cruise in Cabo San Lucas: $89
- Private Mexican Cooking Class in Your Cabo San Lucas Villa or Condo: $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
- Yo Ho Pirate Sunset Dinner Cruise in Cabo San Lucas: $99
- Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music & Open Bar on Cabo Wave: $99
- Cabo San Lucas Catamaran Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Open Bar: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $32Cabo San Lucas $39
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full-Day Tour: $18
- Hito Tres Fronters and La Aripuca City Tour: $27
- Foz do Iguaçu: Brazil/Argentina Sides Iguazu Falls Day Tour: $41
- Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
- From San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Tour: $46
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Full-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls: $49
- Iguazu Falls Argentine Side Tour & Ecological Train Ride: $55
- Luxury Iguazu, Private Tours: $55
- Iguazú Falls National Park Entry Ticket or Flexipass 3 days: $60
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina + Boat Option (Private Tour): $71
- Iguazu Falls Guided Tour Argentina side: $73
Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas
Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Adventure: $120
- 2 Hour Sunset Tour on Catamaran in Cabo San Lucas: $85
- 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
- 4x4 Automatic ATV and Camel Ride Combo Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $175
- A Full-Day Baja Adventure: La Paz, Balandra Beach & Todos Santos: $130
- ATV & Camel Ride Tour on Migriño Beach: $125
- ATV Adventure: $130
- ATV Adventure in Rancho San Cristobal Cabo San Lucas: $180
- ATV Beach & Dunes Adventure: $170
- ATV Beach and Dunes Adventure in Los Cabos with Tequila Tasting: $56
- ATV Desert Adventure in Baja California Sur with Tequila Tasting: $193
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $7.62Cabo San Lucas $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cabo San Lucas:
- Wine Tasting Sunset Cruise Tour in San Jose del Cabo: $280
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Cabo San Lucas, we can see that Cabo San Lucas is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Cabo San Lucas?
Cabo San Lucas has a larger population, and is about 33% larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu 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.
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.