Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive?

Quick Answer: Overall Cabo is slightly more expensive to visit than other destinations in Mexico, and especially so if you are looking for top resorts and five star hotels during the high season.

However many factors can affect how much a trip costs, and with good planning you can also enjoy Cabo without spending so much. This includes visiting in the shoulder season or wet season, and also considering a stay in an AirBnb which is generally cheaper and more flexible compared to traditional hotel resorts. Also choosing to use Ubers to get around Cabo will generally be less expensive than standard taxis. Later in this guide we’ll look at exact costs and more about how you can save during your trip.

How To Budget For Cabo San Lucas

Accommodation Costs

When it comes to accommodation costs, the most important factor is the season. During the high season (December until April), a cost at a luxury resort can be as much as $500+ per night, while nicer hotels will be in the region of $100-300 per night. During the shoulder season and low season (May until November), these costs can drop as demand reduces. So we could expect to save a hundred dollars or so on a nicer resort, and also the same case for standard hotels. AirBnb’s are a better way of saving if you are travelling in a group (between $40-100 a night for the whole stay), although they too will vary depending on the season you visit.

Flight Costs

This is one of the more difficult ones to pin down as an accurate cost, as it depends on where you are flying from to reach Cabo San Lucas, as well as the season of travel. However, in general, a one-way flight from the USA will cost around $100-150, and a little less if you book them further in advance (which is ideal if you will visit during the usually more expensive dry season). If you are already within Mexico, then you can expect a domestic one-way flight to cost between $50-120 depending on the airport and airline.

Food Costs

Budgeting for meals and food is much more simple, given costs are stable despite the season in Cabo San Lucas. A typical dinner at a very nice hotel can cost between $30-40, while a lunch or dinner at a touristy restaurant near Médano Beach will be somewhere in the region of $15-25. If you want to try more local food, then you can also find tasty and filling meals for as little as $5-10 in local restaurants just outside of the harbour areas and around the main streets of Lázaro Cárdenas.

Tour Costs

There are many incredible activities to enjoy in Cabo, whether that’s heading on a deep-sea fishing charter or visiting the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas. Prices again really vary depending if you are joining a group tour, or heading on a private tour for the day. For example a shared group tour to the Arch will cost roughly $25, while a private yacht would likely cost over $800. If you want to go deep-sea fishing, heading on a shared fishing tour also helps to reduce the costs. Also remember that prices can also vary per season – for example during the late wet season prices can drop as much as 10-20% depending on the agency and activity. 

Top Tips For Saving On Your Vacation Costs In Cabo San Lucas

Below we’ll now share our very best tips from experience on how you can save for your vacation to Cabo San Lucas.

Book Well In Advance

Like with anywhere you visit, booking in advance will help you to get the very best prices for your flights and accommodation in Cabo San Lucas. If you plan on visiting during the dry season, then we recommend booking at least 4 months in advance to get more deals. During the wet season this could be 1-2 months in advance – although some months like September will still be much cheaper regardless.

Stay In AirBnb’s Rather Than Traditional Hotels

As we mentioned earlier in this guide, an AirBnb in Cabo San Lucas can cost as low as $40 a night – which can also be split between people which helps lower the overall cost for each person. Generally though a nice AirBnb close to the Harbour or Médano Beach areas will cost in the region of $60-80 a night – although this will also usually include a living room area, a kitchen and balcony – which makes for a more comfortable experience.

Visit During Cabo’s Wet Season

The wet season is by far the cheapest time to visit Cabo given the weather isn’t as appealing as the popular dry season. However it’s important to remember that despite the name, there’s actually quite little rainfall in Cabo during this season (just 1-2.5 inches a month in the peak months) – which is considerably less than other destinations in the wet season like Cancún and Tulum. Not only this, but prices will also be cheaper during these months too, while it’s also the perfect time to go fishing in Cabo for Blue Marlin and Dorado!

Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive FAQ

Below we’ll now answer some of the frequent questions we get about whether Cabo San Lucas is expensive, as well as anything else important that you need to know.

Is Cabo San Lucas More Expensive Than Cancun?

Both Cabo and Cancún are on the more expensive side of Mexico travel, given they are prime tourism destinations in the country where many large hotel resorts have been built. However it’s also possible to visit both without spending a tonne, for example by staying in AirBnb’s (and also by following our other cost savings tips mentioned in this article).

Is Cabo The Most Expensive Part Of Mexico?

Again as mentioned above, Cabo can be quite expensive if staying in hotel resorts and only eating in the more fancy beachside restaurants. However it’s hard to say that it’s the most expensive part of Mexico given specific areas of places like Cancun, Playacar (Playa del Carmen), Tulum etc also have more expensive areas. Like with anywhere, there will also be both cheaper and more expensive areas in popular destinations!

Is Cabo A Luxury Destination?

Given how popular Cabo San Lucas has been as a vacation destination for many decades, yes – we can consider Cabo a luxury destination to visit in Mexico. Here we can find many five star hotels and resorts, luxury tour providers as well as many world-class restaurants. The touristy areas of the city are also very safe too, as a result of the higher influx of tourism here.

Why Is Everything Expensive In Cabo?

Firstly this question assumes that literally everything is high-end and expensive in the entirety of Cabo – which is incorrect. However yes there are definitely areas which are more expensive than others, especially around the more touristy areas like Medano Beach and the Harbour. Again it’s very easy to find deals and cheaper prices, such as by staying in AirBnB’s and by eating in local restaurants.

Is It Better To Use Pesos Or Dollars In Cabo?

Both currencies are widely accepted in Cabo, given that it’s geographically close to the USA and also sees a high percentage of American tourism. However using Pesos is always the best option, both for ease once you have it and also as the Dollar can have a bad exchange rate if using them or your credit cards directly. You can easily exchange Dollars for Pesos once you arrive in Cabo, although it’s ideal to exchange them before you leave home.

Overview Of Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive 

And that’s all for this guide on is Cabo San Lucas expensive.

One of the most popular beach destinations to visit in all of North America, Cabo is the perfect place to enjoy golden sands, tasty Mexican food as well as the array of unforgettable experiences on offer here. While Cabo San Lucas is a more expensive destination compared with others given its reputation and quality, it’s still certainly possible to save if you follow the tips listed above in this guide. 

Did you know you can enjoy some unforgettable deep-sea fishing in Cabo without breaking the bank? Here at BoatsBaja you can head on our deep-sea fishing tours and try your hand at catching Blue Marlin, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna and more!