Should you visit Guatemala City or Quepos?
Should I visit Guatemala City or Quepos? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
Which city is cheaper, Quepos 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 Quepos is $76. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Guatemala City and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $19. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Guatemala City the cost is $38 on average.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $98 in Quepos For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Guatemala City cost around $12 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $4.80.
The average traveler spends about $19 per day in Quepos for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Guatemala City $12
Quepos $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
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Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour:
$70
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Guatemala Food Tour from Guatemala City:
$117
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Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City:
$118
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Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City:
$178
Typical Food prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch
$12
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)
$16
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Guatemala City is $4.95 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Quepos's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $6.22 per person, per day on transportation in Quepos.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
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Transfer from Airport to Antigua:
$70
-
Shared Departure Transfer: Guatemala City Hotels to Airport:
$14
-
Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels:
$14
-
Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua:
$16
-
Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala:
$28
-
Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán:
$120
-
Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Coban:
$155
-
Private Airport Transfer: Guatemala to La Aurora International Airport (GUA):
$38
-
Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, Lake Atitlan:
$128
-
Collective Transfer From Guatemala City to La Aurora Airport:
$20
-
Airport transfer from Guatemala City airport to Antigua:
$26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio:
$140
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Private transfer from Manuel Antonio Quepos to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport:
$201
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Manuel Antonio to SJO International Airport - Private Transfer:
$209
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Private transfer from Uvita to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport:
$234
-
Private Transfer From Manuel Antonio To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers:
$275
-
Private Transfer From Manuel Antonio To La Fortuna From 7 to 10 passengers:
$289
-
One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to La Fortuna:
$333
-
One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Puerto Jiménez:
$333
-
Private Transfer From Manuel Antonio To La Fortuna From 11 to 15 passengers:
$453
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Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Puerto Viejo Limón:
$490
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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.
Entertainment
Guatemala City's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $0.97 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Quepos can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $11 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
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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
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4-Day Tour: Guatemala City, Antigua, Chichicastenango Market and Lake Atitlan:
$345
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5-Day Tour from Antigua, Chichicastenango, Panajachel and Santiago Atitlán:
$439
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6-Day Tour: Traditional Guatemala Including Antigua, Chichicastenango Market, Lake Atitlan and Tikal:
$910
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8-Day Best of Guatemala Tour: Antigua, Pacaya Volcano, Lake Atitlan and Tikal Ruins:
$1,508
-
Acatenango Volcano Overnight Adventure from Guatemala City:
$295
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Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City:
$69
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Manuel Antonio National Park Tour with pick up included:
$25
-
Private Hiking, Nature and Discovery Tour in Quepos:
$28
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Private Tour to Manuel Antonio Park and it's Amazing Wildlife:
$33
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Manuel Antonio with Mauro / FULLY PRIVATE TOUR:
$35
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Espadilla Private Reserve jungle night tour with pick up included:
$39
-
Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Research Experience in Costa Rica:
$50
-
Sloth Tour Manuel Antonio National Park:
$50
-
guided community tour (certified):
$54
-
Manuel Antonio National Park Tour:
$55
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Manuel Antonio National Park Tour:
$56
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Damas Island Boat tour:
$56
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Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour:
$56
Alcohol
The average person spends about $5.49 on alcoholic beverages in Guatemala City per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Quepos spend on average $9.52 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Quepos, we can see that Quepos 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos than you might in Guatemala City.
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