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

Should you visit Guatemala City or Calgary?

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

Should I visit Guatemala City or Calgary? 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: Guatemala City or Calgary?

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.

Calgary

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Calgary or Guatemala City?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $44, while the average daily cost in Calgary is $156. 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 Guatemala City and Calgary in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guatemala City $24
    Calgary $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guatemala City $48
    Calgary $148
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Calgary

Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Calgary? 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 Guatemala City


Hotels in Calgary


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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and Calgary Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guatemala City $6.18
    Calgary $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • From Panajachel: Transfer to Guatemala City: $240
  • Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
  • Guatemala Airport to San Felipe de Lara RoundTrip PrivateTransfer: $154
  • Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $66
  • Guatemala City Airport GUA to San Felipe de Lara-Arrival Transfer: $77
  • Guatemala City Airport(GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Round-Trip Transfer: $131
  • One way private transfer to Antigua: $74
  • PRIVATE Group Transfer From Guatemala City to La Antigua: $20
  • Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $24
  • Private Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $45
  • Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $23
  • Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $150

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:

  • Private Transfer from Calgary Airport to Sunshine Village : $60
  • Private Transfer from Calgary Airport to Calgary Hotels: $63
  • Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary: $67
  • Calgary Int Airport (YYC) to Fernie - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
  • Calgary Downtown Transfers: $88
  • Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Airport (YYC) - Calgary Downtown: $91
  • Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Downtown - Calgary Airport (YYC): $91
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Business Car: $108
  • Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $111
  • Calgary hotel or address to Calgary Airport (YYC) - Departure Private Transfer: $115
  • Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary by Luxury SUV: $119
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Calgary Airport (YYC) -Calgary Downtown: $121

Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Calgary?

Prices for flights to both Calgary and Guatemala City 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
    Guatemala City $15
    Calgary $31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.

  • Cooking class/Pepian Workshop: $35
  • Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour : $75
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180

Typical Food Prices in Calgary

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:


  • Bread, Chips, Cheese
    $8.16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.

  • Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $81

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guatemala City $1.21
    Calgary $16

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:

  • Culinary Experience in Guatemala City: $15
  • Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $17
  • Guided Walking Tour in Guatemala City: $25
  • Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
  • Guatemala city Walking Tour and public bus: $30
  • Half-Day Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $34
  • Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City : $35
  • UNESCO JEWELS: Antigua Half Day Tour from Guatemala City: $38
  • Tour around antigua's villages: $50
  • 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $55
  • El mejor Tour Ciudad De Guatemala (el Mas Completo): $55
  • Half-Day Guatemala City Tour : $55

Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary

Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Stampede Admission (for 2)
    $22

Tours and Activities in Calgary

Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Downtown Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
  • Bow River Trail Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
  • Downtown Calgary a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
  • 3-Hour Tips Based Walking Tour of Calgary: $5.46
  • 3-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.58
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Rocky Mountains: Smartphone Driving and Walking Audio Tours: $15
  • Calgary Downtown: 2-Hour Introductory Walking Tour: $22
  • Heritage Park Historical Village Admission Ticket: $26
  • Calgary self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
  • Sheep & Spirits: Diamond Valley Hiking Experience: $39
  • 3-Hour Sightseeing Bus Tour: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guatemala City $6.85
    Calgary $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary

Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Calgary Brewery and Wine Tours at Award Winning Venues: $83
  • Calgary Brewery Tour: $89


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Calgary, we can see that Calgary is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guatemala City is in Central America and Calgary is in North 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 Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary 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 Guatemala City Expensive? and Is Calgary Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of Guatemala City. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and Calgary, 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.