Which place is cheaper, Manaus or Cancun?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cancun or Manaus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cancun and Manaus can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cancun or Manaus?
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
Manaus
Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil.
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Cancun Prices
Mexico PricesManaus Prices
Brazil Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCancun $153Manaus $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $153, while the average daily cost in Manaus is $66. 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 Cancun and Manaus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCancun $89Manaus $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCancun $178Manaus $82
Compare Hotels in Cancun and Manaus
Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Manaus? 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.
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: Cancun Hotel Prices and Manaus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cancun $16Manaus $7.63
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.52
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$13
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$15
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Local Bus (for 2)$1.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- transfers between hotels in Cancun hotel strip: $20
- Xplor-ticket included 1 Day Tour from Cancun with hotel transfer : $198
- Xel-Ha Park 1 Day Tour from Cancun with hotel transfer: $157
- Xcaret 1 Day Tour from Cancun with Hotel Transfer: $228
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cancun HTL-APT (CUN): $50
- Transfers in Luxury Sedan from Cancun Airport: $90
- Transfers From Hotel to Hotel: $120
- Transfer in Luxury Mercedes Benz Minivan: $96
- Transfer from Cancun airport to Cancun hotel zone 1 to 8 people: $55
- Transfer from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen: $123
- Transfer from Cancun Airport (CUN) to Cancun/El Dorado Maroma: $60
- Transfer Redondo Private Airport Cancun to Playa del Carmen: $167
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer service from Iberostar (Port) to Manaus Airport: $23
- Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $45
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $64
- Serviço de Transfer Privado 24h Aeroporto - Hotel em Manaus: $25
- Private Transfer Group 24h Hotel to Airport in Manaus: $112
- Privado Transfer Aeroporto to Hotel Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge: $171
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $71
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $109
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
- Manaus private Airport transfer: $60
- Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Manaus?
Prices for flights to both Manaus and Cancun 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
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Food Meals for one dayCancun $45Manaus $21
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cancun Pirate Ship Adventure : Dinner & Show at Sea 2 for 1 Deal: $50
- Mayan Chichen Itza And Pirate Dinner Two Day Experience: $57
- Pirate Show in Cancun! Dinner & drinks: $62
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show at Cancun : $65
- Pirate Shop & Dinner at Cancun! Drinks, Adventure and Fun: $65
- Cancun Walking Food Tour: Local Food, Markets, and Street Art.: $77
- Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour: $77
- Mexican Cooking Class with fresh Local Market ingredients selection and transpor: $79
- Cancun Hands-On Mexican Cooking Class : $79
- Columbus Romantic Dinner in Cancún: $79
- Cancun Private Mural Art and Food Tour: $81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus
For Manaus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
- Food Tour: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cancun $32Manaus -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.54
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$92
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 in 1 Tour to Coba Cenote and Maya Village: $149
- Atv tour from Cancun with ziplines and cenote swim experience: $30
- Cancun Private Street Art Tour: $65
- Catamaran Adventure to Isla Mujeres with Open Bar and Beach Club: $60
- Clear Boat Tour in Cancun 1.5 hours great for pictures: $19
- Coco Bongo Music And Show Ticket: $90
- Holbox plus Island Magic by boat Tour from Cancun : $144
- Isla Contoy and Isla Mujeres Tour from Cancun: $152
- Isla Mujeres Catamaran Platinum Tour with Open Bar: $115
- LDS Tour to Chichen Itza + Cenote : $215
- Private VW Beetle Tour Swim with Turtles, Visit Tulum Ruins&Town: $290
- Rappel & ZipLine Experience and Snorkeling Lagoon & Cenote: $145
Tours and Activities in Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adventure: 4-hour hike in the Amazon rainforest: $150
- Amazon Experience: Indigenous culture and nature phenomenon: $78
- Amazon Experience: meet a native village and swim with porpoises: $77
- Amazon Jungle Experience with Overnight: $300
- Amazon Jungle: 3- or 4-Day Tour at Ipanema River Guest House: $180
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- Amazon Private Safari by Tuhiri Eco Tour - Leaving Manaus: $199
- Amazon Rainforest Tour, Trails, Jungle, Caves and Waterfalls: $165
- Amazon River Safari Boat Tour- Full Day Group Tour: $70
- Amazonas: 2, 3, or 4-Day Tour: $220
- City Tour Plus Amazon River Tour: $100
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCancun $12Manaus $2.72
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Social Pub Crawl in Cancun: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Manaus, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Manaus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North America and Manaus is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Manaus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manaus 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun than you might in Manaus.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is Manaus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cancun or Manaus?
Manaus has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Manaus, 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.
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.