How much does it cost to travel to Cabo San Lucas?
You should plan to spend around $117 (MX$2,312) per day on your vacation in Cabo San Lucas. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $43 (MX$846) on meals
- $24 (MX$464) on local transportation
- $107 (MX$2,113) on hotels
A one week trip to Cabo San Lucas for two people costs, on average, $1,642 (MX$32,368). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Cabo San Lucas has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Cabo San Lucas expensive to visit?
Prices in Cabo San Lucas are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Cabo San Lucas is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in North America for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Vernon, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Key West.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Cabo San Lucas?
The average Cabo San Lucas trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Cabo San Lucas travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
MX$2,113
($107)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
MX$464
($24)
|
|
Food 2
|
MX$846
($43)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
MX$710
($36)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
MX$236 -
709
($12 - 36)
|
Accommodation Budget in Cabo San Lucas
The wide range of prices for hotels and accommodation in Cabo San Lucas can be very surprising. Some destinations have much higher price tags than others, and even within the same areas you can find a big difference between the budget-friendly and higher-end hotels. Also, during peak season, prices are much higher. You can save a good bit of money if you travel during the low season or shoulder seasons, as room prices adjust according to the overall demand. Booking in advance can often save you money, too.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Cabo San Lucas is $54 (MX$1,056). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Cabo San Lucas is $107 (MX$2,113). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Cabo San Lucas? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in Cabo San Lucas include:
- Villa la Estancia Beach Resort & Spa starting at $234
- Casa Natalia Los Cabos starting at $169
- Alegranza Luxury Resort - All Master Suite starting at $275
Transportation Budget in Cabo San Lucas
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Cabo San Lucas is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $24 (MX$464) per person, per day, on local transportation in Cabo San Lucas.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$24
MX$464
Some of the standard hotel transfers and transport options include:
- Round trip Private Transfer from Airport to Cabo San Lucas for $240 details
- Airport Transfer to Cabo San Lucas & Pacific side Hotels & Villas Round Trip for $149 details
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Airport to Pacific Side for $300 details
How much does it cost to go to Cabo San Lucas? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Cabo San Lucas will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Cabo San Lucas
Calculated from travelers like you
If you're looking to experience the culinary culture in Cabo San Lucas, taking a food tour or cooking class is a terrific way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. Some of the best food-related activities here include:
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tequila & tacos for $85 details
- Private Mexican Cooking Class in Your Cabo San Lucas Villa or Condo for $90 details
- Catch of the day dinner in your private villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose del Cabo for $90 details
Entertainment Budget in Cabo San Lucas
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Cabo San Lucas typically cost an average of $36 (MX$710) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$36
MX$710
Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Cabo San Lucas. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Multimillion Yacht Luxury Sailing Cruise Sunset or Snorkel Cabo! For $58 details
- Hidden Waterfalls Hiking Adventure for $145 details
- Whale Watching Group Tour in San Jose del Cabo for $95 details
Alcohol Budget in Cabo San Lucas
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $24 (MX$473) on alcoholic beverages in Cabo San Lucas per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$24
MX$473
Tasting tours and nightlife activities are very popular in Cabo San Lucas. A few of the favorites from previous visitors include:
- Wine Tasting Sunset Cruise Tour in San Jose del Cabo for $190 details
- Los Cabos: Bar Crawl for $82 details
Cabo San Lucas on a Budget
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
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.
Cabo San Lucas has a tropical desert climate. Winter is the high season and you can expect large crowds between the months of November and February. Nighttime low temperatures rarely drop below the 50s Fahrenheit and summer temperatures can climb into the 90s Fahrenheit. Sea temperatures in the winter months are in the low 70s Fahrenheit and during the summer they are in the low 80s Fahrenheit. Rain and humidity are at their highest between the months of July and September. Hurricanes are not uncommon and it is best to plan your vacations around this time.
Sights
Cabo San Lucas is filled with character. There are plenty of natural attractions and monuments in the area, but most people visit for the beaches.
Land's End is a great place to visit with excellent views. There are
large rock formations that have been carved by the wind and water. It's possible to walk here during low tide along Playa del Amante. Also make sure you check out the Church of San Luca and the Cultural Center in town so you can understand some of the history in the area.
If you're in town between the months of January and March then you must go whale watching. It's easy to find a boat and the sight is very impressive.
Neighborhoods
Cabo is divided into three different areas. San Jose del Cabo is known as the "Old Town". This area has old world Mexican charm intermingled with new, high end resorts. It's also the area closest to the airport.
The "Main Town" is further from the airport and houses most of the entertainment options in town. There's plenty of nightlife and shopping here, as well as the famous arch.
The highway connecting the two areas is known as "the corridor". It is lined with golf courses, new condos, and resorts along the coastline.
Activities
Water sports are abundant in Cabo San Lucas. Scuba diving is particularly good and there plenty of dive shops to choose from. Snorkeling is also an option.
Cabo is also considered a top fishing destination in the world. Marlin, sailfish, tuna, dorado and wahoo are all common in the waters where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez meet. There are large charter boats and prices and trip length can vary.
Other interesting
things to do in Cabo San Lucas include boat trips, buggy rides, and hiking. With enough activities for every member of the family, no one will be bored here!
Food and Dining
Cabo is a "high end" tourist destination, and as such there are plenty of fine dining options available. You'll find everything from French cuisine to Italian, sushi, and steak. Of course, there is also plenty of Mexican food and seafood. Some of the more expensive and popular restaurants can get crowded and require reservations. There are also some great casual restaurants where you can enjoy fajitas, tacos, or other typical and classic Mexican dishes. Plenty of markets and grocery stores are also in the area if you plan to cook your own meals. Check out
La Comer in Cabo which has everything from fresh produce and seafood to clothing and other necessities.
Transportation
Most people use taxis to get around Cabo. They are usually abundant and easy to find. They are also reasonable in cost. It's also possible to rent a car. There are plenty of rental agencies around town, and this option gives you more freedom and flexibility with your travel plans. A more interesting and unique option for transportation is to rent a BMW motorcycle. There are also scooters for rent as well. It's great to rent a bike and head out of town to experience some of the countryside. You should only rent a vehicle if you're experienced with driving in Mexico and you are fluent in Spanish. You will need to get third party liability insurance.
There are also many public buses in the area. The most convenient bus for tourists goes between Cabo San Lucas and the airport. It runs every 20 minutes during daytime hours and is 35 Peso. Shared and private transportation options are also available through a variety of companies.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
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.
We loved our trip to Cabo, but it's not a cheap place to go. The resort hotels are all high in price, but they are also really nice. The food can also be expensive at a lot of the resorts and nearby restaurants. I think you can do better if you find more of the local restaurants a bit back from the main stretch.