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

Should you visit Arusha or Antigua Guatemala?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Antigua Guatemala can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Arusha or Antigua Guatemala?

Arusha

Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Arusha?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $189, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $74. 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 Arusha and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $126
    Antigua Guatemala $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $252
    Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Antigua Guatemala

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Antigua Guatemala? 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 Arusha


Hotels in Antigua Guatemala


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: Arusha Hotel Prices and Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    Antigua Guatemala $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

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

  • Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $130
  • Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airport Transfers with Private Day Tours: $60
  • Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
  • Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
  • Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala

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

  • Shared Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel (Atitlan): $30
  • Private Transfers in Guatemala: $39
  • Private Transfer:Antigua GuatemalaLake Atitlán(Any Town)OneWay: $74
  • Private Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $70
  • Private Transfer from Antigua to La Aurora Airport: $32
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Santa Catarina Palopó: $88
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Airport: $27
  • Private Transfer One Way Antigua Guatemala to El Paredon Beach: $75
  • Private Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel Atitlan: $70
  • Private Transfer From Antigua to Guatemala City / Airport: $30
  • Private Transfer From Antigua Guatemala to La Aurora Airport: $29
  • Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Semuc Champey or Coban: $182

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Antigua Guatemala?

Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Arusha 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
    Arusha $40
    Antigua Guatemala $25
Typical Food Prices in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    $2.09

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
  • Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
  • Homestay + Cooking + Animal Care + Fruit Harvesting + Much More: $195

Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala

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


  • Lunch
    $3.28
  • Lunch
    $7.87

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:

  • Cooking and pastry class in Casa San Miguel: $38
  • Cooking class and market tour/Pepian Workshop: $50
  • Private Street Food Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $65
  • Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
  • Cooking Class With Local Family: $70
  • Cooking Classes and Jade Workshops: $75
  • Market and Mayan Cooking Class: $80
  • Street Food Tour Around Antigua: $85
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour: $85
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class & Market Tour: $85
  • Make your own Mayan Pepian - Cooking class: $89
  • Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua: $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    Antigua Guatemala $15

Tours and Activities in Arusha

For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 1 Day Tour Hot Spring (Majimoto): $80
  • 1 Day trip to Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Tour: $127
  • 1-Day Trip Tarangire N.P Small group Tour Tanzania sharing Safari: $270
  • 4 Hours Cycling Tour in Shimo La Mungu Crater: $50
  • 8-Hour Lake Chala Guided Tour from Moshi or Arusha: $260
  • A Day at Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour in Mt Kilimanjaro: $160
  • Amazing Lake Duluti Day Trip Experience: $70
  • Arusha African Shopping Tour: $100
  • Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
  • Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
  • Arusha City Tour: Where Continents Collide & Cultures Dance: $30
  • Arusha City town tour: $101

Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala

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

  • 2 - Days : Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $150
  • 2-Day Kayak and Hike Adventure Package from Antigua: $219
  • 3-Hour Chateau Defay Vineyard Tour in Central America: $170
  • 4 Hour Colonial Experience in Antigua Guatemala: $35
  • 4x4 Acatenango Volcano and Fuego Vistas 2 Day Shared Tour: $260
  • ANTIGUA Villages Tour: $103
  • ATV tour of picturesque villages around Antigua: $60
  • Acatenango Hike: Glamping Experience from Antigua: $230
  • Acatenango Hike: Overnight Group Adventure from Antigua: $225
  • Acatenango Overnight Hike Multiday Tour: $129
  • Acatenango Volcano Experience for 2 Days and 1 Night: $79
  • Acatenango Volcano Overnight Tour: $119

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $10
    Antigua Guatemala $12

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Antigua Guatemala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Antigua Guatemala is in Central America, 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 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 Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha 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 Arusha Expensive? and Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Antigua Guatemala?

Arusha has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Antigua Guatemala. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Antigua Guatemala, 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.