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

Should you visit Cabo San Lucas or Providence?

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 Providence 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 idyllic, wild, and adventurous city. Many visitors also come to Cabo San Lucas because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking. See Cabo San Lucas travel costs.

Providence

Providence is a friendly, fascinating, and active city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Providence travel costs.

Cabo San Lucas and Providence: Pros and Cons

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

Visitors will usually find more to do in Cabo San Lucas than Providence, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Cabo San Lucas is more touristy than Providence and is popular for its beautiful coastline, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant nightlife scene. Also, Cabo San Lucas is famous for Land's End. Providence is well known for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Cabo San Lucas different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Providence 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 Providence?

Both Cabo San Lucas and Providence have notable landmarks and museums for visitors.

Cabo San Lucas is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical sights in the area such as the Church of Saint Luke and San Jose del Cabo.

Providence offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

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

Foodies will find both Cabo San Lucas and Providence both to be very good 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.

Providence has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Providence Better for Nightlife?

Cabo San Lucas is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Cabo San Lucas is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Providence Better for Resorts?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for its luxury resorts. However, Providence is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Cabo San Lucas to choose from. 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.

Providence is not a resort destination.

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

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Providence is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are many scuba diving and snorkeling spots near Cabo San Lucas. 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.

Providence is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Providence Better for Beaches?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for the beach. However, Providence is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Cabo San Lucas for it's beautiful beaches. 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.

Providence is not a beach destination.

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

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for its historic old town charm. However, Providence does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Cabo San Lucas. 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.

Providence does not have a historic old town.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Providence Better for Hiking?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for hiking. However, Providence is not a hiking destination.

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

Providence is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cabo San Lucas or Providence?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for its shopping areas. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Cabo San Lucas. 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.

Providence is a great destination for shopping. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Providence More Beautiful?

Cabo San Lucas is an unbeatable place for its scenery and beauty. However, Providence is not a destination known for its beauty.

Many visitors also come to Cabo San Lucas because of it's amazing beauty. Beautiful beaches, stunning natural beauty, and striking landscapes make this a world class tropical destination.

Providence is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Providence Better for Families?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Cabo San Lucas. 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.

Providence is a family-friendly place to visit. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Providence Better for Couples?

Cabo San Lucas is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Cabo San Lucas is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. 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.

Providence is a nice destination for couples. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

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

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Providence is not known for backpackers.

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

Providence is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town for those who want an affordable place to stay.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Providence Better for Students?

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

Students come from all over to stay in Providence. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

Cabo San Lucas is not popular with students.

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

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

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 Providence offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Providence a more walkable city?

Cabo San Lucas and Providence both are very good when exploring on foot.

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

Providence is a very walkable city. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

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

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

How long in Cabo San Lucas or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cabo San Lucas and Providence. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than in Providence. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Cabo San Lucas, and 2-3 days is enough time in Providence.

Families should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Providence. 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 Providence. 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 Providence 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.

One day in Cabo San Lucas or Providence?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the scenic city of Cabo San Lucas, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the nightlife. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Providence, 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 Providence?

With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the destination of Cabo San Lucas, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the nightlife. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Providence 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 Providence?

Cabo San Lucas, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Providence. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Cabo San Lucas or Providence?

Cabo San Lucas is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this city makes for a great vacation. One of the main draws to the area is the nightlife. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Providence. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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 Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabo San Lucas and Providence, we can see that Providence 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 Providence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Providence 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 Providence Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cabo San Lucas or Providence?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of Cabo San Lucas and Providence, 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.