Which place is cheaper, Cabo San Lucas or Roatan?
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 Roatan or Cabo San Lucas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Roatan and Cabo San Lucas. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Roatan or Cabo San Lucas?
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
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 Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
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Roatan Prices
Honduras PricesCabo San Lucas Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $42Cabo San Lucas $157
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $42, while the average daily cost in Cabo San Lucas is $157. 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 Roatan and Cabo San Lucas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $10Cabo San Lucas $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $20Cabo San Lucas $114
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Cabo San Lucas
Looking for a hotel in Roatan 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.Roatan $17Cabo San Lucas $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Airport, Hotel or Cruise Port, Ferry Roatan Private Transfer: $35
- Catch a ride to West Bay & back to Port, Hotel, or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $75
- Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $60
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $150
- Extreme Zipline, City Tour, Chocolate, Rum Factory, Beach Break, Transfer: $105
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $80
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $59
- Parasailing, Beach Break, Chocolate Factory with Transfer: $150
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $95
- Roatan Private Catamaran Shipwreck, Blue Channel and Starfish with Transfer: $79
- Roatan West Bay Beach Break with Roundtrip Transfer: $65
- Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Los Cabos International Airport to Hotel: $27
- Los Cabos Airport Roundtrip Shuttle Transfer: $36
- Los Cabos Airport (SJD) to San Jose del Cabo hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) to Cabo San Lucas Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $71
- Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port to Cabo San Lucas hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $71
- Private Transfer from Cabo San Lucas Port to Cabo San Lucas: $71
- Private Transfer from Airport to San Jose del Cabo Hotels: $93
- Cabo San Lucas to Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) Departure Transfer: $93
- Los Cabos Private Airport Transfer to Tourist Corridor: $94
- Los Cabos Airport to Cabo San Lucas, One Way Private Transfer: $95
- Private Minivan Transfer from San Jose Airport to Cabo San Lucas: $95
- Private Transfer from SJD to Cabo San Lucas / San Jose del Cabo: $96
Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or Cabo San Lucas?
Prices for flights to both Cabo San Lucas and Roatan 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 dayRoatan $15Cabo San Lucas $78
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Roatan Cooking Class and Cultural Experience: $125
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
- San Jose del Cabo Tacos and Food Tour: $82
- Sunset Fajita Dinner Cruise in Cabo San Lucas: $89
- Private Mexican Cooking Class in Your Cabo San Lucas Villa or Condo: $90
- Sunset Mexican Dinner Cruise and Live Music in Cabo San Lucas: $95
- Parrillada dinner with a Private Chef in your villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose: $95
- Cabo San Lucas Sunset Dinner Catamaran Cruise to the Arch: $99
- Cabo San Lucas Catamaran Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Open Bar: $99
- Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise: Fajitas, Lands End and Party: $99
- Pirate Ship Sunset Dinner and Show in Los Cabos: $99
- Yo Ho Pirate Sunset Dinner Cruise in Cabo San Lucas: $99
- Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music & Open Bar on Cabo Wave: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roatan $25Cabo San Lucas $38
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Custom Private Roatan Shuttle Tour: Explore at Your Own Pace: $30
- Roatan Fun Bus Group Sightseeing Island Private Tour: $36
- Roatan Zipline & Eco walk/Suspension Bridge Combo Tours: $45
- Roatan Comprehensive Real Estate Tour Experience: $45
- Private Roatan Shopping Tour with Local Guide: $45
- Customizable Island Tour While on Roatan: $45
- Roatan VIP island tour in Honduras: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
- Roatan global Tours in Roatan Island Honduras: $45
- Private Roatan Sightseeing Tour: $49
- Roatan Private island tour In Honduras: $50
- Roatan : Private Customizeble Tour with Driver & Guide: $50
Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas
Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cabo San Lucas 45 Minute Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $14
- Cabo Clear Boat Tour to the Arch: Hotel Pickup Available: $14
- Cabo Clear Boat Tour to the Arch: Lover's Beach Option & Pickup: $14
- ATV and Camel Experience Los Cabos: $17
- ATV Ride and Camel Experience A Double Adventure: $17
- Cabo San Lucas Arch and Lover's Beach Boat Tour: $18
- Group tour of the Cabo San Lucas Arch: $19
- Cabo San Lucas Arch Tour by Glass Bottom Boat: $19
- The Original Adventure of Cabo: Arch and Love Beach: $21
- Cabo San Lucas Glass-Bottom Boat Tour to the Famous Arch: $25
- Cabo San Lucas Arc Transparent Boat Tour: $27
- Cabo San Lucas Arch and Lovers Beach Transparent Boat Tour: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $6.49Cabo San Lucas $25
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
- Roatan Coffee and Chocolate Tour with Brewery Stop: $90
- Roatan Horseback Ride, Island Tour and Brewery Tasting: $125
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 Roatan and Cabo San Lucas, we can see that Cabo San Lucas is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Roatan is in Central 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Roatan Expensive? and Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Roatan or Cabo San Lucas?
Cabo San Lucas has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Roatan 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.