Cost To Visit Cabo San Lucas: Travel Budget Guide (2026)
Cabo San Lucas can be affordable or wildly expensive depending on where you stay and how many tours you book. This cost and budget guide breaks down hotels, food, transportation, and attractions—plus day trip costs and realistic daily and weekly budgets.
On-the-ground, Cabo can feel more expensive than many Mexico beach destinations because resort zones, tours, and dining in tourist corridors are priced for demand. Compared to typical U.S. beach vacations, Cabo is often similar or slightly cheaper if you go mid-range and plan smart—but it can become more expensive than the U.S. if you choose luxury resorts, private transfers, and daily excursions.
Cabo San Lucas uses the Mexican peso (MXN). Prices have been converted from MXN and are only shown in $ (USD) for ease of use for our U.S. audience.
Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive To Visit?
Cabo San Lucas is generally moderate to expensive on the ground. It gets expensive fastest when you:
- Stay at a beachfront resort in peak winter weeks
- Use taxis/private transfers for every ride (they add up quickly)
- Book multiple boat tours + off-road + day trips in the same week
- Eat in the marina/Medano tourist strip for every meal
It’s far more affordable when you:
- Stay slightly inland (still close) and walk/Uber strategically
- Mix beach days with free viewpoints and low-cost local meals
- Choose 1–2 “big tours” instead of doing something paid every day
Cabo San Lucas Vacation Costs
Below is a detailed expense breakdown for accommodations, food, transportation, and attractions—followed by day trip costs and realistic daily/weekly budgets.
Avg. Accommodation Cost
Peak
- Budget Travelers: $80–$160 per night
- Mid-Range Travelers: $190–$350 per night
- Luxury Travelers: $520–$1,300+ per night
Shoulder-Season
- Budget Travelers: $65–$135
- Mid-Range Travelers: $170–$320
- Luxury Travelers: $450–$1,150+
Off-Season
- Budget Travelers: $55–$120
- Mid-Range Travelers: $150–$290
- Luxury Travelers: $380–$950+
Food Cost
Budget Travelers
- Breakfast: $5–$10
- Lunch: $8–$16
- Dinner: $14–$28
Mid-Range Travelers
- Breakfast: $10–$18
- Lunch: $16–$30
- Dinner: $35–$85
Luxury Travelers
- Breakfast: $18–$30
- Lunch: $30–$60
- Dinner: $110–$280+
Cabo reality: Dinner + drinks on the marina can rival U.S. pricing. Local taco shops and casual seafood spots are where Cabo feels like a deal.
Transportation Cost
Cabo Airport (SJD) → Cabo San Lucas
- Shared shuttle: $18–$40 per person
- Taxi: $70–$120
- Private transfer: $110–$240+
- Rental car: see below (often the best value if you’ll explore)
Getting around Cabo San Lucas
Walking
Very doable for marina/downtown/Medano areas, but heat and hills can be a factor.
Uber / rideshare
- Short ride: $6–$14
- Longer ride: $14–$30+
Note: availability and pickup rules can vary by area and property.
Taxis
- Short ride: $10–$25
- Longer ride: $25–$55+
Taxis are one of Cabo’s biggest “hidden budget” items if you use them constantly.
