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

Should you visit Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh?

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 Raleigh 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 scenic, idyllic, and wild city. The famous beauty of Cabo San Lucas is one of the main draws. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Cabo San Lucas travel costs.

Raleigh

Raleigh is a southern, student-friendly, and suburban-style city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and museums. See Raleigh travel costs.

Cabo San Lucas and Raleigh: Pros and Cons

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

Visitors will usually find more to do in Cabo San Lucas than Raleigh, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Cabo San Lucas is better known for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Raleigh is more popular for its big city activities. Cabo San Lucas is more touristy than Raleigh and is known for its beautiful coastline, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant nightlife scene. Also, Cabo San Lucas is famous for Land's End. Raleigh is well known for its many museums and being the home to North Carolina State University.

How is Cabo San Lucas different from Raleigh?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Cabo San Lucas and Raleigh 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.

Raleigh offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. As the state capital, there are a number of free museums in the area. There are also some kid-friendly options and other activities that are affiliated with the colleges and universities. Popular options include the NC Museum of Natural Sciences (free), the NC Museum of History (free), the NC Museum of Art (free), and Marbles Kids Museum.

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

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Raleigh is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Cabo San Lucas is an experience not to be missed. 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.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Raleigh. In addition to the standard chain restaurants, you'll find a number of local eateries with great southern dishes. Try some southern classics like barbecue, pimento cheese, and fried chicken and waffles. There are also good international options including Nepalese, Laotian, and Ethiopian flavors.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh Better for Nightlife?

Cabo San Lucas is very popular for its evening party scene. Also, Raleigh is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Cabo San Lucas is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Raleigh has a few options to choose from. Head to downtown Raleigh or the areas around NC State University for some of the best nightlife. Trivia nights and happy hours are popular and you'll find breweries popping up in many places.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh Better for Resorts?

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its resorts. However, Raleigh is not a resort destination.

Cabo San Lucas is known as a popular and fun resort destination. 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.

Raleigh is not a resort destination.

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

Cabo San Lucas is well known for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Raleigh is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting 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.

Raleigh is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh Better for Beaches?

Cabo San Lucas is well known for the beach. However, Raleigh is not a beach destination.

Cabo San Lucas is considered a top beach destination. 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.

Raleigh is not a beach destination.

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

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its historic old town charm. However, Raleigh does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting 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.

Raleigh does not have a historic old town.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh Better for Hiking?

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Raleigh is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around 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.

Raleigh is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh?

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its shopping areas. However, Raleigh is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity 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.

Raleigh is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh More Beautiful?

Cabo San Lucas is very popular for its scenery and beauty. However, Raleigh is not a destination known for its beauty.

The famous beauty of Cabo San Lucas is one of the main draws. Beautiful beaches, stunning natural beauty, and striking landscapes make this a world class tropical destination.

Raleigh is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh Better for Families?

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Raleigh is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Cabo San Lucas is known to be 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.

Raleigh offers lots of family activities. For such a small city, Raleigh has a number of unique kid-friendly activities like the popular Pullen Park and Marbles Kids' Museum. Pullen Park has small rides and a playground that are perfect for young kids. There's also the NC Museum of Natural History which is free and fun to explore with kids.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh Better for Couples?

Cabo San Lucas is very popular for couples. However, Raleigh is not particularly known for romance.

Cabo San Lucas makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. 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.

Raleigh is not the best destination for a couple to visit. While it's often overlooked by couples who want a weekend away, there are a number of museums and some nice restaurants to explore.

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

Cabo San Lucas is well known for backpackers. However, Raleigh is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

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

Raleigh is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh Better for Students?

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

Students come from all over to stay in Raleigh. The city has a diverse student population with many nearby universities and colleges.

Cabo San Lucas is not popular with students.

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

Cabo San Lucas is a popular place for its public transit. However, Raleigh is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

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.

Public transit is quite limited in Raleigh. The city's public transportation options are limited to a few bus lines that are mostly used by students.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh a more walkable city?

Cabo San Lucas is well known for its ease of walking around. However, Raleigh is not particularly known for its walkability.

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

Raleigh is generally not a very walkable city. The city is somewhat walkable in the downtown area, but everywhere else you'll need a car.

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

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

How long in Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh?

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

Families should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Raleigh. 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 Raleigh. 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh?

In Cabo San Lucas, you'll find shopping and museums. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

In Raleigh, you'll find nightlife and food. 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 Raleigh?

In Cabo San Lucas, you'll find museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Raleigh 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 Raleigh?

Cabo San Lucas is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Cabo San Lucas has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Raleigh. 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 Raleigh?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cabo San Lucas. In Cabo San Lucas, you'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. It's also a relaxing resort destination. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the city of Raleigh. 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 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.

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

Which is Bigger, Cabo San Lucas or Raleigh?

Raleigh has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of Cabo San Lucas and Raleigh, 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.