Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
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.
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.
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Guatemala City Prices
Guatemala PricesLake Titicaca (Puno) Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $56Lake Titicaca (Puno) $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $72. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $25Lake Titicaca (Puno) $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $50Lake Titicaca (Puno) $56
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.28Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Private Transfer La Aurora Airport GUA to Guatemala City Hotel: $19
- One way Shared Transfer to Antigua: $24
- Private Departure Transfer:Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport(GUA): $24
- 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
- La Aurora Airport (GUA): One-Way Private Transfer to Antigua: $32
- Private Arrival Transfer: La Aurora International Airport to Antigua Hotel: $35
- Private Transfer: Guatemala City ⇄ Antigua – One-Way: $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Puno Arrival Transfer from bus or railway Station: $14
- Juliaca Airport Shared Transfer to/from Puno: $20
- Private Transfer from Hotel Puno to Puerto de Puno: $22
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno Plaza de Armas: $40
- Puno Arrival Transfer from Juliaca Airport: $45
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $52
- Private transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $52
- Private Transfer from Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport to Puno: $95
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $223
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 $27Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29
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
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.23Lake Titicaca (Puno) $32
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- Guatemala City Berlin Plaza Self Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
- Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City: $20
- Historic Center Walking Tour; Art and History: $27
- Volcano-Grown Coffee Tasting Experience: $28
- Half-Day Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $34
- Walking Tour of Guatemala City's Historical Center: $35
- Walking Tour: $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
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- Uros Floating Island Tour: $10
- Half Day Tour Floating Islands of Uros Puno: $12
- Half-Day Tour to the Floating Islands of Uros: $14
- Chullpas Tour of Sillustani Inca Cemetery: $18
- 3-Hour Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $22
- Sillustani Tour from Puno with Lake Umayo: $24
- Sillustani Tours: $26
- Uros and Taquile Speedboat Day Tour in Small Group: $26
- 4h Tour to Sillustani Inca Tombs from Puno: $28
- Sillustani Tombs Half Day Tour from Puno: $28
- Half Day Tour in Sillustani: $33
- Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands in a Fast Boat: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.97Lake Titicaca (Puno) $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) is in South 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.