Car rental
- Off-Season: $35–$70/day
- Shoulder: $40–$85/day
- Peak: $60–$120+/day
- Fuel + parking (typical daily): $10–$35
Attractions
- El Arco (Land’s End) viewpoint/boat ride: $20–$60
- Medano Beach day: free (chairs/food extra)
- Lover’s Beach access (by boat): $20–$60
- Snorkeling tour (varies): $55–$120+
- Whale watching (seasonal): $70–$150+
- Sunset cruise: $75–$180+
- ATV/UTV desert tour: $90–$220+
- Scuba dive (2-tank typical): $120–$200+
- Cabo San Lucas marina stroll: free (spending optional)
Cabo's Day Trip Costs
| Day Trip | Transportation Cost (Round Trip) | Top Attraction | Attraction Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| San José del Cabo | $14–$35 (rideshare) • $35–$80 (taxi) • $12–$25 (car fuel/parking) | Art walk / historic center | Free–$20 |
| Todos Santos | $20–$45 (car fuel/parking) • $120–$220 (tour) | Town day + beach viewpoints | Free–$25 |
| La Paz | $30–$65 (car fuel/parking) • $140–$260 (tour/transfer) | Malecón + waterfront day | Free |
| Balandra Beach (via La Paz) | $35–$75 (car fuel/parking) • $160–$320 (tour) | Balandra Beach | Free–$10 |
| East Cape (beach hopping) | $20–$55 (car fuel) • $90–$180 (private driver) | Remote beaches + viewpoints | Free |
| Cabo Pulmo (long day) | $35–$80 (car fuel) • $180–$340 (tour/driver) | Snorkel/dive in marine park | $60–$200+ |
| El Arco + Lover’s Beach (boat day) | $20–$60 (boat) | El Arco (Land’s End) | $20–$60 |
Daily Budget
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $95–$180 |
| Shoulder | $85–$160 |
| Off-Season | $75–$145 |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $220–$420 |
| Shoulder | $200–$390 |
| Off-Season | $180–$360 |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $520–$1,350+ |
| Shoulder | $450–$1,150+ |
| Off-Season | $380–$950+ |
Weekly Budget (7 Days)
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $560–$1,120 | $175–$315 | $70–$210 | $140–$420 | $945–$2,065 |
| Shoulder | $455–$945 | $160–$295 | $65–$190 | $130–$380 | $810–$1,810 |
| Off-Season | $385–$840 | $150–$270 | $60–$175 | $120–$350 | $715–$1,635 |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $1,330–$2,450 | $315–$630 | $95–$280 | $180–$650 | $1,920–$4,010 |
| Shoulder | $1,190–$2,240 | $300–$595 | $90–$260 | $170–$600 | $1,750–$3,695 |
| Off-Season | $1,050–$2,030 | $280–$560 | $85–$240 | $160–$560 | $1,575–$3,390 |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $3,640–$9,100+ | $630–$2,100+ | $180–$700+ | $260–$1,050+ | $4,710–$12,950+ |
| Shoulder | $3,150–$8,050+ | $560–$1,820+ | $170–$630+ | $240–$950+ | $4,120–$11,450+ |
| Off-Season | $2,660–$6,650+ | $490–$1,540+ | $160–$560+ | $220–$850+ | $3,530–$9,600+ |
Flight Cost
Flight cost depends on where you’re departing from, the season and the airline. Major international airports will have cheaper flights than smaller airports. Cabo also swings heavily based on winter demand and weekend travel.
Average round-trip flight ranges from the U.S.:
- Peak: $380–$750
- Shoulder: $280–$620
- Off-Season: $220–$520
You can save money on flights by signing up for cheap flight alerts from Jetsetter Alerts.
Cabo San Lucas Travel Seasons
Peak (December–April)
Dry weather, the biggest crowds, and the highest resort pricing—especially around holiday weeks and prime winter weekends.
Shoulder-Season (May–June, November)
Warm weather with fewer crowds and better hotel deals than peak. This is often the best balance of value and beach time.
Off-Season (July–October)
Hotter and more humid with the rainy season and the lowest demand. Lodging deals can be excellent, but plan for afternoon storms and occasional weather-related tour changes.
- Why it’s cheaper: bigger hotel discounts and fewer crowds.
- Tradeoff: heat, humidity, and a higher chance of storms.
Yes—often, but it depends heavily on your hotel and how many tours you book.
- Budget Travelers (7-day total): $715–$2,065
- Mid-Range Travelers (7-day total): $1,575–$4,010
- Luxury Travelers (7-day total): $3,530–$12,950+
When $2,000 works well: you stay in a non-beachfront hotel (or split costs), mix in cheap meals, and pick 1–2 paid excursions instead of doing something paid every day.
When $2,000 can feel tight: you book a beachfront resort in peak winter weeks, rely on taxis/private transfers constantly, and stack whale watching + ATV/UTV + cruises + day trips.
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