Which place is cheaper, La Ceiba or Guatemala City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guatemala City or La Ceiba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or La Ceiba? 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 La Ceiba?
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.
La Ceiba
La Ceiba is the third largest city in Honduras, situated on the north Caribbean coast. The city has a population of about a quarter million people. Many people who visit this city do so before heading into Pico Bonito National Park. It hasn't had the best infrastructure for tourists in the past but is developing fast. It is about 200 kilometers from San Pedro Sula, another large city in Honduras.
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 Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $44La Ceiba $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $44, while the average daily cost in La Ceiba is $65. 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 La Ceiba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24La Ceiba $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48La Ceiba $48
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and La Ceiba
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or La Ceiba? 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and La Ceiba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.17La Ceiba $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
- PRIVATE Group Transfer From Guatemala City to La Antigua: $20
- Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $23
- Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $24
- Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel in Guatemala City: $30
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
- Private one way transfer in Guatemala: $45
- Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $65
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Puerto Quetzal Port: $73
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
- One way private transfer to Antigua: $74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Ceiba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Ceiba:
- Private Transfer from Goloson Airport (LCE) to Banana Coast Port: $78
- Private Transfer from La Ceiba hotels to Banana Coast Cruise Port: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or La Ceiba?
Prices for flights to both La Ceiba 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
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Food Meals for one dayGuatemala City $15La Ceiba $18
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.21La Ceiba $22
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
- Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
- 2-Hour Culture and Historical Tour From Guatemala: $29
- 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
- Guatemala city walking tour on afternoon 14.00, 2 persons and up: $39
- City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
- Tour around antigua's villages: $50
- 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $55
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $58
Tours and Activities in La Ceiba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Ceiba are as follows:
- ATV Tour : $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.84La Ceiba $5.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and La Ceiba, we can see that La Ceiba is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 La Ceiba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Ceiba 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 La Ceiba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or La Ceiba?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of La Ceiba. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and La Ceiba, 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.