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

Should you visit Guatemala City or New Orleans?

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

Should I visit Guatemala City or New Orleans? 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 New Orleans?

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.

New Orleans

New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, New Orleans 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.

  • Guatemala City Prices
    Guatemala Prices
    New Orleans Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Guatemala City $56
    New Orleans $271

The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in New Orleans is $271. 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 New Orleans in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guatemala City $25
    New Orleans $125
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guatemala City $50
    New Orleans $250
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and New Orleans

Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or New Orleans? 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 New Orleans


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 New Orleans Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guatemala City $6.28
    New Orleans $51

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Transfer from La Aurora airport to Antigua Guatemala.: $80
  • Transfer Private Group Airport to Antigua or Viceversa: $120
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
  • San Salvadorz: Convenient bus transfer from/to Guatemala: $41
  • Private transfer from La Aurora Airport to Panajachel: $78
  • Private transfer from Airport to Panajachel: $78
  • Private transfer - San Pedro la Laguna to Guatemala City: $200
  • Private Transfers from Guatemala city to Panajachel: $200
  • Private Transfer: Guatemala City ⇄ Antigua – One-Way: $40
  • Private Transfer: Guatemala City Airpot(GUA) to Antigua Guatemala: $29
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Antigua: $32
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Puerto Quetzal Port: $206

Typical Local Transportation Prices in New Orleans

Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans

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

  • Private Transfer from New Orleans Port to New Orleans city: $47
  • Private Transfer to/from Louis Armstrong Intl Airport and NOLA: $50
  • Luxury Private Airport Transfer Service in New Orleans: $50
  • Cruise Port Transfer New Orleans and Louis Armstrong Intl MSY: $50
  • New Orleans to New Orleans L.Armstrong Airport(MSY) - Departure Private Transfer: $52
  • Private Hotel & Airport Transfers in New Orleans Area One Way: $58
  • New Orleans to New Orleans Airport (MSY) - Departure Transfer: $64
  • New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans - Arrival Transfer: $64
  • New Orleans port to New Orleans Airport (MSY) Private Transfer: $64
  • New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans Port Private Transfer: $64
  • Private Departure Transfer to Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport MSY: $67
  • Boss Nola : Luxury Private Airport Transfer: $71

Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or New Orleans?

Prices for flights to both New Orleans 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 $27
    New Orleans $78

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

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

  • Guatemala: Wine and Pizza Tasting Experience: $35
  • Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $80
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • 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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans

For New Orleans, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • New Orleans Demonstration Cooking Class with Meal: $43
  • Jazz Dinner Cruise aboard the Riverboat City of New Orleans: $58
  • New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option: $58
  • Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans: $60
  • Private New Orleans Food Tour: Tastes of the Bend Neighborhood: $65
  • New Orleans Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $73
  • French Quarter walking Food Tour: Signature Tastes of New Orleans: $80
  • Lower Garden District Food Tour: $89
  • NOLA Carte Food Tour: 300 Years of Flavor in the French Quarter: $96
  • New Orleans Original Seafood Tour of the French Quarter: $100
  • Vegan French Quarter Food Tour of NOLA cuisine: $149
  • Beyond the French Quarter Food Tour: $149

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guatemala City $1.23
    New Orleans $55

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

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

  • 1 Day Lake Atitlan Tour from Guatemala City: $150
  • 2-Day Tour: Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlan and Hobbitenango: $299
  • 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $199
  • 3-Day Antigua Guatemala and Pacaya Volcano Adventure: $256
  • Antigua + Guatemala City Full Day Tour - History Lovers Favorite: $245
  • Antigua City Tour Full Day From Guatemala City: $60
  • Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $78
  • Antigua Guatemala Cultural Tour History and Gastronomy: $100
  • Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Shared City Tour: $54
  • Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Tour from Guatemala City: $79
  • Antigua Guatemala NIGHT Photo Tour FROM Guatemala City: $125
  • Antigua walking tour from Guatemala City: $90

Typical Entertainment Prices in New Orleans

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Zoo & Aquarium Tickets (2)
    $75
  • Riverboat Cruise
    $70
  • French Quarter City Tour
    $100

Tours and Activities in New Orleans

For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • New Orleans Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.76
  • French Quarter Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
  • New Orleans Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $5.90
  • Ghost Hunt in Quest Experience: $6.71
  • New Orleans French Quarter: Stolen Art Puzzle Adventure: $6.71
  • Self Guided Walking Tour of New Orleans' Historic Garden District: $9.99
  • New Orleans French Quarter Audio Tour: Iconic Sites & Hidden Gems: $9.99
  • A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour: $9.99
  • New Orleans Ghost Tour: $10
  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in New Orleans by 3Quest Challenge: $10
  • New Orleans True Crime Walking Tour: $10
  • A Spectacular Ghost Tour in New Orleans: $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guatemala City $6.96
    New Orleans $60

Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:

  • Ghost Tour and Haunted Pub Crawl Party with Free Shot: $19
  • New Orleans Seafood Bar Crawl: $25
  • Pub Crawl: New Orleans Happy Hour Ghost Walking Tour: $33
  • Pub Crawl: New Orleans' Finest Haunted Pub Tour: $35
  • New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl: Ghosts & French Quarter Nightlife: $35
  • New Orleans Bourbon Street Bar Crawl w/ Shots & Souvenir Cup: $35
  • Pub Crawl: New Orleans Drunk History Ghost Tour with EMF Meter: $35
  • Pub Crawl: Haunted New Orleans Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour: $40
  • Pirate Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $40
  • Last Fling in NOLA: Bachelor or Bachelorette Pub Crawl and Tour: $48
  • New Orleans Craft Brewery Walking Tour: $75


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


Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or New Orleans?

Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of New Orleans. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and New Orleans, 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.