Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Tahiti: $866 a month against $1,661 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,661
/mo nomad
Tahiti
🇵🇫 French Polynesia
$866
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Tahiti 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 $866 in Tahiti, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $1,661
  • Tahiti $866

A couple spends around $2,454 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $1,485 in Tahiti, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $2,454
  • Tahiti $1,485

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $2,104 in Tahiti, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $3,248
  • Tahiti $2,104

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur costs about 92% more than Tahiti, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur sits 24% above the global median, while Tahiti is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Tahiti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.31 MX$189
$14.89 CFPF 1,586
-30.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.6 MX$929
$56.0 CFPF 5,963
-9.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.14 MX$186
$11.38 CFPF 1,212
-10.90%
Cappuccino
$3.53 MX$64.8
$4.95 CFPF 527
-28.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 MX$27.43
$2.15 CFPF 229
-30.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$18.15
$2.49 CFPF 265
-60.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.51 MX$46.03
$6.42 CFPF 683
-60.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 MX$82.0
$7.14 CFPF 761
-37.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Tahiti
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 MX$32.49
$1.22 CFPF 130
45.08%
White Bread (500g)
$3.18 MX$58.3
$3.66 CFPF 390
-13.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.56 MX$47.04
$1.26 CFPF 135
103.17%
Eggs
$2.35 MX$43.21
$7.66 CFPF 815
-69.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.62 MX$213
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$186
$13.98 CFPF 1,488
-27.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.70 MX$252
$21.35 CFPF 2,274
-35.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$50.1
$5.94 CFPF 632
-54.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 MX$28.40
$3.25 CFPF 346
-52.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 MX$29.24
$5.13 CFPF 546
-69.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.73 MX$31.81
$7.65 CFPF 815
-77.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 MX$23.09
$2.21 CFPF 236
-42.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 MX$33.89
$2.20 CFPF 235
-15.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.77 MX$50.9
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.38
$0.84 CFPF 89.3
51.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.06 MX$92.9
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.19 MX$205
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 MX$27.37
$3.26 CFPF 347
-54.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 MX$64.8
$3.70 CFPF 394
-4.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Tahiti
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 MX$15.98
$1.68 CFPF 178
-48.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 MX$976
$14.31 CFPF 1,524
271.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 MX$80.2
$9.62 CFPF 1,025
-54.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.06 MX$56.1
$2.41 CFPF 257
26.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.59 MX$194
$23.82 CFPF 2,536
-55.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MX$26.78
$1.42 CFPF 151
2.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K MX$394.1K
$17.9K CFPF 1.9M
20.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K MX$448.0K
$31.9K CFPF 3.4M
-23.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Tahiti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 MX$1,595
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.56 MX$469
$16.88 CFPF 1,798
51.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.06 MX$589
$76.6 CFPF 8,153
-58.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Tahiti
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.89 MX$843
$51.1 CFPF 5,443
-10.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.59 MX$562
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 MX$77.8
$12.09 CFPF 1,287
-64.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Tahiti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$231 MX$4,246
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,373 MX$153.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Tahiti
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7 MX$1,335
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3 MX$979
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.2 MX$1,785
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.5 MX$1,240
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Tahiti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 MX$22.0K
$1,051 CFPF 112.0K
13.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$758 MX$13.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,543 MX$46.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 MX$22.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,814 MX$70.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,196 MX$40.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Tahiti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$756 MX$13.9K
$2,028 CFPF 216.0K
-62.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.6
4.81
141.16%

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 Tahiti: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$758
Tahiti
–
Groceries & Markets
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$304
Tahiti
–
Eating Out
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$187
Tahiti
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$144
Tahiti
–
Clothing & Footwear
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$131
Tahiti
–
Getting Around
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$76
Tahiti
–
Sport & Entertainment
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$54
Tahiti
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,197 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur versus $1,051 in Tahiti. 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 168% higher in Tahiti, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur versus $56.0 in Tahiti. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $304 vs $371 – making Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🇵🇫 Tahiti
🕒 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
183,645
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, 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).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 107 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.39 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur Tahiti 6,230 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
  • Tahiti

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 Tahiti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tahiti cheaper than Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur?
Yes – Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur is pricier by about 92%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
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 $1,300 in Tahiti. 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 Tahiti, 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 271% less in Tahiti. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and in Tahiti?
Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur or in Tahiti?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tahiti, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur at $1,661. In Tahiti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur or Tahiti more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tahiti – 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 Tahiti?
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 Tahiti. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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