A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cabo San Lucas vs. Minneapolis for Nightlife, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cabo San Lucas and Minneapolis 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.

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is a adventurous, scenic, and idyllic city. Cabo San Lucas is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Cabo San Lucas travel costs.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a dynamic, innovative, and diverse city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Minneapolis travel costs.

Cabo San Lucas and Minneapolis: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Nice resorts
  • Good scuba and snorkeling destination
  • Popular beach
  • Scenic old town
  • Good for hiking
  • Known for its beauty
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Impressive beauty
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for students
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with couples
  • Less popular with backpackers


Is there more to do in Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Cabo San Lucas. Although Cabo San Lucas and Minneapolis are popular destinations, Cabo San Lucas has more sights and attractions for tourists. Cabo San Lucas is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Minneapolis attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, shopping, and big city activities. Cabo San Lucas is more touristy than Minneapolis and is popular for its beautiful coastline, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant nightlife scene. It is also well known for Land's End. Minneapolis is famous for its professional sports teams, countless outdoor activities, and friendly people.

How is Cabo San Lucas different from Minneapolis?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Minneapolis and Cabo San Lucas. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Cabo San Lucas is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Minneapolis. There's a wide variety of museums that include art, history, science, and local culture. Some of the favorite museums in the city are the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Walker Art Center, the American Swedish Institute, and the Weisman Art Museum.

Cabo San Lucas offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several historical sights in the area such as the Church of Saint Luke and San Jose del Cabo.


Is the Food Better in Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Foodies will find both Cabo San Lucas and Minneapolis both to be high quality destinations.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Cabo San Lucas makes for a great culinary experience. If you step away from the all-you-can-eat buffets in the resorts, and the tourist hot spots, you'll find some excellent local Mexican cuisine and nice fine dining restaurants. Fresh seafood and local produce make the dishes unique.

Minneapolis has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Dishes in the Midwest are known for being hearty comfort foods, and the food in Minneapolis is no exception. You'll find cheese-stuffed burgers that are known as Juicy Lucys, Tator Tot casseroles, and deep-fried cheese curds. For international food, there's a variety of Scandinavian options around town.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis Better for Nightlife?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Cabo San Lucas is a world-class destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Minneapolis is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

People head to Cabo San Lucas just to party. It has a long reputation of being one of Mexico's best party destinations. There are wild, all-night dance parties, crazy and crowded clubs, and music that lasts well into the morning. The best nightlife can be found in the blocks around Plaza Bonita, near the marina boardwalk.

Minneapolis is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. There are diverse neighborhoods that each have their own personality. You'll find rooftop lounges in Uptown, international venues in Whittier, and trendy bars in the North Loop. But at the heart of the city's nightlife scene is Downtown Minneapolis.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis Better for Resorts?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Cabo San Lucas is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Minneapolis is not a resort destination.

Cabo San Lucas is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. Many of the resorts are along parts of the coastline where it's not safe to swim. If you really want to enjoy swimming at a beachfront property, make sure you do some research in advance. Medano Beach is a nice area to consider.

Minneapolis is not a resort destination.


Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Cabo San Lucas is a very popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Minneapolis is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors go to Cabo San Lucas to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. There are many snorkeling and scuba diving excursions that go out on half day and full day trips. Some of the best snorkeling is found at Cabo Pulmo, which has the only living coral reef in the Sea of Cortez.

Minneapolis is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis Better for Beaches?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Cabo San Lucas is a very popular place for the beach. However, Minneapolis is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Cabo San Lucas. Because of the water conditions, it's not safe to swim at many of the beaches in the area. This is particularly true on the Pacific side of the city. Many people consider Medano Beach to be one of the best in the area, but also nice are Lover's Beach, the ironically named Divorce Beach, and Chileno Beach.

Minneapolis is not a beach destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis Better for its Old Town?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Cabo San Lucas is a very popular place for its old town. However, Minneapolis does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Cabo San Lucas to see the historical old town. San Jose del Cabo is an "old town" that's a bit outside of town. It's particularly nice to visit on Thursdays when there's a nice market.

Minneapolis does not have a historic old town.


Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis Better for Hiking?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Cabo San Lucas is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Minneapolis is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Cabo San Lucas. It's not hard to get out into nature and you'll find many great hiking trails that go through varied and beautiful landscapes.

