Which place is cheaper, Eagle Beach or Tulum?
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 Tulum or Eagle Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tulum and Eagle Beach can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Tulum or Eagle Beach?
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
Eagle Beach
Aruba, only fifteen miles north of Venezuela, is a top Caribbean tourist destination. It's a small island, only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the most popular and beautiful beaches on the island is Eagle Beach. It's a popular beach with the locals, and a common destination for many who are looking for a party. The beach is particularly crowded on Easter weekend. The sand is a sugary white and the waters are a stunning crystal blue color. The beach itself is quite flat and the ocean is so calm it's like swimming in a pool. There are a handful of palm trees if you're seeking shade, but otherwise it's the ideal place to soak up some rays. You'll find some shaded picnic areas as well if you're hoping to enjoy a casual lunch.
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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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesEagle Beach Prices
Aruba Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $141Eagle Beach $391
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $141, while the average daily cost in Eagle Beach is $391. 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 Tulum and Eagle Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $57Eagle Beach $227
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $114Eagle Beach $454
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Eagle Beach
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or Eagle Beach? 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: Tulum Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $27Eagle Beach $33
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Cancun Airport Private Transfer to/from Conrad Tulum: $102
- Departure Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan - Minibus: $155
- EV Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport: $135
- Luxury SUV Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport: $280
- Luxury Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $250
- One Way Private Transfer Tulum Zone - Cancun Int Airport: $170
- Private Luxury SUV Transfers from Tulum Airport: $206
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Private Roundtrip Transfer from Tulum Airport to Tulum Hotels: $270
- Private Transfer Cancun International Airport CUN to Tulum City: $125
- Private Transfer From Tulum To Chiquila Port: $203
- Private Transfer From Tulum to Cancun With a 2 Hour Stop: $207
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eagle Beach:
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Round-trip Bus Ticket$2.22
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One Day Scooter Rental$40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eagle Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Eagle Beach:
- Aruba Airport Private Transfers (ONE-WAY): $25
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Aruba Reina Beatrix Airport (AUA)- Aruba: $25
- Aruba Private Airport Transfer one way: $26
- Aruba Private Airport Transfer: Personalized Arrival: $31
- Private Transfer from Aruba Queen Airport (AUA) to Aruba Island: $35
- Aruba Airport Transfers (ROUND-TRIP): $38
- Aruba Queen Beatrix Airport(AUA) to Aruba Island-Arrival Transfer: $39
- Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport(AUA) Departure Transfer: $39
- Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport (AUA) - Departure Transfer: $39
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $40
- One Way Private and Reliable Airpot Transfers in Aruba: $43
- Round-Trip Aruba Airport Express Transfer: $51
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Eagle Beach?
Prices for flights to both Eagle Beach and Tulum 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 dayTulum $57Eagle Beach $117
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Salsa Class,Mezcalita Workshop & Mexican Dinner: $88
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch in a Local Home in Tulum: $102
- Temazcal Mayan Ritual Tour and Cenote Swim with Yucatecan Dinner: $149
- Private Authentic Mayan Cooking Class with Tulum Hotel Transfers: $280
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eagle Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Eagle Beach.
- Noord, Aruba: Exclusive Private Dinner aboard the Aqua Donut: $90
- Aruba Caribbean Dinner Sail Experience: $92
- Sunset Sail: Aruba Dinner Cruise with Open Bar by Catamaran: $119
- Tropical Sailing Experience with BBQ Lunch or BBQ Dinner in Aruba: $135
- Caribbean Cooking Class in Aruba: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $30Eagle Beach $121
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Coba Ruins Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $9.99
- Tulum Mayan Ruins GPS Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Return Home: $11
- Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of Tulum: $15
- Cenotes Casa Tortuga Admission Ticket: $15
- The Tulum Sea Turtle and Rays 1.5 Hours Snorkel Experience: $25
- ATV Tour from Tulum or Riviera with Ziplines and Cenote Swim Day: $25
- Tulum Cenote Tour 5 Cenotes and Awaken Your Senses: $30
- 4 Sacred Cenotes Adventure with Rappel and Mayan Ceremony: $31
- Cancun: ATV Jungle Adventure, Cenote and Tulum Ruins Tour: $32
- Tulum Archaeological Site Ticket with Jaguar Park Access: $35
- Tulum Extreme Mayan Adventure with ATV, Zipline and Cenote: $38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are a few typical costs in Eagle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Full Day Bike Rental$25
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Kayak & Snorkeling Tour$98
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Horseback Riding Tour$70
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4 Hr Snorkel Trip$74
Tours and Activities in Eagle Beach
Here are a few actual costs in Eagle Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Champagne and Diamond Shopping Experience in Aruba: $5.00
- Aruba Ostrich Adventures Entrance Ticket and Unique Tour: $17
- Aruba Mangel Halto and Baby Beach Snorkeling Guided Tour: $37
- Scenic Aruba Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $40
- Explore Aruba Party Bus Tour: $41
- Aruba Downtown Historic and Cultural Walking Tour: $45
- Aruba Countryside Tour: $49
- Half-Day Aruba Island Tour from Oranjestad: $55
- Aruba Baby Beach Express Tour: $55
- Aruba Jet Ski Rentals — Exciting Water Adventures Await: $58
- Full-Day Aruba History and Must-See Landmarks Tour: $59
- Aruba Sunset Sail Cruise aboard The Dolphin Catamaran: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $24Eagle Beach $31
Sample the Local Flavors in Eagle Beach
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Eagle Beach:
- Aruba Happy Hour Party Bus Pub Crawl: $82
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Eagle Beach, we can see that Eagle Beach is more expensive. And not only is Tulum much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Eagle Beach is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Tulum would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tulum 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 Eagle Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eagle Beach than you might in Tulum.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Eagle Beach Expensive?.
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.