Mexico vs Florida for your vacation?
Sun, fun, and a good time is what many seek in a vacation. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s people started flocking to Florida for it’s warm weather and beautiful beaches. At this time the city of Cancun was not more then sand and the State of Quintana Roo was not even a State. Over the decades the family trip to Florida became a rite of passage for kids and summer time. Gradually over time the family trip evolved from the road trip to plane trip making a quicker getaway and further destinations possible. People started flying to Florida and boarding a cruise ships to see the Caribbean. The international vacation started to become the norm.
On January 23, 1970 development started in Cancun or the area of what was to become Cancun. This was just the beginning of the tourist destination of Cancun and the Hotel Zone. The rest is history as they say. Today the entire coast from Cancun to Tulum is dotted with development. Hotels, resorts and a holiday activities for those seeking culture, sun, excitement and something different.
Since Florida is a tropical climate and the Yucatan Peninsula being just across the Gulf of Mexico, what are the differences? What is best for you? We took a look at cost and what makes these two destinations similar and different.
Price difference between a vacation in Mexico and one in Florida
Lets face it, price is a major consideration in selecting a vacation spot. You want to be able to do more things there then you do in your regular non vacationing life but still come back home and not have to keep paying forever for the trip. The two most costly things about vacations are the transportation getting there and the hotel. We broke down hotel prices according to Hotels.com by the 2-5 star hotels and what the average price was.
Average prices Playa del Carmen, Mexico
- USD 73 avg.
- USD 114 avg.
- USD 265 avg.
- USD 483 avg.
Average prices Miami Beach, Florida, United States
- USD 121 avg.
- USD 181 avg.
- USD 274 avg.
- 5starUSD 455 avg.
You can see that on the lower end (2 and 3 star hotels) are both on average cheaper in Mexico. This means that if you were to go on vacation for a week and spend 6 nights at one of these hotels the bills would be $438 for a 2 star hotel in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico or $684 for a 3 star hotel. In Miami the cost would be $726 for the 2 star hotel and $1086 for the 3 star hotel.
The all inclusive hotel difference between Mexico and Florida
On our price list you can see the 4 and 5 star hotels are actually cheaper in Florida. This may look good at first but there is a big factor to consider. This is also something you have to factor in with the 2 and 3 star hotels as well. Most large hotels in Mexico are all inclusive which means that your meals and drinks are included in the price. This can mean a much better value. For example if you stayed a week in Florida at a 5 star hotel it would cost $2730 compared with $2898 in Mexico. Even if your hotel in Florida served up a breakfast that was included in the price there are the other two meals to consider. Lets say you will spend $20USD for each meal. That would be $40 for lunch for two adults and $40 for dinner. A total of $80 per day that is actually included in your hotel price in Mexico. In a week this might be 11 lunches and dinners or a total of $440 for two adults. The $168 cheaper average hotel rate for Florida goes away with this consideration and it could actually be a savings to stay at a 5 star hotel in Mexico of $272.
If you are interested in further looking at hotels for your vacation, try searching using the link on the side of this page. Here you can find great price comparisons and they make it easy to narrow down your search as well as find the location you want to be in.
Cost for tours Mexico vs Florida
Swim with dolphins encounter $139 $89
Animal Zoo $35 $50
Historic Estate Tour $18 $28
Entertainment park $105 $89
Total $297 $256
You most likely will not be doing all the activities that there are offers but this give you a general idea of cost. Some activities are very similar like swimming with the dolphins and easy to compare prices. The hardest activity is the entertainment park. Florida is famous for Walt Disney World and the theme parks. We compared a one day Magic Kingdom ticket to the best equivalent in Mexico, an eco park called Xcaret.
Overall the savings is about 14% if you do activities in Mexico.
Car rental comparison between Mexico and Florida
This was a pretty clear comparison. Car rentals on average are little over $100 dollars cheaper in Mexico for a week. There is once slight difference between Florida and Mexico here. Having your own car in Florida sure helps you to get round as most attractions do not offer easy public transportation or they have a very limited pickup. Many people come to Mexico and do not rent a car because most of the large hotels offer a transport pickup option and most activities have pickup services or are accessible by public transportation.
One week Compact car rental $334 $234
Flights to your vacation
We chose a random day on the calendar and selected cites from North America to both destinations for flight price comparisons. All prices are USD.
USA Miami Cancun
Flight R/T from Chicago $374 $601
Flight R/T from NYC $262 $437
Flight R/T from LA $392 $543
Canada
Flight R/T from Montreal $515 $554
Flight R/T from Toronto $499 $504
Flight R/T from Vancouver $851 $990
As you can see from the random sampling of flight prices it is more expensive to fly to Cancun in general. Some vacation packages can offer a good value with flight included though and this should be considered.
