Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and Kauai, Hawaii

For one person, living is cheaper in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur: $1,620 a month against $2,605 in Kauai, Hawaii, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

78

Cost of Living Index in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
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Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur Living Index
127

Cost of Living Index in Kauai, Hawaii
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Kauai, Hawaii Living Index

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Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,620

/mo nomad

Kauai, Hawaii

🇺🇸 United States

$2,605

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and in Kauai, Hawaii

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 Kauai, Hawaii actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,620 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $2,605 in Kauai, Hawaii, rent included.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $1,620
Kauai, Hawaii $2,605

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $3,851 in Kauai, Hawaii, rent included.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $2,413
Kauai, Hawaii $3,851

A family of three spends $3,207 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $5,097 in Kauai, Hawaii, rent included.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $3,207
Kauai, Hawaii $5,097

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur is about 38% cheaper than Kauai, Hawaii, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and Kauai, Hawaii sit above the global median – Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur by 19%, Kauai, Hawaii by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.31 MX$192

$19.36 $19.36

-46.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.57 MX$905

$75.8 $75.8

-35.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.99 MX$186

$10.98 $10.98

-9.02%

Cappuccino

$3.41 MX$63.6

$4.95 $4.95

-31.11%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MX$26.56

$2.53 $2.53

-43.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.96 MX$17.94

$1.95 $1.95

-50.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 MX$45.81

$6.07 $6.07

-59.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 MX$78.5

$6.97 $6.97

-39.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MX$33.43

$0.99 $0.99

80.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.95 MX$55.0

$3.48 $3.48

-15.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 MX$45.58

$4.27 $4.27

-42.62%

Eggs

$2.32 MX$43.17

$4.09 $4.09

-43.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.69 MX$218

$12.44 $12.44

-6.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.50 MX$177

$11.49 $11.49

-17.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.70 MX$255

$15.60 $15.60

-12.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 MX$47.48

$4.77 $4.77

-46.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MX$29.21

$1.61 $1.61

-2.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 MX$28.95

$4.35 $4.35

-64.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MX$30.43

$4.59 $4.59

-64.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MX$23.07

$2.87 $2.87

-56.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 MX$33.98

$2.89 $2.89

-37.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 MX$52.3

$2.00 $2.00

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 MX$23.30

$2.17 $2.17

-42.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.76 MX$88.8

$9.47 $9.47

-49.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 MX$198

$13.83 $13.83

-23.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 MX$28.28

$1.77 $1.77

-14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 MX$66.0

$3.44 $3.44

2.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 MX$15.55

$2.06 $2.06

-59.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.8 MX$965

$55.5 $55.5

-6.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.36 MX$81.2

$3.54 $3.54

23.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.07 MX$57.2

$1.57 $1.57

95.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.45 MX$195

$29.13 $29.13

-64.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 MX$27.18

$0.84 $0.84

73.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.7K MX$386.1K

$29.3K $29.3K

-29.27%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$436.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

-9.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.4 MX$1,554

$185 $185

-54.86%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.36 MX$473

$53.9 $53.9

-52.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.16 MX$581

$68.1 $68.1

-54.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.36 MX$846

$43.26 $43.26

4.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.79 MX$555

Cinema Ticket

$3.94 MX$73.5

$13.53 $13.53

-70.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$228 MX$4,243

$1,282 $1,282

-82.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,924 MX$147.7K

$23.1K $23.1K

-65.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.9 MX$1,341

$50.1 $50.1

43.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.8 MX$966

$39.37 $39.37

31.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.5 MX$1,761

$85.0 $85.0

11.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.4 MX$1,238

$112 $112

-40.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,182 MX$22.0K

$1,605 $1,605

-26.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$744 MX$13.9K

$1,329 $1,329

-44.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,452 MX$45.7K

$2,647 $2,647

-7.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,182 MX$22.0K

$2,266 $2,266

-47.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,857 MX$71.9K

$2,817 $2,817

36.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,188 MX$40.8K

$2,482 $2,482

-11.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$751 MX$14.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.6

6.51

78.19%

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

Last update for Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kauai, Hawaii: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur

$744 45.9%

Kauai, Hawaii

$1.3K 51% 78.6% $585

Groceries & Markets

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur

$296 18.3%

Kauai, Hawaii

$385 14.8% 30.1% $89

Eating Out

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur

$184 11.3%

Kauai, Hawaii

$309 11.9% 68.5% $126

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur

$140 8.6%

Kauai, Hawaii

$307 11.8% 119% $167

Clothing & Footwear

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur

$128 7.9%

Kauai, Hawaii

$129 5% 0.8% $1

Getting Around

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur

$75 4.6%

Kauai, Hawaii

$75 2.9% 0.4% $0.3

Sport & Entertainment

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur

$53 3.3%

Kauai, Hawaii

$70 2.7% 32.1% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,182 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur versus $1,605 in Kauai, Hawaii. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur versus $76 in Kauai, Hawaii. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $296 vs $385 – making Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇲🇽 Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur

🇺🇸 Kauai, Hawaii

🕒 Local time

14:49 2:49 PM

11:49 11:49 AM

3 h behind Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

202,694

73,610

💱 Currency

Mexican Peso MXN $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 MXN = 5.36 USD

100 MXN = 4.82 EUR

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇽 Mexican Peso ($)

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

USD to MXN in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur Kauai, Hawaii 5,070 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Kauai, Hawaii

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 Kauai, Hawaii: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kauai, Hawaii is pricier by about 61%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,429 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and $3,907 in Kauai, Hawaii. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,182 there versus $1,605 in Kauai, Hawaii.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $228 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and $1,282 in Kauai, Hawaii. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, where all-in costs run around $1,620, than in Kauai, Hawaii at $2,605. In Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kauai, Hawaii it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

For expats, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 38% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.