Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Belize City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Belize City or Antigua Guatemala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Belize City or Antigua Guatemala? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Belize City or Antigua Guatemala?
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.
This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.
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 Belize, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.
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Belize City Prices
Belize PricesAntigua Guatemala Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBelize City $108Antigua Guatemala $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $108, 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 Belize City and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBelize City $49Antigua Guatemala $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBelize City $98Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Belize City and Antigua Guatemala
Looking for a hotel in Belize City 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.
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: Belize City Hotel Prices and Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Belize City $5.82Antigua Guatemala $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize Round-Trip Private Transfer: $300
- Belize City Airport to Placencia Private Transfer: $165
- Tours&airport transfer: $128
- Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Shuttle Transfer: $113
- Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $108
- Belize Airport (BZE) to San Ignacio - Arrival Private Transfer: $87
- Private transfer from the Philip Goldson Airport to San Ignacio: $80
- Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize City Hotels: $71
- Private Transfer from Belize city hotels to Belize City Port: $71
- Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city hotels -Arrival Private Transfer: $54
- Belize City to Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
- Belize City to Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- transfer service Guatemala City, Lake Atitlan destination: $35
- Shared transfer from Guatemala city Airport to Panajachel: $44
- Shared Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel (Atitlan): $30
- Private transfer from Antigua to La Aurora Airport: $90
- Private Transfers in Guatemala: $39
- Private Transfer:Antigua GuatemalaLake Atitlán(Any Town)OneWay: $74
- Private Transfer from the Airport to Antigua: $90
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or Antigua Guatemala?
Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Belize City 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 dayBelize City $47Antigua Guatemala $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City
For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour - fish farm & restaurant: $80
- Belize: Tikal, Yaxha, and Cooking Class 4-Day Tour: $1,800
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$3.28
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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
- 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
- Cooking class and market tour/Pepian Workshop: $50
- Antigua: Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family: $60
- Private Street Food Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $65
- Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
- Cooking Class With Local Family: $70
- Antigua: Cooking Class With Wine, Transfer & Vegan Option: $72
- Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $75
- Cooking Classes and Jade Workshops: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Belize City $29Antigua Guatemala $15
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from Belize City: $268
- Altun Ha Heritage Tour from Belize City: $85
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins & Zipline Tour from Belize City All Inclusive: $210
- Altun Ha and Cave Tubing Tour from Belize City: $234
- Belize City Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (ATM )Full Day Tour: $250
- Belize City All Inclusive Tour for Cruise Ship Travelers: $100
- Belize City Coffee Tasting, History and Book Tour by TukTuk: $65
- Belize City Day and Night Cocktail Tour with Tuktuk Belize Tours: $60
- Belize City Tour: $40
- Cave Tubing & Zipline Adventure Tour: $115
- Cave Tubing and Xunantunich Mayan Site Tour: $200
- Half-Day Altun Ha Temple & Belize City Tour: $96
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
- 2-Day, 1-Night Tour of Volcano Acatenango from Antigua: $92
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $220
- 3-Hour Chateau Defay Vineyard Tour in Central America: $170
- 4 Hour Colonial Experience in Antigua Guatemala: $35
- 4-Hour Colonial Experience in Antigua Guatemala: $25
- 4WD Acatenango Volcano Tour & Fuego / All Inclusive !: $400
- 4WD experience to Acatenango Volcano/Fuego Volcano from Antigua: $333
- 4x4 Acatenango Volcano and Fuego Vistas 2 Day Shared Tour: $260
- 4x4 tour from Antigua with a night camp in front of the Fuego volcano: $1,300
- ANTIGUA Villages Tour: $103
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBelize City $12Antigua 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 Belize City and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Belize City 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 Belize City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Belize City 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 Belize City Expensive? and Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Belize City or Antigua Guatemala?
Belize City has a larger population, and is about 56% larger than the population of Antigua Guatemala. When comparing the sizes of Belize City 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.
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.