Ease of travel
International travel is not for everyone and we know that some people like the comfort zone of knowing everyone speaks your language and you know what standards you will be presented with. This being said, Mexico has become a major international destination with most staff that work in tourist areas speaking at least two languages. Food and transportation have also been elevated by the amount of tourist that come to Mexico. Going to a foreign country can be intimidating but knowledge is power and often the fear of something is the lack of know about it. For those that have already been to Mexico and especially the Mexican Riviera, people will tell you how easy it is to get around and how little problems with communication they had.
Culture and things you cannot put a price on
One last thing to consider is culture that you expose yourself to on vacation. Florida does have some things that make it distinctively Florida and it does seem to have it’s own color palate. It does have a special culture inside of the theme parks and it can make for a magical time. Florida in general though is very similar to most of North America. Mexico on the other hand has a vibrant culture that is not only expressed through food but also in sights, people and language. The experiences for you in Mexico can expand your knowledge of people and cultural understanding. Just think of the many Maya archeological sites there are to visit and the wide variety of Mexican food.
We hope wherever you go on vacation you have a great time and make some good memories. Vacations are a needed break from the normalcy of life and can enrich us at the same time. We also hope this article highlights the differences between these tow popular travel destinations but also how similar it can be to go for an international vacation for almost the same price.
Where do you like to vacation? Mexico vs Florida? Do you think there is good value in the Riviera Maya? Let us know in the comments below.
About The Author
Great article, but a few major points omitted.
1. Car rental agencies in Cancun gouge you with “mandatory” insurance, even though you are already protected via credit card or home owners insurance..this amounts to approx $15 per day additional.
2 Lineups at Mexican Customs and Immigration can be horrendous as every time I’ve flown into CUN I’m behind 2-3 other wide bodies, usually from Europe.
3. Not mentioned is the cruel Mexican departure tax …Family of 4 x $50 = $200
4. Constant harassment of beggars, hawkers and drug salesmen not mentioned.
5. The safety of drinking tap water and eating anything that’s washed in tap water usually leaves you with the necessity of being in close proximity to a washroom.
6. The necessity of acquiring a passport for travel.
7. I’ve been to all major points in Mexico, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, Acapulco, Guadalajara, Leon, Mexico City, Cancun and Cozumel so my travel experience has genarally been good but my points are definitely valid.
I agree with EVERYTHING you said. I know this as a fact because I’m in Mexico now as I’m writing. Been through it all in these few days since we’ve been here!
Actually Mexico departure taxes are already included in the airline ticket, so that would be wrong to say it is extra.
Car insurance is pretty much the same depending on what coverage you have and how much you want. You can add a policy to your credit card which covers all rentals even overseas, so there is not really a difference there. I think people just feel more comfortable putting more on in a place they don’t know. Both countries have laws stating it is mandatory.
Firѕt of all I would like to say terrific blog!
I had a quicҝ questіon which I’d like to aѕk if ʏou do not
mind. I was curioսs to find out tours we can take while in Playa Del Carmen. We were going to Florida but have decided that Mexico is cheaper now and more exciting. We are two adults in our 30s and want one or two tours to take. We don’t want to do chichen Itza because it is so touristy. Any recommendations or tips?
Cheers!
Hello Marie. Here is a link to our complete excursions we have been on. There are tons of good options for tours. There are several other Mayan ruins too that are not as touristy. The map is great because it is interactive and you can see where things are. Let us know if you have any other questions. We love helping people find the best tours and things to do in Playa Del Carmen. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/playa-del-carmen-excursions/
Wow, thiѕ piece is good in comparison. We are looking at Florida but thought it might be too expensive to go to Mexico. I think with the exchange rates it is much better time to visit Mexico and there is less violence in Mexico. lol
Maybe Americans will realize that Florida is not as exciting as Mexico and there is a whole world to discover in the Yucatan. And Mexico is safer. Maybe if Trump becomes president then more people will look to move out or at least go on vacations away.
My grandson is writing about where he wants to go on vacation and we gave him these two options. I think this article will help us make some decisions.
I guess Mexico is getting cheaper and cheaper these days with the falling peso. It looks like a good pick for our next vacation.
I love PDC but comparing it to Miami?!?!
Seriously.
The comparison is more for prices. People actually do debate between Florida and Mexico for vacation, so we tried to pick some similar activities and popular destinations to compare prices.
Right?! It would be PDC hands down!
The $15/day additional insurance is for the liability, which is mandatory to rent a car in Mexico (no, they do not accept the US liability insurance policy). You can however, use the collision and damage insurance that your credit card provides. Call your credit card company before making any reservations.
I LIVE in Florida and spent a good amount of time in Mexico… Playa del Carmen USED to be off the beaten path; nowadays, notsomuch, but still lovely. Although I have not visited the Pacific side of Mexico, I have spent much time in the eastern and central part… San Miguel Allende in the 70’s was unknown and artsy and to this day, maintains that spirit! Isle Mujeres has become known, but still worthy of consideration. I’ve also travelled to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere area at the end of nowhere and this is a place to behold if you yearn for peace, tranquility and a total departure from the rat race.
I love both, mainly their coulture but if you want individual things you would find no where else, I suggest Mexico!