Which place is cheaper, Cabo San Lucas or San Fernando?
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 San Fernando or Cabo San Lucas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or Cabo San Lucas, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Fernando or Cabo San Lucas?
San Fernando
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
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San Fernando Prices
Trinidad and Tobago PricesCabo San Lucas Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Fernando $188Cabo San Lucas $159
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $188, while the average daily cost in Cabo San Lucas is $159. 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 San Fernando and Cabo San Lucas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Fernando $74Cabo San Lucas $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Fernando $148Cabo San Lucas $114
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Cabo San Lucas
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Cabo San Lucas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Fernando $50Cabo San Lucas $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:
- Los Cabos Luxury Private Tesla Transfer from Airport to the Pacifica Area: $293
- Airport Transfers to Cabo San Lucas Pacifico Hotels RT: $290
- Cabo San Lucas Port to San Jose Del Cabo hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $289
- Transfer to Cabo San Lucas from Round Trip Airport: $268
- Private Airport Transfers in Los Cabos: $253
- Los Cabos Airport Transfers: $250
- Los Cabos Luxury Private Tesla Airport Transfer: $236
- Private Escalade Airport Transfer in Los Cabos: $220
- San José del Cabo Airport: Roundtrip Transfer Tourist Corridor: $216
- Private Round Trip Transfer to San José del Cabo Art Walk: $215
- Los Cabos Luxury Tesla Transfer from Airport to San José del Cabo Area: $214
- Private Transfer to Cabo San Lucas from Cabo Airport: $210
Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Cabo San Lucas?
Prices for flights to both Cabo San Lucas and San Fernando 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 daySan Fernando $83Cabo San Lucas $80
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.
- Authentic Mexican Legacy Cooking Class in Cabo San Lucas: $75
- AvoCabo Food Tour : $78
- San Jose del Cabo Food Tour & Visit to the Market: $79
- Seafood Galore, Los Cabos Food Tour: $80
- Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise: Fajitas, Lands End and Party: $85
- 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
- San José del Cabo for Meat Lovers Food Tour: $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
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tequila & tacos: $95
- Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music & Open Bar on Cabo Wave: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Fernando $28Cabo San Lucas $39
Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas
Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Art and Wine Evening City tour in San Jose del Cabo for Adults: $119
- Camel Ride, UTV, and The Arch Tour with Lunch & Tequila Tasting!: $249
- Famous Arch tour with Glass Bottom Boat.: $25
- Glass Bottom Boat Sightseeing Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $23
- OffRoad 4X4 UTV Adventure with unlimited Lunch & Tequila : $199
- Platinum Snorkel Tour : $239
- Traditional Tequila Tasting Experience with Jorge Cuervo: $87
- "Exclusive Cabo San Lucas Trimaran Experience with Snorkeling": $180
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Adventure : $180
- 2 Hours Horseback Riding Adventure in Cabo: $130
- 2 Tank Tour in Cabo San Lucas Reserve, Certified Divers with MANTA: $138
- 2 in 1 Tour | Arc Tour with Beach Drop: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Fernando $22Cabo San Lucas $26
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 : $60
- Wine Tasting Sunset Cruise Tour in San Jose del Cabo: $280
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Cabo San Lucas, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Cabo San Lucas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands 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 Cabo San Lucas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cabo San Lucas 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando than you might in Cabo San Lucas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Fernando Expensive? and Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Cabo San Lucas?
San Fernando has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando 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.