Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Santo Domingo?
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 Santo Domingo or Cancun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Santo Domingo and Cancun can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santo Domingo or Cancun?
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is a vibrant city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and modernity. Known for being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, Santo Domingo offers a wealth of experiences that cater to every type of traveler.
Traveling to Santo Domingo on a budget is entirely achievable with some strategic planning. Accommodations range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. The Zona Colonial, the historic district, offers several affordable lodging options that provide easy access to major attractions. Hostels offer comfortable accommodations and a chance to meet fellow travelers, too. Eating on a budget is also feasible in Santo Domingo. Local eateries, known as "comedores," serve traditional Dominican dishes at reasonable prices.
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Santo Domingo Prices
Dominican Republic PricesCancun Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanto Domingo $106Cancun $163
The average daily cost (per person) in Santo Domingo is $106, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $163. 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 Santo Domingo and Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanto Domingo $43Cancun $94
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanto Domingo $86Cancun $188
Compare Hotels in Santo Domingo and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Santo Domingo or Cancun? 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: Santo Domingo Hotel Prices and Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santo Domingo $4.87Cancun $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santo Domingo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santo Domingo:
- Uvero Alto to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Private Transfer: $43
- Transfer in Tesla from SDQ Airport to Santo Domingo: $68
- Transfer from the Americas Inter. Airport to Punta Cana: $235
- Transfer from Santo Domingo SDQ /JBQ Airport to Punta Cana Hotels: $192
- Transfer from Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Samana Cruise Port: $120
- Transfer from Airport to Hotel throughout Santo Domingo Dom Rep: $45
- Transfer Private Airport SDQ to your Hotel in Santo Domingo: $65
- Experience at the Museo del Ron Dominicano, Private Transfer.: $28
- Bahía de las Águilas w/ Private Transfer: $250
- Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $29
- Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $36
- Santo Domingo to La Romana transfer: $177
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.62
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$16
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cancun Airport Small-Group Transfer to Cancun Hotels: $6.00
- Shared Cancun Airport Transfer to Moon Palace Hotel: $6.49
- Shared Transfer from Cancun Airport: $7.00
- Shared Transfer from Cancun Airport: $7.00
- Cancun Airport private transfer to Cancun hotel zone: $15
- Private Cancun Airport Transfer to Hotels One Way: $16
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Hotel Zone, Puerto Juarez, Puerto Morelos: $16
- CUN Airport to Cancun City Centre Hotels Shared Transfer: $17
- Cancun airport private Transfer: $17
- Cancun CUN Airport One Way Private Transfer to Cancun Hotel Zone: $17
- Private Transfer in Cancun: $17
- transfers between hotels in Cancun hotel strip: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Santo Domingo or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun and Santo Domingo 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 daySanto Domingo $57Cancun $48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santo Domingo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santo Domingo.
- Cooking Class in Santo Domingo:6 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $42
- Food Tour & Paradise Beach Day with Drinks: $140
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour in Cancun with a Local Guide: $61
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Tortilla Trails Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Cancun Food Tour - Taco Attack: Street Food & Tequila Tasting: $69
- Cancun Street Food Tour – Local Market & Downtown Experience: $69
- Salsa Streets Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $69
- Cancun Historic Downtown Food Tour with 7+ Authentic Tastings: $76
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
- Cancun Taco & Mexican Food Tour with Tequila Tasting: $79
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class: $79
- Couples Special Price! Cancun Pirate Show with Dinner & Drinks: $80
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santo Domingo $15Cancun $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Santo Domingo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Santo Domingo are as follows:
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Snorkeling Tour$44
Tours and Activities in Santo Domingo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santo Domingo are as follows:
- 6 Hours Private Cultural Tour in Santo Domingo: $190
- 6-Hour Private Tour of Águilas Bay and the Bauxite Mine: $130
- Cabarete Caves & Nature Adventure: $128
- Cumayasa Private Buggies Tour from Santo Domingo: $135
- Dominican Food, Rum, and Beer Tasting Experience: $35
- Experience the Three Eyes Park and Columbus Lighthouse: $45
- From Catalina Island Day Tour: $85
- From Full day Historical Tour with Lunch: $75
- Full Day ATV and Buggies Tour Through Macao: $150
- Full Dominican Adventure: Zipline, ATV Buggie, Horseback & Safari: $266
- Full-Day Cultural Adventure Tour of Santo Domingo from Samana: $140
- Full-Day Santo Domingo Tour with Pick Up in Punta Cana: $90
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.58
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$98
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cancun's Hidden Gems: A Self-Guided Tour: $8.15
- 7 Days Self Guided AI Audio Tours to Cancun and Yucatan: $12
- Cancun Beach Taco Tour Culinary Journey with Tequila Tasting: $15
- Discover Isla Mujeres tour with snorkel, buffet and open bar: $15
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling, Open Bar and Buffet: $16
- Tour to Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $17
- 4X1 VIP Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen Tour: $18
- Chichen Itzá Tour from Cancun and Riviera Maya for the best price, Book now!: $18
- Chichen Itza Mayan adventure: $18
- Mayan Culture and Speedboat Adventure in Cancun: $18
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling Spinnaker and Lunch: $18
- Chichen Itza Tour Full day food included: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanto Domingo $8.02Cancun $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl Madness Tour in Cancun: $115
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santo Domingo and Cancun, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Santo Domingo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santo Domingo is in Caribbean Islands and Cancun 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 Santo Domingo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santo Domingo 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun than you might in Santo Domingo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santo Domingo Expensive? and Is Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santo Domingo or Cancun?
Santo Domingo has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Santo Domingo and Cancun, 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.