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

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Should you visit Guatemala City or Managua?

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

Should I visit Guatemala City or Managua? 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 Managua?

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.

Managua

Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.

Which city is cheaper, Managua or Guatemala City?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $35, while the average daily cost in Managua is $44. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Guatemala City and Managua in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guatemala City $19
    Managua $18
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guatemala City $38
    Managua $36
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Managua

Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Managua? 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 Managua


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 Managua Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guatemala City $4.91
    Managua $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Coban: $155
  • Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, Lake Atitlan: $128
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán: $120
  • Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $70
  • Private Airport Transfer: Guatemala to La Aurora International Airport (GUA): $38
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $28
  • Airport transfer from Guatemala City airport to Antigua: $26
  • Collective Transfer From Guatemala City to La Aurora Airport: $20
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $14
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Guatemala City Hotels to Airport: $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua

Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Airport Transfer: Augusto C Sandino Int. Airport (MGA) to Managua: $13
  • Private Airport Transfer: from Managua to Augusto C Sandino Int. Airport (MGA): $13
  • Private Transfer From Managua International Airport: $17
  • Granada Transfer: $44
  • San Jorge Rivas Transfer: $47
  • Transfer Managua to Granada: $52
  • San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
  • Las Peñitas or Poneloya beach Transfer: $67
  • Private Transfer from and To Poneloya or Las Peñitas Beach- Leon, Nicaragua: $68
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Managua to Granada: $83
  • Popoyo Beach Transfer: $90
  • Private Transfer in Nicaragua: $110

Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Managua?

Prices for flights to both Managua 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 $12
    Managua $14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

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

  • Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour: $70
  • Guatemala Food Tour from Guatemala City: $117
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $118
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guatemala City $0.96
    Managua $13

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

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

  • 11-Day Mayan Ruins Tour: Guatemala and Copán: $1,859
  • 2 Day Tour Share and Private to Copan and Quirigua: $247
  • 2 Day Tour: Chichicastenango Market and Lake Atitlan from Guatemala City: $150
  • 2-Day Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan Tour from Guatemala City or Antigua: $265
  • 2-Day Tour: Auto Safari Chapín Zoo and Monterrico Black Sand Beach from Guatemala City or Antigua: $276
  • 3-Day Tour of Cobán and Semuc Champey from Guatemala City: $391
  • 4-Day Tour: Guatemala City, Antigua, Chichicastenango Market and Lake Atitlan: $345
  • 5-Day Tour from Antigua, Chichicastenango, Panajachel and Santiago Atitlán: $439
  • 6-Day Tour: Traditional Guatemala Including Antigua, Chichicastenango Market, Lake Atitlan and Tikal: $910
  • 8-Day Best of Guatemala Tour: Antigua, Pacaya Volcano, Lake Atitlan and Tikal Ruins: $1,508
  • Acatenango Volcano Overnight Adventure from Guatemala City: $295
  • Antigua City Tour Full Day From Guatemala City: $60

Tours and Activities in Managua

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.

  • Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $34
  • Masaya Volcano National Park Evening Tour, with hotel pickup: $34
  • Nicaragua Private Guide and Transportation Service: Customized Tours: $47
  • Masaya Volcano Night Tour from Granada: $48
  • Coffee Tour: $49
  • Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour": $54
  • Granada+Apoyo Lagoon +handicraft market+ Masaya volcano night tour: $55
  • Laguna de apoyo day pass + masaya volcano lava tour: $60
  • Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
  • Managua City Tour: $65
  • Granada Isletas +Colonial City tour: $68
  • Granada Isletas and City tour: $68

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guatemala City $5.44
    Managua $9.05

Sample the Local Flavors in Managua

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Managua:

  • Private Flor de Caña Rum Distillery and León City: $165

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Managua, we can see that Managua 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 Managua would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Managua than you might in Guatemala City.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Guatemala City vs. Managua Travel Comparison

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