Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Guatemala City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guatemala City or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or Quepos? 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 Quepos?
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $44Quepos $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $44, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $115. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24Quepos $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48Quepos $150
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Quepos? 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 Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.19Quepos $9.35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Transfer: From Guatemala City to El Paredon Beach: $240
- Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Antigua: $27
- Transfer from Guatemala City hotel to INTL Airport La Aurora: $75
- Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $80
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
- San Salvadorz: Convenient bus transfer from/to Guatemala: $34
- Private transfer from La Aurora Airport to Panajachel: $52
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $120
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán : $125
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
- Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $105
- Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $135
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayGuatemala City $15Quepos $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 and class with Private Guatemalan Chef : $72
- Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour : $75
- Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $90
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$14
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.21Quepos $17
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $60
- 4-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South Center: $70
- Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $77
- Antigua Guatemala , Full-Day Shared Tour from Guatemala City: $75
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $58
- Antigua Guatemala Half Day Tour: $60
- Antigua Guatemala Stopover Tour: $75
- Antigua walking tour from Guatemala City : $90
- Chichicastenango Market Tour: $124
- City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
- Climb Active Pacaya Volcano + Box Lunch at the Top - Shared Tour: $75
- Combo Tour: Colonial Antigua & Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $65
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Authentic Forest Night Tour: $26
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $29
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio with Mauro / Tickets not Included! : $30
- Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park!: $35
- Manuel Antonio: the best tour to see sloths in Manuel Antonio Park: $35
- Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour with pick up included: $39
- Guided hiking Tour by the Mystic Ebano Rainforest in Costa Rica: $40
- Manuel Antonio Rainforest Night Tour with Butterfly Farm: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.87Quepos $14
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.
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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Quepos?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and Quepos, 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.