Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City or Cozumel?
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 Cozumel or Guatemala 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 Guatemala City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cozumel or Guatemala 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.
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 Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, and The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala.
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Cozumel Prices
Mexico PricesGuatemala City Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCozumel $129Guatemala City $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Cozumel is $129, 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 Cozumel and Guatemala City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCozumel $67Guatemala City $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCozumel $134Guatemala City $48
Compare Hotels in Cozumel and Guatemala City
Looking for a hotel in Cozumel 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: Cozumel Hotel Prices and Guatemala City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cozumel $22Guatemala City $6.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel
Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $30
- Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel -Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- Cozumel to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM)Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Atv Jungle Ride sin transfer: $49
- ATV tour to jade cavern with transfer (single or double): $55
- Cozumel Mayan Experience And Beach Getaway with Transfer: $55
- Cozumel Jungle ATV Tour Adventure and Caverns with transfer: $65
- Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel Airport to Cozumel: $65
- Private One Way Transfer from Cozumel to Cozumel Airport: $65
- Wild Jade Cavern ATV Tour With Transfer: $70
- Cozumel Cruise Port to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) - Departure Private Transfer: $75
- Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Panajachel or Atitlan: $254
- Private Museums Tour with Transfers: $225
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Puerto Quetzal Port: $204
- Private Transfer - Guatemala Airport (GUA) to Puerto Quetzal Port: $204
- Private transfer - San Pedro la Laguna to Guatemala City: $200
- Private Transfers from Guatemala city to Panajachel: $200
- Airport Transfer for Large Groups – Private Bus: $195
- Guatemala Airport (GUA) to San Felipe de Lara - Arrival Transfer: $183
- Transfer Private Group Airport to Antigua or Viceversa: $120
- Private Transfer from Guatemala Airport GUA to Lake Atitlán: $96
- Private Transfer from Airport to Santa Catarina Palopó: $88
- Private Transfer From La Aurora AirPort to Panajachel Atitlan: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Cozumel or Guatemala City?
Prices for flights to both Guatemala 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 $39Guatemala 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
- Kuza Beach & Flavors Experience-Mexican cooking Class & Beach Day: $89
- Cozumel Food Tour: $90
- Cozumel Food Tour: $110
- Cozumel Cooking Class: $115
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Cooking Experience in Guatemala from Market to Table: $23
- Guatemala: Wine and Pizza Tasting Experience: $35
- Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $80
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Food Tour Zona 4: Dinner Date Experience: $125
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $195
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza with Great Volcano Views: $205
- Puerto Quetzal: Private Tour Pacaya Volcano 4x4 and Pizza: $550
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cozumel $42Guatemala City $1.23
Tours and Activities in Cozumel
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.
- Cozumel Historic Waterfront Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $9.75
- Cozumel!! Guacamole And Margarita Fiesta!!! ( Virtual Experience): $12
- Skip the Line: Admission Ticket to El Cedral Town and Mayan Temple: $16
- Transparent Boat Tour in See Marine Life Up Close: $19
- El Cielo Snorkeling Adventure in Cozumel: $28
- Clear Boat Adventure and Snorkeling Tour Underwater World: $28
- Cozumel's Reefs in El Cielo, Palancar and Columbia Guided Tour: $29
- Snorkel into Heaven Palancar Columbia and El Cielo Experience: $29
- Transparent Boat Experience Cozumel & Snorkeling on Colorful Reef: $29
- Cozumel’s Mayan Journey: Dance, Rituals, and Tasting Tour: $29
- Crystal Boat Trip and Snorkeling Tour from Cozumel: $29
- Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and El Cielo Reefs: $29
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 1 Day Lake Atitlan Tour from Guatemala City: $150
- 2-Day Tour: Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlan and Hobbitenango: $299
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $199
- 3-Day Antigua Guatemala and Pacaya Volcano Adventure: $256
- 4-Hour Bike Tour Guatemala City: $70
- Antigua + Guatemala City Full Day Tour - History Lovers Favorite: $245
- Antigua City Tour Full Day From Guatemala City: $60
- Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $78
- Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Shared City Tour: $60
- Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Tour from Guatemala City: $79
- Antigua Guatemala NIGHT Photo Tour FROM Guatemala City: $125
- Chichicastenango Day Tour from Guatemala City: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCozumel $11Guatemala City $6.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Cozumel
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cozumel:
- Cozumel Downtown & Brewery: $69
- Downtown Cozumel & Brewery: $79
- Downtown Cozumel and Brewery Experience: $89
- Rum and Gin at Cozumel First Distillery: $99
- Cozumel Mixology Experience at Distillery: $109
- Cozumel 5-Hour Private Bar Crawl Tour: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cozumel and Guatemala City, we can see that Cozumel is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cozumel is in North America 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 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 Guatemala 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 Guatemala City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cozumel or Guatemala City?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cozumel. When comparing the sizes of Cozumel and Guatemala 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.