Last update: Oct 2026

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

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.

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

How much you'll spend in Waikiki, 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 Waikiki, HI and in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,891 per month in Waikiki, HI vs $1,620 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, rent included.

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

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

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

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

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

Waikiki, HI costs about 79% more than Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waikiki, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.77 $24.77
$10.31 MX$192
140.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$142 $142
$48.57 MX$905
191.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.28 $15.28
$9.99 MX$186
52.95%
Cappuccino
$5.92 $5.92
$3.41 MX$63.6
73.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02 $5.02
$1.42 MX$26.56
253.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 $3.50
$0.96 MX$17.94
264.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.46 $10.46
$2.46 MX$45.81
325.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.64 $11.64
$4.21 MX$78.5
176.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waikiki, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.79 MX$33.43
-41.34%
White Bread (500g)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.95 MX$55.0
24.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$10.20 $10.20
$2.45 MX$45.58
316.33%
Eggs
$8.59 $8.59
$2.32 MX$43.17
270.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.38 $12.38
$11.69 MX$218
5.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$19.60 $19.60
$9.50 MX$177
106.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.55 $21.55
$13.70 MX$255
57.30%
Apples (1kg)
$8.24 $8.24
$2.55 MX$47.48
223.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.57 MX$29.21
0.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.99 $6.99
$1.55 MX$28.95
350.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$9.67 $9.67
$1.63 MX$30.43
493.25%
Potato (1kg)
$4.93 $4.93
$1.24 MX$23.07
297.58%
Onion (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$1.82 MX$33.98
167.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$5.27 $5.27
$2.80 MX$52.3
88.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$1.25 MX$23.30
134.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.32 $13.32
$4.76 MX$88.8
179.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.12 $18.12
$10.64 MX$198
70.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.52 MX$28.28
76.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.87 $5.87
$3.54 MX$66.0
65.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Waikiki, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.13 $2.13
$0.83 MX$15.55
156.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.9 $58.9
$51.8 MX$965
13.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 $3.45
$4.36 MX$81.2
-20.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.55 $2.55
$3.07 MX$57.2
-16.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.16 $44.16
$10.45 MX$195
322.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.46 MX$27.18
-2.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K $35.9K
$20.7K MX$386.1K
73.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$23.4K MX$436.7K
12.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waikiki, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$259 $259
$83.4 MX$1,554
211.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$25.36 MX$473
164.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.7 $65.7
$31.16 MX$581
110.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waikiki, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.31 $43.31
$45.36 MX$846
-4.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.79 MX$555
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.72 $19.72
$3.94 MX$73.5
400.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waikiki, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,113 $2,113
$228 MX$4,243
828.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.0K $27.0K
$7,924 MX$147.7K
240.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waikiki, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 $62.8
$71.9 MX$1,341
-12.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.75 $46.75
$51.8 MX$966
-9.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$94.5 MX$1,761
7.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 $134
$66.4 MX$1,238
101.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waikiki, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,570 $1,570
$1,182 MX$22.0K
32.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,162 $1,162
$744 MX$13.9K
56.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,347 $2,347
$2,452 MX$45.7K
-4.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,991 $1,991
$1,182 MX$22.0K
68.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,836 $2,836
$3,857 MX$71.9K
-26.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,996 $1,996
$2,188 MX$40.8K
-8.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waikiki, HI
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$751 MX$14.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.7
11.6
-42.24%

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

Last update for Waikiki, HI: October 24, 2026

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

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Waikiki, HI
$1.2K
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$744 36% $418
Groceries & Markets
Waikiki, HI
$591
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$296 49.9% $295
Eating Out
Waikiki, HI
$425
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$184 56.8% $241
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waikiki, HI
$392
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$140 64.3% $252
Clothing & Footwear
Waikiki, HI
$155
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$128 17.5% $27
Getting Around
Waikiki, HI
$84
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$75 10.6% $8.9
Sport & Entertainment
Waikiki, HI
$83
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
$53 35.7% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,570 in Waikiki, HI versus $1,182 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in Waikiki, HI versus $49 in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $591 vs $296 – making Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Waikiki, HI
🇲🇽 Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
🕒 Local time
11:06 11:06 AM
14:06 2:06 PM
3 h ahead of Waikiki, HI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,862
202,694
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

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

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Waikiki, HI Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur 4,920 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Waikiki, 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
Waikiki, HI vs Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur: 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 $4,337 per month in Waikiki, HI and $2,429 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: 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 $2,113 per month in Waikiki, HI and $228 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 Waikiki, 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 $1,620, 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 Waikiki, 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 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.

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