A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Belize City vs. San Pedro La Laguna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Belize City or San Pedro La Laguna?

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

Should I visit Belize City or San Pedro La Laguna? 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 San Pedro La Laguna?

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.

San Pedro La Laguna

Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.

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.


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro La Laguna or Belize City?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $88, while the average daily cost in San Pedro La Laguna is $36. 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 San Pedro La Laguna in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Belize City $49
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Belize City $98
    San Pedro La Laguna $16
Compare Hotels in Belize City and San Pedro La Laguna

Looking for a hotel in Belize City or San Pedro La Laguna? 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 Belize City


Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Belize City $5.83
    San Pedro La Laguna $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City

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

  • We do transfers from airport to any where in Belize.: $49
  • Transfer Belize city to bacalar: $50
  • Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $160
  • Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $61
  • Private Airport Transfer Service to San Ignacio: $125
  • Philip Goldson Airport BZE to Belize City Arrival Transfer: $23
  • Belize: Belize City to/from San Ignacio Shuttle Transfer: $68
  • Belize city water taxi terminal to Airport transfer: $30
  • Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Shuttle Transfer: $113
  • Belize City to Philip Goldson Airport BZE Departure Transfer: $23

Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or San Pedro La Laguna?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro La Laguna 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Belize City $27
    San Pedro La Laguna $11

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 San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lemonade
    $2.06
  • Cake
    $1.29
  • Ice cream
    $0.39
  • Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
    $2.96

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Guatemalan street food tour with a local bilingual guide: $40
  • Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class around Lake Atitlan: $50
  • Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Belize City $29
    San Pedro La Laguna $22

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
  • ATM Cave Adventure "Actun Tunichil Muknal" (from Belize City): $235
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal tour from Belize City: $200
  • Altun Ha Mayan Ruins & Zipline Tour from Belize City All Inclusive: $170
  • Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and Belize City tour: $100
  • Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
  • Altun Ha and Cave Tubing Tour from Belize City: $174
  • 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

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Canopy Tour (for 2)
    $39
  • Kayaking (for 2)
    $1.93
  • Coffee Tour (for 2)
    $6.95

Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Lake Atitlan Boat tour from Puerto Quetzal (Group): $125
  • 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
  • Authentic local experience with a community of women.: $68
  • Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
  • Bicycle Tour Around Lake Atitlan with Weaving Coops and Coffee Plantations: $112
  • Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
  • Boat tour in Mayan villages: $85
  • Chichicastenango Market Day Tour from Panajachel: $83
  • Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
  • Full Day Tour to Chichicastenango from Panajachel : $152
  • Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51
  • Half-Day Private Indian Nose Peak Tour from Lake Atitlan: $133

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Belize City $12
    San Pedro La Laguna $5.58

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Belize City and San Pedro La Laguna, we can see that Belize City is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Pedro La Laguna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro La Laguna 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 San Pedro La Laguna.

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 San Pedro La Laguna Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Belize City or San Pedro La Laguna?

Belize City has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of Belize City and San Pedro La Laguna, 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.