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

Should you visit Buzios or Antigua Guatemala?

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

Should I visit Buzios 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: Buzios or Antigua Guatemala?

Buzios

Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best 3-Day Tours from Foz Do Iguacu, 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 Buzios?

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 Buzios is $96, 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 Buzios and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buzios $38
    Antigua Guatemala $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buzios $76
    Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Antigua Guatemala

Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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 Buzios


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: Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buzios $19
    Antigua Guatemala $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios

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

  • Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio: $230
  • Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport: $191
  • Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $117
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $117
  • Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $90
  • Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $45
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer: $45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala

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

  • Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Semuc Champey or Coban: $182
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Santa Catarina Palopó: $88
  • Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Monterrico Beach: $85
  • Private Transfer One Way Antigua Guatemala to El Paredon Beach: $75
  • Private Transfer:Antigua GuatemalaLake Atitlán(Any Town)OneWay: $74
  • Private Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $70
  • Private Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel Atitlan: $70
  • Private Transfers in Guatemala: $39
  • Private Transfer from Antigua to La Aurora Airport: $32
  • Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $30
  • Private Transfer From Antigua to Guatemala City / Airport: $30
  • Shared Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel (Atitlan): $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Antigua Guatemala?

Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Buzios 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
    Buzios $42
    Antigua Guatemala $25

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.
    Buzios $27
    Antigua Guatemala $15

Tours and Activities in Buzios

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

  • 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $39
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $107
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $112
  • Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo: $14
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
  • Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $20
  • Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $60
  • Buzios Trolley City Tour: $41
  • Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $64
  • Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $31
  • Diving Experience In Buzios: $147

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
    Buzios $18
    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 Buzios and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Antigua Guatemala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Buzios is in South America 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 Buzios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buzios 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 Buzios Expensive? and Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Buzios or Antigua Guatemala?

Antigua Guatemala has a larger population, and is about 68% larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios 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.