Minneapolis is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a world-class destination for shopping. Also, Cabo San Lucas is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

Minneapolis is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. Known for the megamall, Mall of America, this is a shopper's paradise. Mall of America is the largest shopping mall in the country and it even has an aquarium and a theme park within it. In addition to this iconic shopping mall, Minneapolis also has many shopping districts including the Minnehaha Mile.

Cabo San Lucas is well-known for its shopping. There are many great shopping areas where you can pick up souvenirs or other interesting items to remember your trip. There are mall, markets, and boutique vendors that sell a variety of products.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis More Beautiful?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Cabo San Lucas is a world-class destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Minneapolis is not a destination known for its beauty.

Cabo San Lucas is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Beautiful beaches, stunning natural beauty, and striking landscapes make this a world class tropical destination.

Minneapolis is not a destination known for its beauty.


Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis Better for Families?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Both Cabo San Lucas and Minneapolis are high quality to visit with kids.

Cabo San Lucas is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the snorkeling, boat rides, and kid-friendly cuisine. There are many places where kids can get up close and personal with animals, such as Wild Canyon’s Kingdom or camel riding. You might even be able to see migrating whales during your visit. Surfing, fishing, and hiking are also popular in the area.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Minneapolis is very family-friendly. Mall of America is at the top of the list for most families, but there's also plenty of kid-friendly museums around town as well as nature centers, parks, and playgrounds. There's the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, the Minnesota Zoo, and Afton Apple Orchard. For museums, kids will love the Minnesota Children's Museum or the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis Better for Couples?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Cabo San Lucas is a world-class destination for its romantic activities. Also, Minneapolis is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Cabo San Lucas has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. It has long been a favorite honeymoon destination and couples who enjoy a beach paradise with wildlife, diving, and outdoor adventures will appreciate Cabo San Lucas. There's also amazing Mexican food and world class resorts.

Minneapolis is a good city for couples to visit. There are beautiful parks and outdoor spaces to explore as well as museums and fine dining. Couples will appreciate stopping by the Stone Arch Bridge or wandering through the Lyndale Park Rose Garden.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Cabo San Lucas is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Minneapolis is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Cabo San Lucas. It's a popular tourist destination, and there are a number of hostels and activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Minneapolis is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not a popular destination for backpackers, there is at least one hostel in town.


Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis Better for Students?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a great destination for students. However, Cabo San Lucas is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Minneapolis. There are a number of colleges and universities in the area including the University of Minnesota. The city is known for its academic and intellectual focus, and students will enjoy being challenged educationally while enjoying a dynamic city.

Cabo San Lucas is not popular with students.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Cabo San Lucas and Minneapolis.

You'll find some public transit in Cabo San Lucas, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Buses make up the main form of public transit. They are called Subercabos and run between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

While Minneapolis offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses, light rail, and commuter trains that stop at many of the major entertainment centers around town.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis a more walkable city?

Cabo San Lucas
Minneapolis

Cabo San Lucas is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Minneapolis is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

Cabo San Lucas is a very walkable city. The town is relatively easy to walk around with many things close together.

Minneapolis is a somewhat walkable city. There are neighborhoods that are dense enough to be walkable, but the city is still very car-focused.


For even more information, also check out Is Cabo San Lucas Worth Visiting? and Is Minneapolis Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Minneapolis or Cabo San Lucas?

How long in Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis?

It's fun to spend time in either Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Cabo San Lucas due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Cabo San Lucas, and 2-4 days is enough time in Minneapolis.

Families should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Minneapolis. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Cabo San Lucas, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Minneapolis. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Cabo San Lucas that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Minneapolis if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Cabo San Lucas.


  • How many days in Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis? Ideal Length of Stay
    Cabo San Lucas 3-7 
    Minneapolis 2-4

One day in Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the adventurous city of Cabo San Lucas. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Most people visit for the nightlife. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Minneapolis, you'll find museums and nightlife. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the idyllic destination of Cabo San Lucas. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Minneapolis is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the wild city of Cabo San Lucas. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Minneapolis. It offers something for everyone. One reason most visitors come is for the shopping. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.


A week in Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Cabo San Lucas. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people visit for the nightlife. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Minneapolis. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One reason most visitors come is for the shopping. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.


Which place is cheaper, Minneapolis or Cabo San Lucas?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Cabo San Lucas Prices
    Mexico Prices
    Minneapolis Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Cabo San Lucas $159
    Minneapolis $235

The average daily cost (per person) in Cabo San Lucas is $159, while the average daily cost in Minneapolis is $235. 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 Cabo San Lucas and Minneapolis in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cabo San Lucas $57
    Minneapolis $110
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cabo San Lucas $114
    Minneapolis $220
Compare Hotels in Cabo San Lucas and Minneapolis

Looking for a hotel in Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis? 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.

