Which place is cheaper, Cabo San Lucas or Veracruz?
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 Veracruz or Cabo San Lucas?
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 Veracruz and Cabo San Lucas can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or Cabo San Lucas?
Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.
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Veracruz Prices
Mexico PricesCabo San Lucas Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVeracruz $140Cabo San Lucas $156
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $140, while the average daily cost in Cabo San Lucas is $156. 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 Veracruz and Cabo San Lucas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $48Cabo San Lucas $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $96Cabo San Lucas $112
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and Cabo San Lucas
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz 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: Veracruz Hotel Prices and Cabo San Lucas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Veracruz $25Cabo San Lucas $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Roundtrip Private Airport Transfer Veracruz (VER) to City: $30
- Shared Arrival Transfer: General Heriberto Jara International Airport to Veracruz Hotels: $23
- Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $41
- Veracruz Private Airport Transfer (VER) to City: $15
- Veracruz Private Transfer from City to Airport (VER): $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:
- Los Cabos: Whale Shark Swim Private Tour with Transfers: $585
- Los Cabos: Private Tour with Roundtrip Transfers: $585
- Los Cabos Luxury Private Tesla Transfer from Airport to the Pacifica Area: $293
- Airport Transfers to Cabo San Lucas Pacifico Hotels RT: $286
- Cabo San Lucas Port to San Jose Del Cabo hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $286
- Los Cabos Luxury Private Tesla Transfer from Airport to Cabo San Lucas Area: $261
- Private All Inclusive Cabo San Lucas Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $250
- Private Airport Transfers in Los Cabos: $249
- Los Cabos Luxury Private Tesla Airport Transfer: $236
- Pacific: Transfer from Hotel Zone to Animas Bajas: $229
- Transfer Animas Bajas Magic Town: $225
- Private Escalade Airport Transfer in Los Cabos: $220
Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or Cabo San Lucas?
Prices for flights to both Cabo San Lucas and Veracruz 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 dayVeracruz $76Cabo San Lucas $78
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
- Cabo San Lucas Food Tour: $77
- San Jose del Cabo Food Tour & Visit to the Market: $77
- AvoCabo Food Tour : $78
- Cabo San Lucas Seafood Tour (Sea-to-Table): $84
- Sunset Dinner: $85
- Los Cabos: Sunset Fajitas Dinner Cruise on Cabo Escape: $86
- Los Cabos: Pirate Ship Sunset Cruise & Show with Dinner: $89
- Sunset Dinner on a Pirate Boat: $90
- San José del Cabo for Meat Lovers Food Tour: $90
- Parrillada dinner with a Private Chef in your villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose: $95
- Sunset Mexican Dinner Cruise and Live Music in Cabo San Lucas: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Veracruz $13Cabo San Lucas $38
Tours and Activities in Veracruz
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.
- Panoramic Sightseeing City Bus Tour: $7.04
- Panoramic Sightseeing Bus City Tour of Veracruz: $8.00
- San Juan de Ulua Fortress Skip-the-Line Ticket: $12
- 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $23
- Mandinga And Boat Trip Tour: $24
- Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $25
- From Nature & Seafood Boat Tour to Madinga: $25
- San Juan De Ulua Tour: $26
- From San Juan de Ulua Prison Tour: $27
- Panoramic Sightseeing City Tour and Aquarium: $34
- Veracruz City Tour with San Juan de Ulúa and Mandinga Boat: $45
- Snorkeling Adventure at Isla de En Medio: $47
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
- Exclusive Experienced Surfing Adventure with 4x4 & Photography: $180
- OffRoad 4X4 UTV Adventure with Lunch & Tequila : $199
- Platinum Snorkel Tour : $239
- #1 Whale Watching Tour: 2 Hours at Arch & Lover’s Beach: $49
- 2-Hours Sunset Experience at Los Cabos with Jazz and Bar! from Los Cabos: $175
- 2.10 Hour Sunset Tour on Catamaran in Cabo San Lucas : $75
- 2.15 Hour Sunset Tour on Catamaran in Cabo San Lucas: $85
- 4x4 ATV Adventure with Tequila tasting and Mexican buffet lunch: $75
- 6-Hour Guided City and Cruise Tour of Los Cabos with Lunch: $119
- A taste of Los Cabos. A San Jose and Cabo San Lucas City Tour : $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVeracruz $15Cabo San Lucas $25
Sample the Local Flavors in Cabo San Lucas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cabo San Lucas:
- Los Cabos: Bar Crawl: $82
- Wine Tasting Sunset Cruise Tour in San Jose del Cabo: $280
When comparing the travel costs between Veracruz and Cabo San Lucas, we can see that Cabo San Lucas is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Veracruz Expensive? and Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or Cabo San Lucas?
Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz 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.