Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Buzios?
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 Buzios or Roatan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios 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: Buzios or Roatan?
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.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best 3-Day Tours from Foz Do Iguacu, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Buzios Prices
Brazil PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $96Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $96, 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 Buzios and Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $38Roatan $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $76Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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: Roatan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $19Roatan $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $45
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer: $45
- Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
- Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $90
- Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $118
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $118
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport: $193
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio: $230
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Roatan Island Buggy Adventure plus Transfer: $217
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Monkey & Sloth Park, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Snorkeling, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $154
- East Sightseeing, Mangrove Tunnel Snorkel, Hole in the Wall, with Transfer: $130
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, Hiking, Beach Break plus Transfer Included: $130
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $130
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $123
- South Side Horseback Riding, Beach Break & Roundway Transfer: $120
- Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan -Round-Trip Transfer: $114
- Roatan Private Transfers: Airport, Cruise Port or Hotel: $110
- West Bay Aquarium Snorkeling, Chocolate & Rum Factory, City Tour plus Transfer: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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
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Food Meals for one dayBuzios $42Roatan $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Catamaran Tiki Boat Sunset Snorkeling Dinner Cruise in Roatan: $125
- Roatan Cooking Class and Cultural Experience: $125
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $245
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $27Roatan $25
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $12
- Two Floor Boat Tour with Toboágua Arraial do Cabo: $14
- Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo: $14
- Stand up paddle experience: $16
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $20
- Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $31
- Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $35
- Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $38
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $40
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $41
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
- 3-Hours Private Tour in Roatan with Pick Up: $66
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkel Experience in Roatan: $50
- ATV Adventure , Zip Line , Horseback Ride Combo Tour: $175
- Adventures of Roatan ATV Pineapple beach break: $120
- Atv Island Tour: $140
- Catamaran Cruise, Open Bar, Food and Snorkeling: $165
- Cruise Excursion – 2 Scuba Dives with transport (for certified divers): $185
- Cruise Friendly Sloths, Monkeys JungleZipline Adventure in Roatán: $125
- Cruise Passenger Beach Express: $25
- Cruise Ship Family Chocolate Factory, Sloths & Monkeys, Beach, Transportation: $70
- Custom Sightseeing and Beach Tour: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $18Roatan $6.56
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 Buzios and Roatan, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Buzios is in South America and Roatan 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 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 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 Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Roatan?
Buzios has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Buzios 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.