A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guatemala City vs. Port-au-Prince for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guatemala City or Port-au-Prince?

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

Should I visit Guatemala City or Port-au-Prince? 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 Port-au-Prince?

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.

Port-au-Prince

Port-au-Prince is the capital city and most-populous city of Haiti. The metropolitan area is divided into several districts with access to a number of landmarks and museums, as well as a lively cultural scene.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, and The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Port-au-Prince 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
    Port-au-Prince Prices
    Haiti Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Guatemala City $56
    Port-au-Prince $31

The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in Port-au-Prince is $31. 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 Port-au-Prince in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guatemala City $25
    Port-au-Prince $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guatemala City $50
    Port-au-Prince $44
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Port-au-Prince

Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Port-au-Prince? 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 Port-au-Prince


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guatemala City $6.28
    Port-au-Prince $4.77

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Airport Transfer for Large Groups – Private Bus: $195
  • Guatemala Airport (GUA) to San Felipe de Lara - Arrival Transfer: $186
  • Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
  • Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $166
  • PRIVATE TRANSFER From Airport/Guate City to ANTIGUA or Vice-versa: $40
  • Private Airport Transfer from Guatemala to La Aurora airport: $26
  • Private Arrival Transfer: La Aurora International Airport to Antigua Hotel: $35
  • Private Departure Transfer:Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport(GUA): $24
  • Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $30
  • Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $80
  • Private Transfer - Guatemala Airport (GUA) to Puerto Quetzal Port: $207
  • Private Transfer Aeropuerto to Antigua Guatemala Cities Transfer: $74

Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Port-au-Prince?

Prices for flights to both Port-au-Prince 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
    Port-au-Prince $6.45

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guatemala City $1.23
    Port-au-Prince $0.76

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

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

  • Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City: $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
  • Night Photo Tour in Guatemala City: $50
  • Heart of Guatemala City Tour with Local Guide: $50
  • Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Shared City Tour: $54
  • Pacaya Volcano Shared Hiking Tour: $59
  • 3-Hour Bike Tour Guatemala City: $60
  • Half-Day Guatemala City Tour: $60
  • Half Day Tour Of Guatemala City: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guatemala City $6.96
    Port-au-Prince $0.20


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Port-au-Prince, we can see that Guatemala City is more expensive. And not only is Port-au-Prince much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guatemala City is in Central America and Port-au-Prince is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Port-au-Prince would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Port-au-Prince 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 Guatemala City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guatemala City than you might in Port-au-Prince.

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 Port-au-Prince Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Port-au-Prince?

Port-au-Prince has a larger population, and is about 24% larger than the population of Guatemala City. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and Port-au-Prince, 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.