Should I Visit Cancun or Belize City for Vacation? Which is Better? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive? | Budget Your Trip (2024)

Jump to

• Which is Cheaper, Cancun or Belize City? (Travel Cost Comparison)
• Which is Bigger, Cancun or Belize City?

Should you visit Cancun or Belize City?

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 Belize City can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cancun or Belize City?

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.

Belize City

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 G Adventures Tours to Belize, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize.

Which place is cheaper, Belize City or Cancun?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

• Cancun Prices
  Mexico Prices

  Belize City Prices
  Belize Prices

• Average Daily CostPer person, per day

  Cancun$148

  Belize City$88

The average daily cost (per person) in Cancun is $148, while the average daily cost in Belize City is $88. 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 Belize City in more detail.

Accommodation

• AccommodationHotel or hostel for one person

  Cancun$98

  See Also

  Discover the Ins and Outs of a Trip to Belize: Unveiling the True Cost of Traveling in 2024 | Trip.comCost Of Living In Belize100 US dollars to Belize dollars Exchange Rate. Convert USD/BZD - Wise20 US dollars to Belize dollars Exchange Rate. Convert USD/BZD - Wise

  Belize City$49

• AccommodationTypical double-occupancy room

  Cancun$196

  Belize City$98

Compare Hotels in Cancun and Belize City

Looking for a hotel in Cancun or Belize City? 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 Belize City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation

• Local TransportationTaxis, local buses, subway, etc.

  Cancun$18

  Belize City$5.81

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:

• Taxi Around Town

  $1.68

• Airport Shuttle (for 2)

  $14

• Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)

  $17

  See Also

  Tipping in Belize

• Local Bus (for 2)

  $2.04

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
• Xcaret 1 Day Tour from Cancun with Hotel Transfer:$204
• Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cancun HTL-APT (CUN):$55
• Travel safe from the Airport to your hotel and back with Jeromi Transfers!:$75
• Transfers in Private Minibus:$97
• Transfers in Luxury Sedan from Cancun Airport:$85
• Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board:$137
• Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board:$121
• Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board:$261
• Transfer in Private vehicle from Cancun Airport (CUN) - Akumal City:$74
• Transfer in Private Minivan from Cancun Airport (CUN) - Akumal City:$67
• Transfer in Luxury Mercedes Benz Minivan:$91

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City

Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

• Private Transfer from Belize city hotels to Belize City Port:$61
• Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia:$150
• Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE):$61

Is it cheaper to fly into Cancun or Belize City?

Prices for flights to both Belize City 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

• FoodMeals for one day

  Cancun$29

  Belize City$27

Typical Food Prices in Cancun

For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:

• Lunch for Two

  $21

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun

For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

• Captain Hook: Pirate Show and Dinner Cruise in Cancun:$46
• Mayan Chichen Itza And Pirate Dinner Two Day Experience:$57
• The Ultimate Cancun Taco & Street Mexican Food Tour:$59
• Dinner Show with Pirates! (2x1 Price):$62
• (2x1 price) Dinner Show and Pirates Experience :$63
• Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals:$64
• Pirate Show and Dinner (2x1 price)! Best Promo :$64
• Dinner Show on a Pirate Ship from Cancun with Open Bar:$65
• (2x1 price)Pirate Adventure! Open Bar, Dinner and Show :$66
• Private Ultimate Cancun Taco and Street Mexican Food Tour:$69
• Puerto Morelos Walking Food Tour:$75
• Guided Cancun Local Mexican Food Tour:$75

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City

For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

• Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour:$80

Entertainment

• EntertainmentEntrance tickets, shows, etc.

  Cancun$35

  Belize City$29

Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:

• Seasick Pills

  $0.60

• Whale Shark Tour (for 2)

  $102

Tours and Activities in Cancun

For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

• 2 Hours Speed Boat Tour and Snorkeling in Nichupte Lagoon:$39
• ATV Jungle Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote Transportation Included:$8.00
• Bacalar tour + Lunch + Boat, from Cancun and Riviera Maya:$139
• Cancun Private Street Art Tour:$65
• Catamaran Cruise in Riviera Maya With Snorkeling & Beach Club:$85
• Full Day All Inclusive Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres :$99
• Full Day Chichen-Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Complete Tour:$37
• Holbox Island Magic Tour from Cancun :$144
• LDS Tour to Chichen Itza + Cenote :$165
• Party Adventure at Isla Mujeres from Cancun & Playa del Carmen:$93
• Private Tour to Tulum Ruins and Cenotes :$257
• Reef and Sunken Ship Snorkeling Experience in Cancun:$85

Tours and Activities in Belize City

For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

• "Taste Bud EXPLOSION" Food Tasting City Tour :$89
• Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure from Belize City:$167
• ATM Cave Adventure "Actun Tunichil Muknal" (from Belize City):$235
• Actun Tunichil Muknal tour from Belize City:$200
• Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from Belize City:$208
• Altun Ha Mayan Ruins & Zipline Tour from Belize City All Inclusive:$170
• Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and Belize City tour:$100
• Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and River Wallace and Manatee Watch Tour:$85
• Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City:$85
• Altun Ha Temples and Belize City Tour:$59
• Altun Ha, Monkey Sanctuary and Rum Factory Tour from Belize City:$170
• Belize City Tour:$40

Alcohol

• AlcoholDrinks for one day

  Cancun$13

  Belize City$12

Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun

Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

• Brewery Tour / Craft Beer Tasting Cancun Mexico:$129
• Small Group EkBalam Pink Lakes Cenote and Tequila Distillery Tour:$287

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cancun and Belize City, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Belize City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cancun is in North America and Belize City is in Central 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 Belize City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belize City 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 Belize City.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cancun Expensive? and Is Belize City Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cancun or Belize City?

Cancun has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Belize City. When comparing the sizes of Cancun and Belize City, 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.