Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur: $1,647 a month against $4,792 in Maui, HI, rent and utilities included – about $37,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Maui, HI
🇺🇸 United States
$4,792
/mo nomad
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,647
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $4,792 per month in Maui, HI vs $1,647 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, rent included.

  • Maui, HI $4,792
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $1,647

A couple spends around $6,666 per month in Maui, HI vs $2,449 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, rent included.

  • Maui, HI $6,666
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $2,449

A family of three spends $8,540 per month in Maui, HI vs $3,250 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, rent included.

  • Maui, HI $8,540
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur $3,250

Maui, HI costs about 191% more than Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Maui, HI and Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur sit above the global median – Maui, HI by 255%, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur by 22%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maui, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$35.44 $35.44
$10.59 MX$196
234.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 $122
$48.87 MX$903
149.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.78 $14.78
$9.90 MX$183
49.29%
Cappuccino
$6.86 $6.86
$3.37 MX$62.3
103.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$1.51 MX$27.88
111.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$0.92 MX$17.00
203.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.12 $8.12
$2.40 MX$44.42
238.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.84 $8.84
$4.36 MX$80.6
102.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maui, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.82 MX$33.55
26.92%
White Bread (500g)
$8.86 $8.86
$3.01 MX$55.7
194.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$9.04 $9.04
$2.53 MX$46.72
257.31%
Eggs
$8.75 $8.75
$2.25 MX$41.52
288.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.07 $27.07
$11.62 MX$215
132.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.53 $15.53
$10.00 MX$185
55.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.33 $22.33
$13.89 MX$257
60.76%
Apples (1kg)
$10.20 $10.20
$2.67 MX$49.36
282.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$1.54 MX$28.39
44.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$9.83 $9.83
$1.59 MX$29.34
518.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.02 $8.02
$1.65 MX$30.57
386.06%
Potato (1kg)
$6.70 $6.70
$1.20 MX$22.09
458.33%
Onion (1kg)
$7.59 $7.59
$1.90 MX$35.20
299.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.88 $4.88
$2.89 MX$53.4
68.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.57 $3.57
$1.21 MX$22.38
195.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.30 $17.30
$4.91 MX$90.8
252.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.36 $20.36
$10.82 MX$200
88.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.48 MX$27.36
16.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.22 $8.22
$3.59 MX$66.4
128.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Maui, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.91 MX$16.73
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$53.3 MX$986
89.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.94 $9.94
$4.43 MX$81.8
124.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.95 $0.95
$3.07 MX$56.8
-69.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$10.55 MX$195
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.43 MX$26.35
-4.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K $36.9K
$21.0K MX$388.6K
75.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K $33.1K
$24.3K MX$449.1K
36.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maui, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$384 $384
$84.0 MX$1,552
356.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.8 $62.8
$24.93 MX$461
151.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.7 $72.7
$32.21 MX$595
125.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maui, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.98 $29.98
$46.53 MX$860
-35.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$30.45 MX$563
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.26 $15.26
$4.22 MX$77.9
261.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maui, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,646 $1,646
$229 MX$4,233
618.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K $16.5K
$8,297 MX$153.3K
98.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maui, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.5 $88.5
$72.6 MX$1,342
21.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4 $54.4
$52.5 MX$969
3.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 $129
$95.0 MX$1,756
36.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202 $202
$66.5 MX$1,229
203.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maui, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,216 $2,216
$1,183 MX$21.9K
87.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,664 $2,664
$759 MX$14.0K
250.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,650 $4,650
$2,524 MX$46.6K
84.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,827 $3,827
$1,197 MX$22.1K
219.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K $14.4K
$3,775 MX$69.8K
280.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,152 $9,152
$2,170 MX$40.1K
321.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maui, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,757 $5,757
$754 MX$13.9K
663.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
11.6
-43.79%

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

Last update for Maui, HI: October 11, 2026

Last update for Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Maui, HI
$2.7K
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$759 71.5% $1.9K
Groceries & Markets
Maui, HI
$716
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$301 58% $415
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maui, HI
$519
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$141 72.8% $378
Eating Out
Maui, HI
$492
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$185 62.4% $307
Clothing & Footwear
Maui, HI
$214
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$129 39.6% $85
Getting Around
Maui, HI
$127
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$77 39.4% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Maui, HI
$61
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$55 9.2% $5.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,216 in Maui, HI versus $1,183 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. 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 664% higher in Maui, 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 $122 in Maui, HI versus $49.00 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $716 vs $301 – making Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Maui, HI
🇲🇽 Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🕒 Local time
01:53 1:53 AM
04:53 4:53 AM
3 h ahead of Maui, HI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,452
202,694
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.78 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Maui, HI Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur 4,770 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Maui, HI
  • Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur

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
Maui, HI vs Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur cheaper than Maui, HI?
Yes – Maui, HI is pricier by about 191%, 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 $7,188 per month in Maui, HI and $2,471 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. 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 89% 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 $1,646 per month in Maui, HI and $229 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. 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 Maui, HI or in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, where all-in costs run around $1,647, than in Maui, HI at $4,792. In Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maui, HI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Maui, HI or Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur 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, Maui, HI or Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur?
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, Maui, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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