A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Antigua Guatemala vs. Koh Pha Ngan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Antigua Guatemala or Koh Pha Ngan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Antigua Guatemala or Koh Pha Ngan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Antigua Guatemala or Koh Pha Ngan?

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.

Koh Pha Ngan

Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Antigua Guatemala?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Antigua Guatemala Prices
    Guatemala Prices
    Koh Pha Ngan Prices
    Thailand Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Antigua Guatemala $75
    Koh Pha Ngan $58

The average daily cost (per person) in Antigua Guatemala is $75, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $58. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Antigua Guatemala and Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Antigua Guatemala $22
    Koh Pha Ngan $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Antigua Guatemala $44
    Koh Pha Ngan $50
Compare Hotels in Antigua Guatemala and Koh Pha Ngan

Looking for a hotel in Antigua Guatemala or Koh Pha Ngan? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Antigua Guatemala


Hotels in Koh Pha Ngan


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices and Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Antigua Guatemala $13
    Koh Pha Ngan $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala

Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • One way shared transfer to Flores, Peten: $79
  • One-Way Shared Van Transfer to Panajachel: $25
  • Antigua: One way private transfer to Guatemala City: $69
  • Antigua: One way shared transfer to Guatemala City: $24
  • Antigua: One way shared transfer to Semuc Champey, Lanquin: $49
  • Antigua: Private Transfer to Guatemala City Airport: $30
  • From Antigua Guatemala One way shared transfer to El Paredon: $34
  • From Antigua: One way private transfer to Panajachel: $194
  • From Antigua: Transfer to Guatemala City: $85
  • From Panajachel: One Way Shared Transfers to Antigua: $25
  • Guatemala City Airport: Private Transfer to Antigua: $30
  • Panajachel: One way shared transfer to Antigua: $25

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $8.95
  • Ferry Ride
    $15
  • Gas for Scooter
    $3.28

Is it cheaper to fly into Antigua Guatemala or Koh Pha Ngan?

Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Antigua Guatemala $25
    Koh Pha Ngan $19
Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:


  • Lunch
    $3.29
  • Lunch
    $7.89

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:

  • Antigua Guatemalan Authentic Cooking Class Chef David Farfan: $38
  • Antigua: Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Classes — Casa San Miguel.: $38
  • Antigua: Traditional cooking lesson with a Guatemalan family: $48
  • Antigua: Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family: $60
  • Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
  • Antigua: Cooking Class With Wine, Transfer & Vegan Option: $72
  • Guatemalan Mayan Cooking Workshop: $75
  • Local Street Food Tour of Antigua: $75
  • Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $75
  • Cooking Class With Local Family: $84
  • Antigua Local: Evening Street Food Tour with Dinner: $84
  • Street Food Tour Around Antigua: $85

Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:


  • Noodle Lunch (for One)
    $1.19
  • Sit Down Dinner (for Two)
    $11
  • Smoothies (for Two)
    $1.19
  • Ice Cream
    $0.60
  • Juice
    $1.79
  • 3 Spring Rolls
    $0.89
  • 2 Pancakes
    $1.79

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Antigua Guatemala $15
    Koh Pha Ngan $18

Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.

  • Antigua Earthquake Baroque Architecture Audio Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Antigua Guatemala Historic Center Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Signature Lattes Tasting Experience in Antigua for Coffee Lovers: $13
  • Historical and Cultural Walking Tour of Antigua Guatemala: $20
  • Half-Day Walking Tour: $20
  • Express tour in Antigua: $20
  • Guided City Tour with Chef David Farfan: $20
  • Cultural and Fun Walking Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $22
  • Walking Tour with Local Guide: $23
  • From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Tour in English/Spanish: $23
  • Antigua Sightseeing: Private Walking Tour Culture and History: $24
  • Guided Walking Tour with Coffee: $24

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Antigua Guatemala $12
    Koh Pha Ngan $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Antigua Guatemala

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Antigua Guatemala:

  • Antigua Bar Crawl: $26

Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:


  • Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)
    $7.76


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antigua Guatemala and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Antigua Guatemala is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Antigua Guatemala is in Central America and Koh Pha Ngan is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Antigua Guatemala or Koh Pha Ngan?

Antigua Guatemala has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Antigua Guatemala and Koh Pha Ngan, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.