Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur: $1,620 a month against $2,891 in Waikiki, HI, rent and utilities included – about $15,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Waikiki, HI, United States
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,620
/mo nomad
Waikiki, HI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,891
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and in Waikiki, 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 Waikiki, HI 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 $2,891 in Waikiki, HI, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $1,620
  • Waikiki, HI $2,891

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $4,468 in Waikiki, HI, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $2,413
  • Waikiki, HI $4,468

A family of three spends $3,207 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur vs $6,044 in Waikiki, HI, rent included.

  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $3,207
  • Waikiki, HI $6,044

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur is about 44% cheaper than Waikiki, HI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and Waikiki, HI sit above the global median – Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur by 19%, Waikiki, HI by 112%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Waikiki, HI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.31 MX$192
$24.77 $24.77
-58.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.57 MX$905
$142 $142
-65.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.99 MX$186
$15.28 $15.28
-34.62%
Cappuccino
$3.41 MX$63.6
$5.92 $5.92
-42.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 MX$26.56
$5.02 $5.02
-71.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 MX$17.94
$3.50 $3.50
-72.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.46 MX$45.81
$10.46 $10.46
-76.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 MX$78.5
$11.64 $11.64
-63.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Waikiki, HI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 MX$33.43
$1.05 $1.05
70.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.95 MX$55.0
$3.66 $3.66
-19.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 MX$45.58
$10.20 $10.20
-75.98%
Eggs
$2.32 MX$43.17
$8.59 $8.59
-72.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.69 MX$218
$12.38 $12.38
-5.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.50 MX$177
$19.60 $19.60
-51.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.70 MX$255
$21.55 $21.55
-36.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.48
$8.24 $8.24
-69.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.21
$1.58 $1.58
-0.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 MX$28.95
$6.99 $6.99
-77.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 MX$30.43
$9.67 $9.67
-83.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 MX$23.07
$4.93 $4.93
-74.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.98
$4.87 $4.87
-62.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.80 MX$52.3
$5.27 $5.27
-46.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.30
$2.93 $2.93
-57.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.76 MX$88.8
$13.32 $13.32
-64.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 MX$198
$18.12 $18.12
-41.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 MX$28.28
$2.68 $2.68
-43.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 MX$66.0
$5.87 $5.87
-39.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Waikiki, HI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 MX$15.55
$2.13 $2.13
-61.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.8 MX$965
$58.9 $58.9
-12.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.36 MX$81.2
$3.45 $3.45
26.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.07 MX$57.2
$2.55 $2.55
20.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.45 MX$195
$44.16 $44.16
-76.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MX$27.18
$1.43 $1.43
2.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$386.1K
$35.9K $35.9K
-42.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$436.7K
$26.3K $26.3K
-11.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Waikiki, HI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.4 MX$1,554
$259 $259
-67.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.36 MX$473
$67.1 $67.1
-62.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.16 MX$581
$65.7 $65.7
-52.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Waikiki, HI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.36 MX$846
$43.31 $43.31
4.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.79 MX$555
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.94 MX$73.5
$19.72 $19.72
-80.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Waikiki, HI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 MX$4,243
$2,113 $2,113
-89.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,924 MX$147.7K
$27.0K $27.0K
-70.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Waikiki, HI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9 MX$1,341
$62.8 $62.8
14.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 MX$966
$46.75 $46.75
10.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.5 MX$1,761
$102 $102
-6.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.4 MX$1,238
$134 $134
-50.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Waikiki, HI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,182 MX$22.0K
$1,570 $1,570
-24.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$744 MX$13.9K
$1,162 $1,162
-35.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,452 MX$45.7K
$2,347 $2,347
4.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,182 MX$22.0K
$1,991 $1,991
-40.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,857 MX$71.9K
$2,836 $2,836
35.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,188 MX$40.8K
$1,996 $1,996
9.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Waikiki, HI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$751 MX$14.0K
-
-
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 26, 2026

Last update for Waikiki, HI: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$744
Waikiki, HI
$1.2K 56.2% $418
Groceries & Markets
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$296
Waikiki, HI
$591 99.6% $295
Eating Out
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$184
Waikiki, HI
$425 131% $241
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$140
Waikiki, HI
$392 180% $252
Clothing & Footwear
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$128
Waikiki, HI
$155 21.2% $27
Getting Around
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$75
Waikiki, HI
$84 11.8% $8.9
Sport & Entertainment
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$53
Waikiki, HI
$83 55.4% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,182 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur versus $1,570 in Waikiki, HI. 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 $142 in Waikiki, HI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $296 vs $591 – making Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🇺🇸 Waikiki, HI
🕒 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
19,862
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur Waikiki, HI 4,920 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
  • Waikiki, 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 Waikiki, HI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur cheaper than Waikiki, HI?
Yes – Waikiki, HI is pricier by about 79%, 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 $2,429 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and $4,337 in Waikiki, 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,182 there versus $1,570 in Waikiki, HI.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 12% 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 $228 per month in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur and $2,113 in Waikiki, 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 Waikiki, HI?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, where all-in costs run around $1,620, than in Waikiki, HI at $2,891. In Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Waikiki, HI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur or Waikiki, 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 44% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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

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