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Cancún vs Houston cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇲🇽 Cancún
🇺🇸 Houston
At a glance
- Where Cancún is clearly cheaper: Haircut (68%↓), Entry ticket (57%↓), Bottled water (57%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Houston is easier to travel (1.6 vs 2.6). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling — Cancún 4 vs Houston 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Cancún | Houston | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | MX$ 200$10.8 | $ 14$14 | Cancún −23% |
| Street food1 item | MX$ 80$4.3 | $ 9$9 | Cancún −52% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | MX$ 600$32.3 | $ 36$36 | Cancún −10% |
| Coffeeone cup | MX$ 75$4.03 | $ 5.2$5.2 | Cancún −22% |
| Beerone bottle | MX$ 80$4.3 | $ 6.2$6.2 | Cancún −31% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | MX$ 180$9.68 | $ 13$13 | Cancún −26% |
| Bottled water | MX$ 16$0.86 | $ 2$2 | Cancún −57% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | MX$ 25$1.34 | $ 2.7$2.7 | Cancún −50% |
| Taxi5 km in town | MX$ 130$6.99 | $ 11$11 | Cancún −36% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | MX$ 90$4.84 | $ 9$9 | Cancún −46% |
| Transitone ride | MX$ 15$0.81 | $ 1.25$1.25 | Cancún −35% |
| Scooter rentalper day | MX$ 500$26.9 | $ 35$35 | Cancún −23% |
| Hotel night3-star | MX$ 2,800$151 | $ 150$150 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | MX$ 14,000$753 | $ 1,200$1,200 | Cancún −37% |
| Laundry | MX$ 35$1.88 | $ 3.3$3.3 | Cancún −43% |
| SIM card1 week data | MX$ 210$11.3 | $ 22$22 | Cancún −49% |
| Haircutcut | MX$ 150$8.06 | $ 25$25 | Cancún −68% |
| Massage1 hour | MX$ 700$37.6 | $ 80$80 | Cancún −53% |
| Half-day tourper person | MX$ 860$46.2 | $ 70$70 | Cancún −34% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | MX$ 190$10.2 | $ 24$24 | Cancún −57% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Cancún or Houston?
Cancún is 18% cheaper than Houston. Daily budget $247 vs $272; a month $3,420 vs $4,578.
Which is easier to travel, Cancún or Houston?
Houston is easier: Houston 1.6/5 vs Cancún 2.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Cancún and Houston?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Cancún is about $3,420 and Houston about $4,578 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.