Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City or Castries?
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 Castries or Guatemala City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Castries or Guatemala City? 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: Castries or Guatemala City?
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, and The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala.
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Castries Prices
Saint Lucia PricesGuatemala City Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCastries $186Guatemala City $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Castries is $186, while the average daily cost in Guatemala City is $56. 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 Castries and Guatemala City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCastries $100Guatemala City $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCastries $200Guatemala City $50
Compare Hotels in Castries and Guatemala City
Looking for a hotel in Castries or Guatemala City? 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: Castries Hotel Prices and Guatemala City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Castries $25Guatemala City $6.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Private Transfer La Aurora Airport GUA to Guatemala City Hotel: $19
- Private Departure Transfer:Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport(GUA): $24
- Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $26
- Private Airport Transfer from Guatemala to La Aurora airport: $26
- Private Transfer: Guatemala City Airpot(GUA) to Antigua Guatemala: $29
- Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $30
- Private Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Antigua: $32
- Private Transfer from Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $32
- Private Arrival Transfer: La Aurora International Airport to Antigua Hotel: $35
- PRIVATE TRANSFER From Airport/Guate City to ANTIGUA or Vice-versa: $40
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
- Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into Castries or Guatemala City?
Prices for flights to both Guatemala City and Castries 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 dayCastries $66Guatemala City $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Castries $27Guatemala City $1.23
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $32
- Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City: $35
- Walking Tour of Guatemala City's Historical Center: $35
- Guatemala city walking tour only weekends. 2 persons and up: $39
- Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $40
- Private Tour in the Historic Center of Guatemala City: $45
- City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
- Night Photo Tour in Guatemala City: $50
- Heart of Guatemala City Tour with Local Guide: $50
- Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Shared City Tour: $54
- El mejor Tour VIP Ciudad de Guatemala (el mas Completo): $55
- Pacaya Volcano Shared Hiking Tour: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCastries $11Guatemala City $6.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City
Also in Guatemala City, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Castries and Guatemala City, we can see that Castries is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Castries is in Caribbean Islands and Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Castries would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Castries than you might in Guatemala City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Castries Expensive? and Is Guatemala City Expensive?.
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.