Home › Cabo San Lucas › On a budget
Cabo San Lucas on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Cabo is hard but possible on a budget if you sleep downtown, eat at taco stands and swim at public beaches. Plan on about MX$1,850 per person per day (bed MX$900, food MX$500, sights MX$300, transport MX$150).
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | MX$900 | MX$2,200 | MX$7,000 |
| Food & drink | MX$500 | MX$1,000 | MX$2,200 |
| Sights & tickets | MX$300 | MX$1,200 | MX$2,500 |
| Local transport | MX$150 | MX$500 | MX$1,200 |
| Per person, per day | MX$1,850 | MX$4,900 | MX$12,900 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Cabo San Lucas day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Swim and walk at Medano Beach, the calm main town beach
- Snorkel from shore at Santa María Bay (bring your own gear)
- Swim at Chileno Bay, which has public access and shade palapas
- Walk the marina promenade at sunset
- Explore Plaza Mijares, the Mission and the gallery streets of San José del Cabo
- Thursday evening Art Walk in San José del Cabo's Historic Art District (roughly November to June)
Cheap eats
- Baja fish taco at a downtown stand: about MX$40–80
- Shrimp taco: about MX$50–90
- Tacos al pastor at night: about MX$25–45 each
- Ceviche or aguachile at a mariscos stand: about MX$150–300
- Supermarket breakfast and fruit: well under MX$100
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in downtown Cabo San Lucas, inland from the marina, where simple hotels and guesthouses cost about MX$1,500–2,800 a night for a room. San José del Cabo has some cheaper guesthouses too. Prices rise sharply at Christmas, New Year and in spring break.
Getting around cheaply
From the airport, a shared shuttle (about MX$400–600 per person) is the cheapest practical option. Local buses along the Tourist Corridor cost about MX$40–50 and reach the snorkelling bays and San José del Cabo. Avoid taxis where you can, as they are expensive; for day trips, splitting a rental car is cheaper than a tour.
A sample budget day
- Morning: bus to Santa María Bay and snorkel from the beach with your own gear (about MX$100 return)
- Lunch: fish and shrimp tacos downtown (about MX$150–200)
- Afternoon: swim at Medano Beach on a public stretch (free)
- Evening: walk the marina at sunset, then tacos al pastor and a drink inland (about MX$250)
- Total: about MX$500–600 plus your bed (about MX$900 per person), so roughly MX$1,500–1,850
More ways to save
- Visit San José del Cabo by local bus rather than taxi.
- Bring your own snorkel and mask to avoid rental fees.
- Buy water and snacks at supermarkets rather than at beach clubs.
- If you take one boat trip, make it the water taxi to the Arch, the cheapest classic.
- Travel outside Christmas, New Year and spring break, when rooms cost most.
- Check whether 'servicio incluido' is on the bill before adding a tip.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Common questions
Can you visit Cabo on a budget?
Yes, with care: stay downtown, eat at taco stands, use local buses and swim and snorkel at public beaches for about MX$1,850 a day.
What is the cheapest way from the airport to Cabo San Lucas?
A shared shuttle at about MX$400–600 per person; the airport is about 45 minutes away near San José del Cabo.
Where are the cheapest tacos?
At stands and taquerías a few blocks inland from the marina, where fish tacos cost about MX$40–80.