Hotels in Cabo San Lucas


Hotels in Minneapolis


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: Cabo San Lucas Hotel Prices and Minneapolis Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cabo San Lucas $25
    Minneapolis $43

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:

  • Try find your better than us! Airport transfer in San José del Cabo HTL-APT(SJD): $105
  • Transfer to Cabo San Lucas from Round Trip Airport: $267
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Los Cabos International Airport to Hotel: $23
  • Roundtrip Luxury Private Airport and City Transfers.: $170
  • Private transfer SJD Airport to San Jose del Cabo Hotels One Way: $100
  • Private Transfer to Los Cabos Airport from Rancho San Lucas : $33
  • Private Transfer in Los Cabos Airport to hotels or vice versa: $108
  • Private Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Los Cabos 1-10px: $175
  • Private Transfer from San Jose Del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas Port: $100
  • Private Transfer from SJD to Cabo San Lucas / San Jose del Cabo: $100
  • Private Transfer from Los Cabos Airport to Cabo San Lucas: $210
  • Private Transfer from Los Cabos Airport (SJD) to Cabo San Lucas hotels : $144

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Minneapolis

Also for Minneapolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Rochester: One-Way Shared Transfer to or from MSP: $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis?

Prices for flights to both Minneapolis and Cabo San Lucas 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cabo San Lucas $80
    Minneapolis $70

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
  • AvoCabo Food Tour : $78
  • San Jose del Cabo Food Tour & Visit to the Market: $79
  • Flavors of Authentic Mexican Food Tour: $79
  • San Jose del Cabo Morning Food Tour: $83
  • Catch of the day dinner in your private villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose del Cabo: $90
  • San José del Cabo for Meat Lovers Food Tour: $90
  • Private Mexican Cooking Class in Your Cabo San Lucas Villa or Condo: $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
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tequila & tacos: $95
  • Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music & Open Bar on Cabo Wave: $99

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Minneapolis

For Minneapolis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Sushi Cooking Class at a Local Brewery: $75
  • Secret Food Tour: $96

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cabo San Lucas $39
    Minneapolis $27

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
  • Beach ATV y Camel Ride y Sky Bike Adventure: $140
  • Camel Ride, UTV, and The Arch Tour with Lunch & Tequila Tasting!: $249
  • OffRoad 4X4 UTV Adventure with unlimited Lunch & Tequila : $199
  • Platinum Snorkel Tour : $239
  • Traditional Tequila Tasting Experience with Jorge Cuervo: $87
  • "Exclusive Cabo San Lucas Trimaran Experience with Snorkeling": $180
  • 1 Hour Jet Ski Adventure : $180
  • 2 Hours Horseback Riding Adventure in Cabo: $130
  • 2 Tank Tour in Cabo San Lucas Reserve, Certified Divers with MANTA: $138
  • 2 in 1 Tour | Arc Tour with Beach Drop: $19
  • 2-Hour ATV Riding Experience in San Jose del Cabo: $110

Tours and Activities in Minneapolis

For Minneapolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Mississippi River Cruise with Narration: $28
  • Mall of America: Crayola Experience Flexible Date Ticket: $31
  • Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball Game Ticket: $33
  • Mall of America 1-Hour Escape Room Adventure: $47
  • Past and Present Walking Tour: $60
  • Ultimate Minneapolis Walking Tour & Weatherproof Skyway Loop: $79
  • Minneapolis & St. Paul: Private Highlights Riding Tour: $550

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cabo San Lucas $26
    Minneapolis $24

Sample the Local Flavors in Cabo San Lucas

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cabo San Lucas:

  • Cabo Bar Crawl - The BEST Bar and Clubs in Cabo : $60
  • Wine Tasting Sunset Cruise Tour in San Jose del Cabo: $280

Sample the Local Flavors in Minneapolis

Also in Minneapolis, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Minneapolis Historical Bar Crawl: Hidden Bars & Stories: $79
  • Highest Rated 3-Hour Craft Brewery Tour in Minneapolis: $100


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabo San Lucas and Minneapolis, we can see that Minneapolis is more expensive. And not only is Cabo San Lucas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cabo San Lucas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cabo San Lucas 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 Minneapolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Minneapolis than you might in Cabo San Lucas.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive? and Is Minneapolis Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cabo San Lucas or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of Cabo San Lucas and Minneapolis, 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.