Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Belize City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 Adventure Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Eco Tours in Guatemala.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBelize City $88Antigua Guatemala $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $88, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $63. 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 $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $160
- Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Shuttle Transfer: $113
- Belize: Belize City to/from San Ignacio Shuttle Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $60
- Transfer Belize city to bacalar: $50
- We do transfers from airport to any where in Belize.: $49
- Belize city water taxi terminal to Airport transfer: $30
- Philip Goldson Airport BZE to Belize Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Belize City to Philip Goldson Airport BZE Departure Transfer: $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from La Antigua Guatemala to Monterrico (One Way): $260
- Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $80
- Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to La Aurora Airport: $30
- Transfer Guatemala City to Aurora to Antigua Guatemala: $130
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Puerto Quetzal Port: $27
- Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $23
- Guatemala: Antigua and Lago Atitlan Shuttle Transfer: $25
- From Guatemala City: One-way Shared Transfer to Antigua: $20
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 $27Antigua Guatemala $14
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: $80
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$3.22
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Lunch$7.72
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:
- Make your own Mayan Pepian - Cooking class: $69
- Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $74
- Street Food Tour Around 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
- Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $95
- Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour: $98
- From Guatemala City: Guatemala Cooking Class Tour: $110
- Pacaya Volcano Luxury Sunset Horseback Riding Tour/ Dinner Cooked by-Lava Chef: $295
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:
- "Taste Bud EXPLOSION" Food Tasting City Tour : $89
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure from Belize City: $167
- Actun Tunichil Muknal tour from Belize City: $200
- Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from Belize City: $208
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins & Zipline Tour from Belize City All Inclusive: $170
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and Belize City tour: $100
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and River Wallace and Manatee Watch Tour: $85
- Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
- Altun Ha, Monkey Sanctuary and Rum Factory Tour from Belize City: $170
- Belize City Tour: $40
- Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Full Day Tour: $190
- Cave Tubing & Zipline Adventure Tour: $110
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: $219
- 2-Day Shared Hiking Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $125
- 2-Day Shared Hiking Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $110
- 2-Day Tour of Lake Atitlan & Chichicastenango Market: $220
- 2-day tour to Acatenango Volcano: $57
- ANTIGUA Villages Tour: $72
- ATV Cultural & Adventure Tour: Shared Antigua Villages Experience: $90
- ATV or UTV Coffee Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $100
- Acatenango Overnight Hike Multiday Tour: $116
- Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hiking from Antigua - 2 Days Private Tour: $215
- Acatenango Volcano Tour with Overnight from Antigua: $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBelize City $12Antigua Guatemala $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Belize City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Belize City:
- Belize: City Highlights Tour with Rum Distillery Visit: $49
Sample the Local Flavors in Antigua Guatemala
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Antigua Guatemala:
- Macadamia Chocolate and Wine Tour on ATV or UTV: $85
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.