Is Cancun Expensive to Visit in 2024?

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Cancun is one of the most popular destinations to visit in Mexico and for good reason. It’s a magical part of the world.

Mexico is generally considered a pretty cheap country to visit, but what about Cancun?

Is Cancun expensive?

This is a common question people have before visiting the seaside city. It’s an important question to ask too.

Luckily for you, I’m a full-time traveller so I feel I have developed a pretty good judge of whether somewhere is expensive or not.

And I’ve created this complete guide to whether Cancun is expensive.

So let’s jump right in!

Is Cancun Expensive?

If you are looking for a quick, one-word answer, it’s “no”. Cancun is not expensive to visit.

Like the rest of Mexico, prices are a lot lower than in the US and Canada. You can get by on a lot less per day and per month than you could in the other two. That’s one reason why backpacking Mexico on a shoestring budget is so popular.

That being said, Mexico is actually one of the most expensive countries in Latin America and/or Central America. If you take a budget trip around countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, etc., you will find that Mexico is the one which zaps the budget the most.

But if you are just visiting Mexico on a normal trip or vacation, your budget will be smaller than if you visited other popular destinations nearby like the Bahamas, for example.

Mexico is actually in North America, which a lot of people do not know, but the currency isn’t dollars. It’s Mexican Pesos, and you get a lot of Pesos for your dollar. As of writing this in June 2023, $1 USD is equal to 17.07 MXN. So you get a lot more for your money.

It’s important to recognise that things are relative and just because your home country’s currency is stronger than Mexico’s and you consider Mexico cheap, it might not be the same for the locals. Wages are relevant and Mexican citizens are paid relative to the economy in Mexico, not your home country.

I like to remind people that just because it’s cheap for you, doesn’t mean you should flaunt around Mexico acting like you are a billionaire because your money goes further in Mexico. Respect the local currency and respect the locals.

Also whether Cancun is expensive or not is entirely relevant to where you come from. If you are from the States, you won’t find Cancun expensive. Whereas if you are from Bangkok, for example, Cancun is probably similar to Bangkok in terms of prices, so you wouldn’t find it either cheap or expensive.

But to answer the question “Is Cancun expensive?” Generally speaking, no, it’s not expensive.

How Expensive Is Cancun?

How expensive Cancun is for you depends on where you stay, what you eat, what you do and how lenient you are with your budget.

If you are backpacking the Gringo Trail and visiting Mexico on a budget, most people can get by on around $45 USD each day. Oftentimes, even less than this. This budget includes accommodation (hostels, street food, activities and transport.

To be honest, there’s not much more you can spend on activities and transport. So the only way you can up your budget is by staying in fancier accommodation and eating in proper restaurants rather than having street food.

In my opinion, though, the best way to get the most authentic Mexican food, and usually the tastiest too, is by having street food.

But if you want a larger budget, I would say no more than $50 USD spending money each day, excluding your accommodation.

So as you can see, it’s super affordable to visit Cancun, and a lot of the time, it works out cheaper than paying the bills in your own house, if you stayed in Cancun for one month that is.

How Much Is Accommodation In Cancun?

The biggest factor which will affect your budget in Cancun is accommodation. Whether you choose to stay in a hostel or 5-star hotels and resorts will either make or break your budget. It will decide whether Cancun is expensive for you or not.

Obviously, those are the two extreme ends of the spectrum and there are a lot of options in between.

If you are looking for a nice resort to spend a week or two in Cancún, then I recommend the Hotel Casa Maya. It’s got a pool, hot tub, and it’s right on the beach too. It’s truly the perfect resort to enjoy the gorgeous Cancun weather and beautiful beach life too. This resort provides the definition of paradise, and even though it isn’t, it’s as good as a 5 star hotel in my opinion.

Or on the other hand, the best hostel in Cancun is the Nomads Hotel Hostel & Rooftop Pool. As the name suggests, it’s got a rooftop bar…what more can you ask for? It’s the perfect hostel for meeting new people and enjoying life in Cancun with a small bit of luxury despite the low average price. Hostels in Cancun cost as low as $10 per person per night depending on what time of year it is.

➡️ Best resort in Cancun: Hotel Casa Maya
➡️ Best budget-friendly hostel in Cancun: Nomads Hotel Hostel & Rooftop Pool

How Much Are Tourist Attractions In Cancun?

Most of the best things to do in Cancun are completely free. Lying on the beach sunbathing or enjoying a dip in the refreshing blue water cost absolutely nothing.

But if you want to get out there and visit some of the attractions in Cancun, it’s still not very pricey. Sure, you could take a day trip to Chichen Itza, but I’d recommend doing that from elsewhere in Mexico. There are still some things to see in and around Cancun.

El Rey Archaeological Zone, for example, is a fascinating place to visit. It’s another Mayan ruins site in Mexico, but it’s amazing to explore and picture what life used to be like. The best part? The entry fee is only $3 USD. It’s so cheap.

Another popular thing to do in Cancun is to take a day trip to Isla Mujeres, one of the most exotic islands in all of Mexico. It’s the literal definition of paradise. Again, it’s not very expensive, with an average cost of around $20 USD for a return ferry ticket and it’s more than worth it.

How Expensive Is Food In Cancun?

Like everywhere in the world, the price of food depends on what you eat and where you eat. If you get a taco in Downtown Cancun from a street food vendor, it’s going to cost less than one dollar USD.

If you get a 3-course meal in an Italian restaurant in Cancun, it’s going to cost a lot more. Pretty much the same as it would cost in the US.

In my opinion, the best thing to do in terms of food in Mexico is to have what the locals have, and that’s usually street food.

It’s the most authentic form of Mexican cuisine you can possibly get. It’s cheap. And it’s sooo tasty. It’s a win on all fronts, and contrary to popular belief, you aren’t guaranteed to get food poisoning. You literally watch the food being cooked in front of you, so I would argue it’s even more safe than a restaurant.

You can’t beat street food for me, so that’s why I’m going to conclude that food is not expensive at all in Cancun.

How Much Is Public Transport In Cancun?

Public transport is not expensive at all in Cancun or throughout Mexico. Typically, a one-way fare costs 50 cents USD so public transport is a really cost-effective and easy way to navigate Cancun and hop from beach to beach.

Make sure you don’t rely on it too much though, as it can sometimes become a bit casual and the timings of the driver are a bit lax, meaning buses can run pretty behind schedule.

If you choose not to take public transport, there is Uber in Mexico, but make sure you read up on it and understand the situation so you are aware of what is going on with Uber drivers.

But for the most part, I’d recommend using public transport, and it doesn’t cost much either.

Is Cancun Expensive: FAQ

Below are a number of questions related to “Is Cancun expensive?” along with my answers.

Final Thoughts: Is Cancun Expensive

And there you have it, a complete guide to “Is Cancun expensive?“

The answer is no, not really. Cancun isn’t expensive to visit.

You can stay in Cancun for $45 each day all things considered, which isn’t much at all.

So enjoy your time in Cancun. You are guaranteed to have a great time and the best bit is, it won’t break the bank.