Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Isla Mujeres?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Isla Mujeres or Antigua Guatemala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Isla Mujeres and Antigua Guatemala. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Isla Mujeres or Antigua Guatemala?
Isla Mujeres
About eight miles from the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Mujeres is an island in the Mexican Caribbean Sea. The town, of the same name, has a population of about 13,000. Tourism has grown in the area since the 1970s and today it is a significant part of the island's economy. As such, there are plenty of amenities that cater specifically to visitors. The island's proximity to Cuba make it a common transit point for Cubans in route to the United States.
Antigua Guatemala
Before a disastrous earthquake in 1773, Antigua was the colonial capital of Guatemala. For 200 years it had reigned as so and today shows remnants of its glorious past with Spanish colonial buildings and other architectural landmarks still standing. Due to this large amount of preserved architecture, Antigua was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is now the most touristed city of Guatemala.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.
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Isla Mujeres Prices
Mexico PricesAntigua Guatemala Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIsla Mujeres $179Antigua Guatemala $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Isla Mujeres is $179, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $74. 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 Isla Mujeres and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIsla Mujeres $77Antigua Guatemala $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIsla Mujeres $154Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Isla Mujeres and Antigua Guatemala
Looking for a hotel in Isla Mujeres or Antigua Guatemala? 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: Isla Mujeres Hotel Prices and Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Isla Mujeres $35Antigua Guatemala $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Isla Mujeres
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Isla Mujeres:
- Punta Sam / Isla Blanca to Cancún Airport (CUN)- Departure Private Transfer: $62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Antigua: One way shared transfer to Guatemala City: $24
- From Panajachel: One Way Shared Transfers to Antigua: $25
- Panajachel: One way shared transfer to Antigua: $25
- One-Way Shared Van Transfer to Panajachel: $25
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Airport: $27
- Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $30
- Guatemala City Airport: Private Transfer to Antigua: $30
- Private Transfer From Antigua to Guatemala City / Airport: $30
- Antigua: Private Transfer to Guatemala City Airport: $30
- Shared Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel (Atitlan): $30
- From Antigua Guatemala One way shared transfer to El Paredon: $34
- transfer service Guatemala City, Lake Atitlan destination: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Isla Mujeres or Antigua Guatemala?
Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Isla Mujeres 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 dayIsla Mujeres $79Antigua Guatemala $25
Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:
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Lunch$3.27
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Lunch$7.85
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antigua Guatemala
For Antigua Guatemala, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Antigua Guatemalan Authentic Cooking Class Chef David Farfan: $38
- Antigua: Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Classes — Casa San Miguel.: $38
- Antigua: Traditional cooking lesson with a Guatemalan family: $48
- Antigua: Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family: $60
- Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
- Antigua: Cooking Class With Wine, Transfer & Vegan Option: $72
- Cooking Classes and Jade Workshops: $75
- Local Street Food Tour of Antigua: $75
- Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $75
- Guatemalan Mayan Cooking Workshop: $75
- Cooking Class With Local Family: $84
- Antigua Local: Evening Street Food Tour with Dinner: $84
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Isla Mujeres $20Antigua Guatemala $15
Tours and Activities in Isla Mujeres
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla Mujeres are as follows:
- 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience: $88
- Catamaron Sunset Tour on Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $161
- Chill at -18°C Isla Mujeres Ice Bar (tickets): $35
- Contoy Island Snorkeling Tour Food & Drinks: $139
- Contoy Island Tour from Cancun and Isla Mujeres with Snorkeling: $181
- Contoy Island Tour with Untouched Paradise and Beach Day: $139
- Crystal Boat Tour to Isla Mujeres and Reefs: $42
- Isla Contoy Snorkeling Experience with Buffet: $166
- Isla Mujeres Beginner/Family Scuba Diving Experience: $163
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Adventure at the Underwater Museum: $59
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: $91
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour Adventure: $63
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
- Antigua Guatemala Historic Center Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $5.00
- Signature Lattes Tasting Experience in Antigua for Coffee Lovers: $13
- Historical and Cultural Walking Tour of Antigua Guatemala: $20
- Half-Day Walking Tour: $20
- Guided City Tour with Chef David Farfan: $20
- Express tour in Antigua: $20
- Cultural and Fun Walking Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $22
- Walking Tour with Local Guide: $23
- From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Tour in English/Spanish: $23
- Guided Walking Tour with Coffee: $24
- Antigua Walking Tour: $24
- Antigua Walking Tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIsla Mujeres $25Antigua Guatemala $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Antigua Guatemala
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Antigua Guatemala:
- Antigua Bar Crawl: $26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla Mujeres and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Isla Mujeres is more expensive. And not only is Antigua Guatemala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Isla Mujeres is in North America and Antigua Guatemala is in Central 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 Antigua Guatemala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antigua Guatemala 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 Isla Mujeres would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Isla Mujeres than you might in Antigua Guatemala.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Isla Mujeres Expensive? and Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Isla Mujeres or Antigua Guatemala?
Antigua Guatemala has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the sizes of Isla Mujeres and Antigua Guatemala, 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.