Which place is cheaper, Belize City or Cozumel?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cozumel or Belize City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cozumel and Belize City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cozumel or Belize City?
Cozumel
Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCozumel $118Belize City $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Cozumel is $118, while the average daily cost in Belize City is $88. 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 Cozumel and Belize City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCozumel $70Belize City $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCozumel $140Belize City $98
Compare Hotels in Cozumel and Belize City
Looking for a hotel in Cozumel or Belize 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: Cozumel Hotel Prices and Belize City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cozumel $23Belize City $5.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel
Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Wild Jade Cavern Private ATV Tour With Transfer: $86
- Private Transfer from Cozumel hotels to Cozumel Cruise Port: $44
- Private Transfer from Cozumel Airport: $110
- Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel -Arrival Private Transfer: $44
- Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) Cozumel - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $87
- Cuban Cigar Master Class & Beach Break® with transfer: $153
- Shared Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $30
- Cozumel to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM)Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Cozumel Private Airport Transfer: $150
- Cozumel Port to Cozumel Airport CZM Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Cozumel Island hotels to Cozumel Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Cozumel Island Transfers: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $150
- Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Shuttle Transfer: $113
- Belize: Belize City to/from San Ignacio Shuttle Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $60
- Transfer Belize city to bacalar: $50
- We do transfers from airport to any where in Belize.: $49
- Belize city water taxi terminal to Airport transfer: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Cozumel or Belize City?
Prices for flights to both Belize City and Cozumel 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 dayCozumel $24Belize City $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel
For Cozumel, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Mayan Cooking Class in Cozumel: $61
- Cozumel Food Tour: $90
- Cozumel Food Tour: $110
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cozumel $44Belize City $29
Tours and Activities in Cozumel
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.
- Island Tour With Private Driver : $56
- Private Cozumel Jeep Tour & Jade Caverns Cenote: All-Inclusive: $85
- Romantic tour in Cozumel: $127
- 1 Hour and Half Private Tropical Fitness Experience in Cozumel: $6.03
- 15-minute Private Parasailing Experience in Cozumel: $69
- 2 Hour Discover Mermaid Experience : $20
- 2 Hour Diving Experience in San Miguel de Cozumel: $88
- 4 Hour Snorkeling Tour in Cozumel: $65
- 4 Hours Experience the turtle sanctuary on La Chula Catamarán : $78
- 4-Hour Jeep and ATV Tour with Snorkel in Cozumel with Lunch: $99
- A Pirate's Adventure in Cozumel with Captain Draco : $80
- A snorkeling adventure in a glass-bottom boat at Cozumel's reef.: $70
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure from Belize City: $167
- Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from Belize City: $208
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins & Zipline Tour from Belize City All Inclusive: $170
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and Belize City tour: $100
- Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and River Wallace and Manatee Watch Tour: $85
- Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
- Altun Ha, Monkey Sanctuary and Rum Factory Tour from Belize City: $170
- Belize City Tour: $40
- Belize City Tour Shore Excursion: $100
- Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Full Day Tour: $190
- Cave Tubing & Zipline Adventure Tour: $110
- Guided Cave Kayaking Tour with Pickup: $77
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCozumel $11Belize City $12
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 Cozumel and Belize City, we can see that Cozumel is more expensive. And not only is Belize City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cozumel is in North America and Belize 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 Belize City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belize 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 Cozumel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cozumel than you might in Belize City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cozumel Expensive? and Is Belize City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cozumel or Belize City?
Cozumel has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Belize City. When comparing the sizes of Cozumel and Belize City, 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.