Which place is cheaper, San Diego or Guatemala City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guatemala City or San Diego?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or San Diego? 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 San Diego?
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.
San Diego
For many visitors and locals alike, San Diego is a paradise. Located in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, it has the perfect climate, wonderful beaches, and a culturally rich environment. It's surrounded by beautiful landscape and has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly living. Home to about 1.3 million residents, it is California's second largest city. It also has many universities, a large tech industry, and a thriving economy. Despite its size, many people perceive San Diego as a slower, more relaxed city with a pleasant vibe away from the chaos of a large city.
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 Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $44San Diego $202
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $44, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $202. 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 San Diego in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24San Diego $115
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48San Diego $230
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and San Diego
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or San Diego? 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 San Diego Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.18San Diego $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- From Panajachel: Transfer to Guatemala City: $240
- Transfer: From Guatemala City to El Paredon Beach: $240
- Guatemala Airport to San Felipe de Lara RoundTrip PrivateTransfer: $154
- Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $150
- Guatemala City Airport(GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Round-Trip Transfer: $131
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $120
- Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $80
- Guatemala City Airport GUA to San Felipe de Lara-Arrival Transfer: $77
- Transfer from Guatemala City hotel to INTL Airport La Aurora: $75
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
- One way private transfer to Antigua: $74
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in San Diego HTL-APT(SAN): $47
- Private Departure Transfer to San Diego Airport SAN: $50
- Tijuana to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) – Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) to Tijuana hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Diego Airport SAN: $56
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Marcos, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- Transfer in private minivan from San Diego Downtown to San Diego Airport (SAN): $68
- Transfer in private minivan from San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Diego Downtown: $68
- San Diego Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to San Diego: $70
- San Diego Airport - Private Round Trip Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer from San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Diego Port : $74
- Private Transfer from San Diego Port to San Diego city hotels: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or San Diego?
Prices for flights to both San Diego 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 $15San Diego $45
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
Typical Food Prices in San Diego
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
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Mexican Lunch for Two$27
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Breakfast at Starbucks$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pizza and Gelato Tour in San Diego: $80
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $85
- Old Town Tequila and Tacos Walking Food Tour: $85
- Gaslamp Quarter Food Tour: $89
- Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego Food Tour: $89
- San Diego Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $95
- San Diego, Seaport Village: Waterfront Walking Food Tour: $99
- Seaport Village Food Tour in San Diego : $99
- Guided Secret Food Tour: $103
- Scenic Buffet Dinner Cruise: $108
- San Diego Dinner Cruise: $116
- Gourmet Dinner Cruise: $118
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.21San Diego $48
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 2-Day Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan Tour from Guatemala City or Antigua: $265
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $130
- 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $55
- 4-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South Center: $65
- Acatenango Volcano Overnight Adventure from Guatemala City : $300
- Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $77
- Antigua Guatemala , Full-Day Shared Tour from Guatemala City: $75
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $58
- Antigua walking tour from Guatemala City : $90
- Bike Tour to Antigua Villages from Guatemala City : $175
- Chichicastenango - Panajachel collective tour: $150
- Chichicastenango Market Tour: $124
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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San Diego Zoo$15
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Sea World Parking$12
Tours and Activities in San Diego
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
- Pies & Pickaxes: A Historic Walking Tour of Julian, CA: $4.49
- Waterfront Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.31
- A Seaside Stroll: La Jolla's Hidden Treasures Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
- Historical Walking Tour of San Diego: $10
- Beaches & Bluffs San Diego's Ultimate Coastal Driving Tour: $12
- San Diego Natural History Museum Ticket: $12
- Haunted Historic Whaley House - Self-Guided Tour: $14
- Apple Pies & Desert Skies: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $15
- Private Walking Tour and Gaslamp Adventure in San Diego: $20
- Explore Balboa in a Private Tour of San Diego Hidden Gems: $20
- San Diego's Historic Treasures and Old Town Tour: $20
- San Diego Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.85San Diego $21
Sample the Local Flavors in San Diego
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- San Diego Bar Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- History Tour Pub Crawl of Famous Gaslamp Quarter: $30
- Brewery Tour with Tastings and Food Pairings: $85
- Vino! Vino! Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Private Wine Tasting Tour in Valle de Guadalupe: $133
- Cruise & Booze Brewery tours : $149
- Baja Tour Guide wine tour: $169
- Sidecar Wine Tasting Tour: $199
- Brewery and Tap Room Sidecar Tour: $199
- California Sunset Brewery Tour: $199
- Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour in San Diego: $215
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and San Diego, we can see that San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Diego 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 San Diego Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or San Diego?
San Diego has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Guatemala City. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and San Diego, 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.