Hawaii vs Mexico: what a week costs for two
Mexico wins on price. From Los Angeles, a week for 2 adults with flights costs about $4,200 in Cancún and $3,600 in Puerto Vallarta, against about $6,670 on Maui. The airfare is similar; the hotel bill is not.
. Flight fares and all totals are estimates, not live pricing.
Hawaii vs Mexico cost breakdown (from Los Angeles)
Line by line for 2 adults and 7 nights. Lodging and daily spending make most of the difference.
| Cost | Maui | Cancún | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round-trip flights for 2 from LAX | $788–$1,216 | $888–$1,034 | $780–$1,140 |
| Lodging, 7 nights | $2,100–$3,500 | $1,050–$2,100 | $770–$1,400 |
| Food & drink | $1,050–$1,750 | $560–$1,050 | $700–$1,120 |
| Local transport | $560–$910 | $175–$350 | $175–$315 |
| Activities | $420–$1,050 | $350–$840 | $245–$560 |
| All-in total | ≈ $6,670$4,918–$8,426 | ≈ $4,200$3,023–$5,374 | ≈ $3,600$2,670–$4,535 |
Photos: Maui: Rick Obst, CC BY 4.0 · Cancún: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons · Photo credits
Hawaii vs Mexico from every departure city
The same week priced from each of the 8 cities we cover. The result column compares Maui with the cheaper of the two Mexican beach towns.
| Flying from | Maui | Cancún | Puerto Vallarta | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) | ≈ $6,670$4,918–$8,426 | ≈ $4,200$3,023–$5,374 | ≈ $3,600$2,670–$4,535 | Puerto Vallarta ~$3,050 cheaper |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | ≈ $6,770$4,930–$8,610 | ≈ $4,290$2,995–$5,590 | ≈ $3,660$2,700–$4,615 | Puerto Vallarta ~$3,100 cheaper |
| Phoenix (PHX) | ≈ $6,920$5,134–$8,712 | ≈ $4,470$3,177–$5,772 | ≈ $3,740$2,816–$4,663 | Puerto Vallarta ~$3,200 cheaper |
| Denver (DEN) | ≈ $6,990$5,082–$8,900 | ≈ $4,260$2,901–$5,622 | ≈ $3,950$2,998–$4,897 | Puerto Vallarta ~$3,050 cheaper |
| Dallas (DFW) | ≈ $7,170$5,300–$9,046 | ≈ $4,080$2,805–$5,346 | ≈ $3,960$2,974–$4,943 | Puerto Vallarta ~$3,200 cheaper |
| Seattle (SEA) | ≈ $6,960$5,030–$8,880 | ≈ $4,570$3,193–$5,952 | ≈ $3,840$2,836–$4,849 | Puerto Vallarta ~$3,100 cheaper |
| Chicago (CHI) | ≈ $7,310$5,354–$9,266 | ≈ $4,040$2,793–$5,280 | ≈ $3,870$2,898–$4,835 | Puerto Vallarta ~$3,450 cheaper |
| New York (NYC) | ≈ $7,060$5,238–$8,872 | ≈ $4,260$2,849–$5,670 | ≈ $4,000$2,952–$5,047 | Puerto Vallarta ~$3,050 cheaper |
Flight times: Hawaii vs Mexico by city
| Flying from | Maui (OGG) | Cancún (CUN) | Puerto Vallarta (PVR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) | About 6 hr nonstop | About 4.5–5 hr nonstop | About 3 hr nonstop |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | About 6 hr nonstop (Alaska, Southwest and Hawaiian fly LAS–OGG) | About 4.5–6 hr; most itineraries have 1 stop, nonstops are limited/seasonal | About 3 hr nonstop |
| Phoenix (PHX) | About 6.5 hr nonstop (American Airlines and Southwest) | About 4 hr nonstop (American Airlines and Southwest) | About 2.5 hr nonstop (American Airlines and Southwest) |
| Denver (DEN) | About 7.5 hr nonstop (United Airlines) | About 4 hr nonstop (United Airlines and Southwest) | About 3.5 hr nonstop (United Airlines and Southwest) |
| Dallas (DFW) | About 8 hr nonstop (American Airlines) | About 3 hr nonstop (American Airlines and Frontier) | About 3 hr nonstop (American Airlines) |
| Seattle (SEA) | About 6.5 hr nonstop (Alaska Airlines and Delta) | About 6 hr nonstop (Delta and Alaska Airlines) | About 5 hr nonstop (Alaska Airlines and Delta) |
| Chicago (CHI) | About 9 hr nonstop (United Airlines and American Airlines) | About 4 hr nonstop (United Airlines, American Airlines and others) | About 5 hr nonstop (United Airlines and American Airlines) |
| New York (NYC) | From about 12.5 hr with 1 stop (often via HNL or DEN) | About 4.5 hr nonstop (United Airlines, JetBlue and others) | About 6 hr nonstop (United Airlines) |
Typical itineraries listed for each route; airline schedules change by season.
