Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Guatemala City?
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 Guatemala City or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or La Fortuna? 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 Fortuna?
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 Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Guatemala City Prices
Guatemala PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $56La Fortuna $136
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $136. 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 Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $25La Fortuna $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $50La Fortuna $112
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or La Fortuna? 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 Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.28La Fortuna $23
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 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
- Private Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Arenal San Carlos: $43
- From San Jose: One way shared transfer to La Fortuna: $74
- Direct Transfer From La Fortuna to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $166
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 7to10: $180
- Private One Way Transfer from Arenal, La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio: $195
- Transfer International ATO to Fortuna or return one way: $200
- Arenal La Fortuna to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer: $208
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Juan Santamaria Airport area: $220
- SJO Airport Transfer for 6 people to La Fortuna|Arenal Volcano: $220
- Private Transfer Fortuna to SJO Airport from 1 to 6 passengers: $220
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to La Fortuna: $225
- Transfer TO or FROM La Fortuna Area to SJO Airport. Private, NOT SHARED: $230
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna 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 $27La Fortuna $52
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Farm to Table Cooking Class: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience: $60
- Ceviche & Empanadas Cooking Class: $77
- Horseback Riding and Cooking Class with Lunch: $80
- Cooking with a Costa Rican family: $80
- Cooking with a Costa Rican familiy: $90
- Rainforest Night Walk in La Fortuna with Authentic Dinner: $92
- Fresh From the Farm: Cooking Class at the Volcano: $105
- Rio Celeste & Hot Springs Dinner Experience: $130
- Arenal Volcano Hike plus Baldi Hot Springs and Dinner: $140
- Arenal Hanging Bridges with Hotsprings, Lunch and Dinner: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.23La Fortuna $48
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
- Heart of Guatemala City Tour with Local Guide: $50
- Night Photo Tour in Guatemala City: $50
- Guatemala City Tour: $52
- El mejor Tour VIP Ciudad de Guatemala (el mas Completo): $55
- Pacaya Volcano Shared Hiking Tour: $59
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Arenal Volcano - Ecological Park Entrance Ticket: $17
- La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Café Experience in Bijagua: $25
- Arenal Park Self-Guided Experience: $27
- Guaranteed Red eyed Tree Frog & Amphibians Tour: $30
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Tour of sloths, exotic birds, frogs.: $30
- Sloths and Monkeys Guided Tour in Arenal Nature Walk: $30
- Guaranteed Sloth Watching Tour: $30
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour: $32
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour from La Fortuna: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.96La Fortuna $12
Sample the Local Flavors in La Fortuna
Also in La Fortuna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting Experience: $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and La Fortuna, we can see that La Fortuna 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 Fortuna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Fortuna 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 Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or La Fortuna?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 330 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and La Fortuna, 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.