How much does a Los Cabos trip cost? It is one of the most common questions we get from travelers planning their first Cabo vacation, and the honest answer is that it ranges from surprisingly affordable (under $1,500 per person for a week) to genuinely splurge-tier ($5,000-plus per person for a luxury week). Cabo is more expensive than Cancun on average — the resort scene skews more upscale, the all-inclusive bench is smaller, and the West Coast flight market is not quite as competitive. But it is also more affordable than Hawaii, the French Riviera, or Turks and Caicos for comparable scenery. In this 2025 breakdown, we cover flights, resorts, food, excursions, transfers, and tips for budget, mid-range, and luxury travelers, plus the specific choices that drive the total up or down.
1Flights to Cabo
Round-trip economy flights to Los Cabos International (SJD) vary dramatically by origin city and season. From West Coast hubs (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix), shoulder-season fares run $250 to $400 round-trip; peak-season fares (Christmas, Presidents' Day) can hit $700 to $1,000. From Denver, Dallas, Houston, and other mid-continent hubs, expect $350 to $500 in shoulder season. From East Coast cities (New York, Atlanta, Miami), expect $450 to $650 in shoulder season with one connection each way. From Canada, Vancouver and Calgary have seasonal nonstop service starting around $400 CAD round-trip. Track fares with Google Flights price alerts and book one to three months in advance for shoulder season, three to six months for peak season. See our flight guide for full route details.
2Resort costs by tier
Budget all-inclusive resorts (Riu Santa Fe, Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas) typically run $200 to $350 per night for two guests, all-inclusive. Mid-tier all-inclusives (Secrets Puerto Los Cabos, Breathless Cabo San Lucas) run $350 to $550 per night. Luxury all-inclusives (Grand Velas Los Cabos, Le Blanc Spa Resort) run $700 to $1,200 per night. Luxury European plan resorts (Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, One&Only Palmilla, Las Ventanas al Paraíso) run $600 to $1,500 per night, plus meals and drinks. Mid-tier European plan resorts run $200 to $450 per night. Vacation rentals range from $150 per night for a basic condo to $1,000-plus for a cliffside Pedregal villa with a private pool. Rates are per room, not per person. Shoulder season rates are 30 to 50 percent lower than peak winter rates.
3Food and drink costs
At an all-inclusive resort, food and drink are included in the nightly rate — no separate budgeting needed. At a European plan resort, expect $30 to $60 per person per day for breakfast and lunch at the resort, and $80 to $200 per person for dinner at the resort's à la carte restaurants (more at luxury tier). Off-property dining in Cabo San Lucas: casual meals $15 to $25 per person, mid-range restaurants $30 to $60 per person, fine dining $80 to $150 per person. San José del Cabo is slightly cheaper. Cocktails at resort bars run $15 to $25 each; beer $6 to $10; wine by the glass $12 to $20. Grocery stores (Soriana, Walmart, City Club) are well-stocked if your resort or rental has a kitchen — stock up on breakfast items, snacks, and beverages to save significantly.
4Excursion costs
Excursions add up quickly if you do one every day. Half-day snorkel tours at Santa Maria and Chileno Bays typically run $60 to $100 per person. Whale watching tours (mid-December through mid-April) run $90 to $150 per person on shared boats, $300 to $600 per person on private small boats. Sunset catamaran sails run $50 to $90 per person. ATV tours run $80 to $120 per person. Zipline tours run $100 to $150 per person. Private sportfishing charters run $400 to $1,500 per boat (split among 4 to 6 anglers). Day trips to Todos Santos are free if you self-drive, $80 to $120 per person on a guided tour. Budget one major excursion per 2 to 3 days for a balanced trip — that is $200 to $500 per person for the excursion portion of a 7-day trip.
5Transfers, tips, and incidentals
Round-trip airport transfers: shared shuttle $30 to $50 per person, private transfer $80 to $150 per vehicle (best value for couples and groups). Taxis in Cabo are expensive — $15 to $40 for short trips, $50 to $80 for longer Corridor trips. Uber is available and typically cheaper. Tips: $1 to $2 per drink at bars, $3 to $5 per meal at restaurants (more at luxury tier), $2 to $5 per day for housekeeping, $5 to $10 per excursion guide, $5 to $10 per transfer driver. At all-inclusive resorts, tipping is technically included but small cash tips for great service are appreciated. Travel insurance: $50 to $150 per person for a week, genuinely worth it for hurricane season (September, October) trips. Incidentals (sunscreen, souvenirs, pharmacy): $50 to $150 per person for a week.
6Total trip cost: budget, mid-range, and luxury
Budget Cabo trip (5 nights, all-inclusive, West Coast origin, shoulder season): $250 flight + $250/night resort = $1,500 per person, plus $200 excursions and $100 transfers/tips = $1,800 per person or $3,600 per couple. Mid-range Cabo trip (7 nights, mid-tier all-inclusive, mid-continent origin, shoulder season): $400 flight + $400/night resort = $3,200 per person, plus $300 excursions and $150 transfers/tips = $3,650 per person or $7,300 per couple. Luxury Cabo trip (7 nights, luxury all-inclusive or European plan luxury, peak season): $700 flight + $1,000/night resort = $7,700 per person, plus $500 excursions and $200 transfers/tips = $8,400 per person or $16,800 per couple. These are starting points — every choice (off-property dining, private excursions, spa treatments) adds to the total.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cabo trip cost in 2025?
A budget 5-night all-inclusive trip from a West Coast city in shoulder season runs about $1,800 per person. A mid-range 7-night trip runs about $3,650 per person. A luxury 7-night trip in peak season runs $8,400-plus per person. Cabo is more expensive than Cancun on average but more affordable than Hawaii or Turks and Caicos.
How much are flights to Cabo?
Round-trip economy from West Coast hubs (LAX, SAN, SFO, PHX) runs $250 to $400 in shoulder season, $700 to $1,000 in peak season. From mid-continent hubs (DEN, DFW, IAH), expect $350 to $500. From East Coast cities, expect $450 to $650 with one connection each way. Book one to three months in advance for shoulder season.
How much is an all-inclusive resort in Cabo?
Budget all-inclusive resorts (Riu Santa Fe, Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas) run $200 to $350 per night for two guests. Mid-tier all-inclusives (Secrets, Breathless) run $350 to $550 per night. Luxury all-inclusives (Grand Velas, Le Blanc) run $700 to $1,200 per night. Rates are per room, not per person. Shoulder season is 30 to 50 percent cheaper.
How much are excursions in Cabo?
Half-day snorkel tours run $60 to $100 per person. Whale watching runs $90 to $150 per person on shared boats. Sunset catamaran sails $50 to $90. ATV tours $80 to $120. Zipline tours $100 to $150. Private sportfishing charters $400 to $1,500 per boat. Budget $200 to $500 per person for excursions on a 7-day trip.
How much are airport transfers in Cabo?
Shared shuttle transfers run $30 to $50 per person round trip. Private transfers run $80 to $150 per vehicle round trip and are the best value for couples and groups. Pre-book your transfer to skip the timeshare salespeople in the arrivals hall. Taxis in Cabo are expensive — Uber is typically cheaper for in-town trips.
Is Cabo more expensive than Cancun?
Yes, on average Cabo is more expensive than Cancun — the resort scene skews more upscale, the all-inclusive bench is smaller, and the West Coast flight market is not quite as competitive. But Cabo is more affordable than Hawaii, the French Riviera, or Turks and Caicos for comparable scenery. Budget and mid-range Cabo trips are achievable with smart planning.
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