Which place is cheaper, Roatan 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 Roatan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Belize City or Roatan? 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 Roatan?
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.
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
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 Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Belize City Prices
Belize PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBelize City $108Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $108, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBelize City $49Roatan $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBelize City $98Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in Belize City and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Belize City or Roatan? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Belize City $5.82Roatan $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Belize City:, Transfer from Belize City Water Taxi to Flores Guatemala: $20
- From One way shared transfer to Flores, Peten: $25
- Flores, Peten: One way shared transfer to Belize: $25
- Transfer from Water Taxis to Tikal Guatemala: $45
- Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city hotels -Arrival Private Transfer: $53
- Belize City to Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
- Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize City Hotels: $69
- Private transfer from the Philip Goldson Airport to San Ignacio: $80
- Private Transfer: BZE Intl Airport or Water Taxi to San Ignacio: $85
- Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $103
- Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Shuttle Transfer: $113
- Belize City Airport to San Ignacio Private Transfer: $125
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- West Bay Beach Day Pass & Private Transfer – Roatán: $89
- West Bay Aquarium Snorkeling, Chocolate & Rum Factory, City Tour plus Transfer: $85
- Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $25
- South Side Horseback Riding, Beach Break & Roundway Transfer: $120
- Roatan Zipline, Monkey, Macaws & Sloths Eco Park, Snorkeling, Transfer: $120
- Roatan West End Beach Break with Private Transfer: $45
- Roatan West Bay Beach Break with Roundtrip Transfer: $65
- Roatan Private Express Transfer Cruise Ports to Beach or Hotel: $25
- Roatan Private Catamaran Shipwreck, Blue Channel and Starfish with Transfer: $79
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $95
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $119
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $47Roatan $15
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:
- Belize: Tikal, Yaxha, and Cooking Class 4-Day Tour: $1,800
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Belize City $29Roatan $25
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Belize City to: Flores Guatemala Tourist Service: $20
- Luxury Eco Friendly TukTuk Bus Belize City Tour: $35
- TukTuk Belize City Sightseeing Tour: $35
- The Real Belize City Tour: $40
- Cucumber Beach and City Tour: $49
- Extended Cave Tubing Adventure in Belize: $60
- Belizean Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize City: $60
- TukTuk Belize History & Culture Tour: $60
- Tour a Butterfly Garden in Harmonyville: $65
- Belize City Coffee Tasting, History and Book Tour by TukTuk: $65
- Harmonyville Off Grid Jungle Ecofarm Private Tour: $65
- Second largest Barrier Reef Adventure: $70
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- 2 Hour Zip Lining Private Tour in Mahogany Bay: $65
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkeling and West Bay Beach Break: $80
- ATV Adventure , Zip Line , Horseback Ride Combo Tour: $175
- ATV Jungle Adventure and Beach Retreat in Roatan: $99
- ATV Ride and Animals Park Tour Mahogany Bay and Ports Roatan: $135
- ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $132
- ATVS, Sloths and Monkeys, Beach Break Private Tour: $130
- Adventures of Roatan ATV Pineapple beach break: $159
- Beer and Food Tasting Experience at Roatan Island Brewing Company: $100
- Catamaran Cruise, Open Bar, Food and Snorkeling: $165
- Crazy Clem Sloths, Monkeys & Island Adventure With a local guide: $85
- Cruise Passenger Beach Express: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBelize City $12Roatan $6.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Belize City and Roatan, we can see that Belize City is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
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 Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Belize City or Roatan?
Belize City has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Belize City and Roatan, 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.