Should you visit Antigua Guatemala or Granada?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Antigua Guatemala or Granada, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Antigua Guatemala
Before a disastrous earthquake in 1773, Antigua was the colonial capital of Guatemala. For 200 years it had reigned as so and today shows remnants of its glorious past with Spanish colonial buildings and other architectural landmarks still standing. Due to this large amount of preserved architecture, Antigua was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is now the most touristed city of Guatemala.
Granada
Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.
Which city is cheaper, Granada or Antigua Guatemala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Antigua Guatemala is $50, while the average daily cost in Granada is $33. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Antigua Guatemala and Granada in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Antigua Guatemala can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $17, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $34.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $28 for a double occupancy room in Granada.
Food
The price of a meal in Antigua Guatemala can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $11 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $4.40 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Granada food costs typically run travelers around $12 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Antigua Guatemala $11
Granada $12
Typical Food prices in Antigua Guatemala
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antigua Guatemala
For Antigua Guatemala, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Short Cooking Class in Antigua, Guatemala:
$37
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Guatemalan Food Cooking Class:
$45
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Cooking Classes:
$49
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Food Tour in Antigua Traditional Market:
$58
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Market and Mayan Cooking Class:
$60
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Guatemalan Mestizo and Gourmet Food Tour in Antigua:
$71
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Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class:
$72
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Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour:
$84
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Food Tour in the lovely town of Antigua, Guatemala:
$87
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Guatemala City Market and Food Tour from Antigua:
$90
Typical Food prices in Granada
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Granada
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Granada.
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Middle Eastern 6-course dinner in Granada with a professional chef:
$49
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Albaicín & Sacromonte Guided Walking Tour with Flamenco & Tapas Dinner:
$81
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Small Group Food Tour in Granada:
$88
-
Spanish Tapas Cooking Class in Granada:
$116
Local Transportation
Antigua Guatemala's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $9.88 per person, per day on transportation in Antigua Guatemala.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $7.17 per day to get around in Granada.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:
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Seville Private Transfer from Granada with sightseeing in Antequera and Cordoba:
$634
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Private Transfer: Granada to Federico García Lorca Granada Airport (GRX):
$622
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Granada to Seville Private Transfer:
$388
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Granada Private Transfer to Seville with a Visit to Cordoba:
$348
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Private Transfer from Granada to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$276
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Granada to Cordoba Private Transfer:
$275
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Granada to Malaga Airport Private Transfer:
$216
-
One-Way Private Transfer from Granada to San Juan del Sur:
$119
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Granada airport private arrival transfer, Mercedes minivan:
$107
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Private Transfer IN or OUT in Upscale Vehicle with Professional Driver:
$93
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One-Way Private Transfer from Granada to Managua:
$83
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Granada airport private arrival transfer, Mercedes Sedan:
$81
Is it cheaper to fly into Antigua Guatemala or Granada?
Prices for flights to both Granada and Antigua Guatemala change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Antigua Guatemala can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $12 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $8.70 per person, per day in Granada. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
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Antigua old city Walking tour:
$8.00
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Artisan Shoemaking & Leather Craft Tour:
$10
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Walking Tour Antigua Guatemala:
$12
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Antigua Walking Tour Morning and Afternoon:
$18
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La Antigua Cultural Walking Tour:
$20
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LA ANTIGUA CULTURAL WALKING TOUR- Afternoon:
$20
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Antigua Market Culture and Cuisine Tour:
$20
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Antigua Walking Tour:
$22
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Private Walking tour of Antigua Guatemala:
$24
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Cultural Walking City Tour of Antigua Guatemala:
$25
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Full day Walking tour Antigua Guatemala:
$25
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Experience Antigua Walking Tour:
$26
Typical Entertainment prices in Granada
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Granada
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:
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2-Day Seville Tour from Granada with Royal Alcazar Palace, Seville Cathedral and Flamenco Show:
$271
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3-Hour Walking Tour of Granada:
$55
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3-day Andalucia Tour: Codoba & Seville from Granada:
$917
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4WD Sierra Nevada Safari PRIVATE TOUR:
$118
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A day in the life of Granada - Private tour with a local:
$249
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Albaicin and Sacromonte Guided Tour:
$19
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Albaicin and Sacromonte Walking Tour:
$12
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Albaicin quarter - night private tour:
$115
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Albayzin and Sacromonte Electric Bike Tour in Granada:
$76
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Albayzin and Sacromonte Guided Walking Tour in Granada:
$19
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Albayzin and Sacromonte private tour at sunset with tapas:
$169
-
Alhambra & Generalife Guided Premium Tour (Small Groups with Direct Entry):
$98
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Antigua Guatemala, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $9.10.
The average person spends about $6.28 on alcoholic beverages in Granada per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in Granada
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
Sample the Local Flavors in Granada
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Granada:
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Wine Tasting in Granada:
$57
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Granada Tapas and wine tour!:
$67
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Granada Traditional Tapas and Wine Tour - by Oh My Good Guide!:
$81
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Small-Group Granada Tapas Bar Crawl Evening Tasting Experience:
$83
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BEST OF Flamenco, Tapas and Wine Tour - by OhMyGoodGuide!:
$106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antigua Guatemala and Granada, we can see that Antigua Guatemala is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Antigua Guatemala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antigua Guatemala than you might in Granada.
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