Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Guatemala City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guatemala City or Roatan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or Roatan? 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 Roatan?
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.
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $44Roatan $38
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $44, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $38. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24Roatan $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48Roatan $22
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Roatan? 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 Roatan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.17Roatan $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
- PRIVATE Group Transfer From Guatemala City to La Antigua: $20
- Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $23
- Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $24
- Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel in Guatemala City: $30
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
- Private one way transfer in Guatemala: $45
- Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $65
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Puerto Quetzal Port: $73
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
- One way private transfer to Antigua: $74
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$4.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $15
- Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Round trip transfers from airport or ferry to hotel: $40
- Chocolate Factory, Rum Factory, Markets, Island Tour, Private Transfer: $50
- Roatan Private Sloths, Monkeys, Birds Encounters, City Tour and Transfer: $60
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $65
- West Bay Beach, Chocolate, & Rum Factory & Transfer: $67
- Mayan Eden Eco Wildlife Park, City Tour & Private Transfer: $67
- Ground transfers and ticket ferry to Utila or La Ceiba: $80
- Roatan Private Catamaran Shipwreck, Blue Channel and Starfish with Transfer: $90
- West Bay Aquarium Snorkeling, Chocolate & Rum Factory, City Tour plus Transfer: $91
- Extreme Zipline, City Tour, Chocolate, Rum Factory, Beach Break, Transfer: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $15Roatan $9.43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Cooking class/Pepian Workshop: $35
- Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour : $75
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.21Roatan $27
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- Culinary Experience in Guatemala City: $15
- Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $17
- Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
- 2-Hour Culture and Historical Tour From Guatemala: $29
- Guatemala city Walking Tour and public bus: $30
- Half-Day Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $34
- Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City : $35
- Guatemala city walking tour on afternoon 14.00, 2 persons and up: $39
- City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
- Tour around antigua's villages: $50
- 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $55
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $58
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Shore Excursion: Roatan VIP Customizable Island Tour: $35
- Roatan Private Snorkeling Experience with Pick Up: $35
- Roatan Fun Bus Group Sightseeing Island Private Tour: $37
- Eco-Walk Nature Tour: $41
- Shore Excursion: Private Half-Day Sightseen Tour and Beach: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
- Roatan Chocolate Factory Rum Factory and Beach Day Tour: $45
- Monkeys & sloth hangout,Chocolate Factory,Rum Factory, island tour/Beach : $49
- Monkeys and Sloth Hang Out with Island Tour in Roatan: $49
- Goodman's Island Style Roatan Highlights Tour: $50
- Roatan City Tour-Viewpoints, Landmarks, Chocolate and Rum Tasting: $50
- Good Samaritan Tour: $51
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.84Roatan $7.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
When comparing the travel costs between Guatemala City and Roatan, we can see that Guatemala City is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Roatan?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and Roatan, 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.