A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Ignacio vs. Cabo San Lucas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Ignacio or Cabo San Lucas?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or Cabo San Lucas, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: San Ignacio or Cabo San Lucas?

San Ignacio

So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.

You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.

This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas ("Cabo") is on the far southern end of the Baja Peninsula. It has countless resorts and activities for visitors. There are world class golf courses, fine dining options, and five star resorts. Prior to the 1980s, Cabo was a quiet fishing village but with the construction of a nearby airport in 1977, the city rapidly grew into one of Mexico's most popular resort vacation spots. Today, Cabo has one of the country's most vibrant nightlife scenes. It also has plenty of water sport activities, and a great beach scene.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Cabo San Lucas or San Ignacio?

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

  • San Ignacio Prices
    Belize Prices
    Cabo San Lucas Prices
    Mexico Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    San Ignacio $86
    Cabo San Lucas $159

The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $86, while the average daily cost in Cabo San Lucas is $159. 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 San Ignacio and Cabo San Lucas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Ignacio $19
    Cabo San Lucas $57
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Ignacio $38
    Cabo San Lucas $114
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and Cabo San Lucas

Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio or Cabo San Lucas? 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 San Ignacio


Hotels in Cabo San Lucas


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: San Ignacio Hotel Prices and Cabo San Lucas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Ignacio $3.10
    Cabo San Lucas $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:

  • Transfer from Belize Airport to San Ignacio: $160

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabo San Lucas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:

  • Cabo San Lucas Port to San Jose Del Cabo hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $144
  • San Jose Del Cabo hotels to Cabo San Lucas Port - Departure Private Transfer: $143
  • Airport Transfer to Cabo San Lucas & Pacific side Hotels & Villas Round Trip: $192
  • Airport transfers and all: $95
  • Cabo Airport (CSL) to Cabo San Lucas Round-Trip Private Transfer: $196
  • Cabo San Lucas Affordable Luxury Transfers : $145
  • Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) to Cabo San Lucas -Arrival Transfer : $80
  • Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) to Cabo San Lucas Port - Arrival Private Transfer : $74
  • Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) to Cabo San Lucas Port- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $148
  • Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port to Airport CSL Departure Transfer: $74
  • Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port to Cabo San Lucas hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $74
  • Cabo San Lucas Cruise Port to Cabo San Lucas- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $148

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

Prices for flights to both Cabo San Lucas and San Ignacio 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
    San Ignacio $36
    Cabo San Lucas $80

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.

  • Maya Fish Cooking Experience: $75

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Ignacio $100
    Cabo San Lucas $39

Tours and Activities in San Ignacio

Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Tea Tasting Medicinal Tour: $25
  • Night Hike Tour: Critters of the Night: $28
  • Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $85
  • Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
  • Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $95
  • LOST WORLD CEREMONIAL CAVE- Exciting Adventure at Ian Anderson's Caves Branch: $98
  • 7:30am Jungle Farm trail Ride plus Xunantunich adventure: $100
  • Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $120
  • Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch: $122
  • ATM Cave Tour from San Ignacio Actun Tunichil Muknal: $124
  • Cave Tubing Adventure at Nohoch Che'en and Jaguar Paw : $125
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic: $131

Tours and Activities in Cabo San Lucas

Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Shared Experience Glass Bottom Boat to the Arch in Cabo San Lucas: $15
  • Boat Tour to Cabo San Lucas Arch and Rock Formations: $17
  • The Ultimate Camel Safari Experience in Los Cabos: $17
  • Cabo San Lucas Arch Tour and we go down to Playa del Amor: $19
  • Group tour of the Cabo San Lucas Arch: $19
  • Cabo San Lucas Arc Group Tour in Glass Bottom Boat: $19
  • 2 in 1 Tour | Arc Tour with Beach Drop: $19
  • Tour to the Arch with Natural Views from Cabo San Lucas: $22
  • Tour to Arch in the only Clear Boat in Cabo Cruise Hotel PICKUP!: $24
  • Glass Bottom Boat Sightseeing Tour in Cabo San Lucas: $25
  • Tour to Arch in the Clear Boat Cruise Ship Terminal Hotel PICKUP!: $26
  • The Fenway Bar Experience: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Ignacio $17
    Cabo San Lucas $26

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


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

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


Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or Cabo San Lucas?

Cabo San Lucas has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio and Cabo San Lucas, 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.