Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Antigua Guatemala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Antigua Guatemala or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Antigua Guatemala or Quepos, 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 Quepos?
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.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
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 Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAntigua Guatemala $63Quepos $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Antigua Guatemala is $63, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $114. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAntigua Guatemala $22Quepos $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAntigua Guatemala $44Quepos $148
Compare Hotels in Antigua Guatemala and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Antigua Guatemala or Quepos? 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.
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 Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Antigua Guatemala $12Quepos $9.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $27
- Transfer Guatemala City to Aurora to Antigua Guatemala: $130
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $25
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Puerto Quetzal Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to La Aurora Airport: $45
- Private Transfer From Antigua to Guatemala City / Airport: $50
- Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $23
- Guatemala City: One way Shared Transfer to Antigua: $24
- From Antigua: Transfer to Guatemala City: $75
- Antigua: One way shared transfer to Semuc Champey, Lanquin: $54
- One way shared transfer to Rio Dulce: $59
- One way shared transfer to Panajachel: $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to the Sierpe: $213
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Transfer TO or FROM Manuel Antonio, Quepos to SJO Airport - Private (ONE WAY): $105
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Antigua Guatemala or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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
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Food Meals for one dayAntigua Guatemala $14Quepos $29
Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:
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Lunch$3.23
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Lunch$7.74
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: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Experience with Locals: $60
- Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family: $60
- Private Street Food Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $65
- Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $74
- Street Food Tour Around Antigua: $75
- Local Street Food Tour of Antigua: $75
- Market food tour and tortilla workshop: $79
- Market and Mayan Cooking Class: $80
- Guatemalan Cooking Class & Market Tour: $85
- Foodie & street food tour: $85
- Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua: $90
- Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour: $98
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$14
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Antigua Guatemala $15Quepos $16
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
- ¡Pacaya Volcano Tour from Antigua!: $100
- 2-Day Kayak and Hike Adventure Package from Antigua: $295
- 2-Day Shared Hiking Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $110
- 2-Day Shared Hiking Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $125
- 2-Day Tour of Lake Atitlan & Chichicastenango Market: $220
- 3-Hour Chateau Defay Vineyard Tour in Central America: $65
- 4WD Acatenango Volcano Tour / Summit & Sunrise: $300
- ANTIGUA Villages Tour: $72
- ATV Cultural & Adventure Tour: Shared Antigua Villages Experience: $90
- Acatenango Overnight Hike Multiday Tour: $116
- Acatenango Volcano Experience for 2 Days and 1 Night: $72
- Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hiking from Antigua - 2 Days Private Tour: $215
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 10 in 1 Tour! Zip Lines, Rappels, Tarzan Swing, Waterfalls & More: $130
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $83
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $95
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Nauyaca Waterfall and Beach Town Tour: $140
- All-Inclusive Half Day Nauyaca Waterfall Tour: $136
- All-Inclusive Jungle Night Tour: $59
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $25
- Birding at El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Private Birding Tour : $120
- Canopy Tour From Manuel Antonio: $116
- Catamaran Adventure From Manuel Antonio: $116
- Catamaran Cruise from Manuel Antonio with Snorkeling: $93
- Chocolate Experience, Waterfall and Cultural Lunch in local home.: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAntigua Guatemala $11Quepos $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antigua Guatemala and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Antigua Guatemala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Antigua Guatemala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antigua Guatemala 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos than you might in Antigua Guatemala.
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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Antigua Guatemala or Quepos?
Antigua Guatemala has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Antigua Guatemala and Quepos, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.