Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and Honolulu, HI

For one person, living is cheaper in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur: $1,661 a month against $3,943 in Honolulu, HI, rent and utilities included – about $27,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,661
/mo nomad
Honolulu, HI
🇺🇸 United States
$3,943
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and in Honolulu, HI

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and in Honolulu, HI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,661 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $3,943 in Honolulu, HI, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $1,661
  • Honolulu, HI $3,943

A couple spends around $2,454 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $6,041 in Honolulu, HI, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $2,454
  • Honolulu, HI $6,041

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $8,140 in Honolulu, HI, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $3,248
  • Honolulu, HI $8,140

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur is about 58% cheaper than Honolulu, HI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and Honolulu, HI sit above the global median – Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur by 24%, Honolulu, HI by 194%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Honolulu, HI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.31 MX$189
$27.98 $27.98
-63.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.6 MX$929
$139 $139
-63.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.14 MX$186
$14.97 $14.97
-32.26%
Cappuccino
$3.53 MX$64.8
$10.46 $10.46
-66.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 MX$27.43
$5.06 $5.06
-70.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$18.15
$3.52 $3.52
-71.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.51 MX$46.03
$10.29 $10.29
-75.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 MX$82.0
$11.46 $11.46
-60.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Honolulu, HI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 MX$32.49
$2.24 $2.24
-20.98%
White Bread (500g)
$3.18 MX$58.3
$7.93 $7.93
-59.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.56 MX$47.04
$10.22 $10.22
-74.95%
Eggs
$2.35 MX$43.21
$8.68 $8.68
-72.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.62 MX$213
$28.37 $28.37
-59.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$186
$19.64 $19.64
-48.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.70 MX$252
$21.26 $21.26
-35.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$50.1
$8.21 $8.21
-66.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 MX$28.40
$5.15 $5.15
-69.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 MX$29.24
$6.79 $6.79
-76.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.73 MX$31.81
$9.75 $9.75
-82.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 MX$23.09
$4.99 $4.99
-74.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 MX$33.89
$4.66 $4.66
-60.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.77 MX$50.9
$5.28 $5.28
-47.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.38
$3.16 $3.16
-59.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.06 MX$92.9
$12.47 $12.47
-59.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.19 MX$205
$17.69 $17.69
-36.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 MX$27.37
$2.80 $2.80
-46.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 MX$64.8
$5.59 $5.59
-36.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Honolulu, HI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 MX$15.98
$2.96 $2.96
-70.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 MX$976
$90.5 $90.5
-41.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 MX$80.2
$3.52 $3.52
24.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.06 MX$56.1
$2.56 $2.56
19.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.59 MX$194
$43.98 $43.98
-75.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MX$26.78
$1.43 $1.43
2.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K MX$394.1K
$35.5K $35.5K
-39.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K MX$448.0K
$26.7K $26.7K
-8.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Honolulu, HI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 MX$1,595
$252 $252
-65.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.56 MX$469
$66.1 $66.1
-61.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.06 MX$589
$66.1 $66.1
-51.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Honolulu, HI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.89 MX$843
$62.9 $62.9
-27.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.59 MX$562
$31.80 $31.80
-3.81%
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 MX$77.8
$19.86 $19.86
-78.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Honolulu, HI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$231 MX$4,246
$2,138 $2,138
-89.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,373 MX$153.7K
$27.3K $27.3K
-69.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Honolulu, HI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7 MX$1,335
$62.5 $62.5
16.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3 MX$979
$45.96 $45.96
16.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.2 MX$1,785
$100 $100
-2.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.5 MX$1,240
$133 $133
-49.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Honolulu, HI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 MX$22.0K
$2,908 $2,908
-58.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$758 MX$13.9K
$1,938 $1,938
-60.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,543 MX$46.7K
$5,002 $5,002
-49.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 MX$22.3K
$3,662 $3,662
-66.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,814 MX$70.0K
$8,608 $8,608
-55.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,196 MX$40.3K
$7,060 $7,060
-68.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Honolulu, HI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$756 MX$13.9K
$4,135 $4,135
-81.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.6
6.7
73.13%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur: October 5, 2026

Last update for Honolulu, HI: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$758
Honolulu, HI
$1.9K 156% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$304
Honolulu, HI
$716 135% $412
Eating Out
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$187
Honolulu, HI
$503 169% $316
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$144
Honolulu, HI
$384 166% $240
Clothing & Footwear
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$131
Honolulu, HI
$154 17.5% $23
Getting Around
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$76
Honolulu, HI
$119 55.5% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$54
Honolulu, HI
$103 88.7% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,197 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur versus $2,908 in Honolulu, HI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 447% higher in Honolulu, HI, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur versus $139 in Honolulu, HI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $304 vs $716 – making Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🇺🇸 Honolulu, HI
🕒 Local time
01:59 1:59 AM
22:59 10:59 PM
3 h behind Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
202,694
350,964
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.36 MXN (100 MXN = 5.45 USD). 1 EUR = 20.59 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur Honolulu, HI 4,920 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
  • Honolulu, HI

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs Honolulu, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Honolulu, HI cheaper than Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur?
Yes – Honolulu, HI is pricier by about 137%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,491 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and $5,914 in Honolulu, HI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 70% less in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $231 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and $2,138 in Honolulu, HI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur or in Honolulu, HI?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, where all-in costs run around $1,661, than in Honolulu, HI at $3,943. In Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Honolulu, HI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur or Honolulu, HI more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur or Honolulu, HI?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Honolulu, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?