Entry rules and extra costs
Hawaii: No passport needed for US citizens (REAL ID or passport to fly). Resort fees and parking at many hotels; Hawaii lodging taxes can add a significant percentage to the room rate. A rental car is close to essential.
Cancún: Passport required. Mexico tourist entry form, plus Quintana Roo's VISITAX visitor fee. VISITAX and hotel taxes; tipping culture similar to the US; all-inclusive resorts change the math (higher room rate, lower food spend).
Puerto Vallarta: Passport required. Mexico's tourist entry form (FMM) is issued on arrival or digitally. All-inclusive resorts change the math; timeshare pitches at the airport; boat tours to Yelapa/Marietas are the big activity spend.
When to go
- Maui: April–May and September–November (shoulder seasons). January often has the cheapest airfare; June–July the priciest.
- Cancún: December–April (dry season); late April–May for lower prices. Hurricane season runs June–November.
- Puerto Vallarta: November–April (dry season, whale watching December–March). Summer is hot, humid and cheaper.
Beyond the beach: Mexico City and Oaxaca
If the trip doesn't have to be a beach week, Mexico's cities are cheaper still in our data: from Los Angeles, Mexico City comes to about $2,870 and Oaxaca about $2,640 for 2 adults, against $6,670 for Maui. See Chicago vs. Mexico City and Austin vs. Oaxaca for the full breakdowns.
Book this trip: Cancún or Puerto Vallarta (from Los Angeles)
Flight searches start in Los Angeles (LAX) for a 7-night trip for 2 adults. Partner prices are live and may differ from our estimates.
Mexico (Cancún)
Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure
Related comparisons and guides
- Miami vs. Cancún · Two beach cities, similar flight times. Which week costs less?
- San Diego vs. Puerto Vallarta · Pacific beaches, tacos and sunsets: SoCal or Mexico's Pacific coast?
- Maui vs. Bali · Tropical island showdown: Hawaii's beaches or Bali's temples and rice terraces?
- Maui vs. Lisbon · Is Hawaii really cheaper than Europe? Once you add up the hotel bill, maybe not.
- Chicago vs. Mexico City · Big-city food, architecture and museums: the Windy City or CDMX?
- Austin vs. Oaxaca · Tacos, mezcal and creative energy: Texas's capital of cool or Mexico's food capital?
- Cheaper alternatives to Hawaii
Frequently asked questions
Is Mexico cheaper than Hawaii for a vacation?
In our estimates, yes. From Los Angeles, a week for 2 adults with flights is about $4,200 in Cancún and $3,600 in Puerto Vallarta, versus about $6,670 on Maui. Cancún is cheaper from 8 of the 8 US cities we cover (by $2,400–$3,250) and Puerto Vallarta from 8 of 8 (by $3,050–$3,450). Sample estimates, not live prices.
Cancún vs Hawaii: which costs more?
Maui. From Los Angeles, round-trip fares are $444–$517 pp to Cancún and $394–$608 pp to Maui, but lodging is $1,050–$2,100 for 7 nights in Cancún against $2,100–$3,500 on Maui. In Cancún, watch for: VISITAX and hotel taxes; tipping culture similar to the US; all-inclusive resorts change the math (higher room rate, lower food spend).
Is Puerto Vallarta cheaper than Hawaii?
Yes, in our data. From Los Angeles, Puerto Vallarta comes to about $3,600 for 2 adults and 7 nights with flights, versus about $6,670 for Maui. Flight time from Los Angeles: about 3 hr nonstop.
Do I need a passport for Mexico or Hawaii?
Hawaii: No passport needed for US citizens (REAL ID or passport to fly). Mexico: Passport required. Mexico tourist entry form, plus Quintana Roo's VISITAX visitor fee. Always check official government sources before you travel.
Which is closer from my city, Hawaii or Mexico?
Los Angeles: Maui about 6 hr nonstop; Cancún about 4.5–5 hr nonstop. Las Vegas: Maui about 6 hr nonstop; Cancún about 4.5–6 hr; most itineraries have 1 stop, nonstops are limited/seasonal. Phoenix: Maui about 6.5 hr nonstop; Cancún about 4 hr nonstop. Denver: Maui about 7.5 hr nonstop; Cancún about 4 hr nonstop. Dallas: Maui about 8 hr nonstop; Cancún about 3 hr nonstop. Seattle: Maui about 6.5 hr nonstop; Cancún about 6 hr nonstop. Chicago: Maui about 9 hr nonstop; Cancún about 4 hr nonstop. New York: Maui from about 12.5 hr with 1 stop; Cancún about 4.5 hr nonstop.
How we priced this
Every total is 7 nights for 2 adults: round-trip economy flights for both travelers, one mid-range room, and daily food, local transport and activities for two (plus lift tickets and rentals on ski trips). Flight ranges per route come from published typical fares or, where marked "Aviasales cached", from cached fare data refreshed automatically; lodging and daily costs are the same figures used on each comparison page, where every source is listed. These are sample estimates, not live prices. Read the full methodology.