Which place is cheaper, Roatan 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 Roatan?
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 Roatan. 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 Roatan?
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.
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 Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Isla Mujeres Prices
Mexico PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIsla Mujeres $179Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Isla Mujeres is $179, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIsla Mujeres $77Roatan $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIsla Mujeres $154Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in Isla Mujeres and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Isla Mujeres 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: Isla Mujeres Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Isla Mujeres $35Roatan $17
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.91
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: $25
- Airport, Hotel or Cruise Port, Ferry Roatan Private Transfer: $35
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan - Arrival Private Transfer: $57
- Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $57
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $59
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
- Roatan West Bay Beach Break with Roundtrip Transfer: $75
- Let's Go Native Roatan City Cultural Tour, Transfer: $80
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $80
- West Bay Beach Day Pass & Private Transfer – Roatán: $89
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $95
- Roatan Zipline, Monkey, Macaws & Sloths Eco Park, Snorkeling, Transfer: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Isla Mujeres or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $79Roatan $15
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!: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Isla Mujeres $20Roatan $25
Tours and Activities in Isla Mujeres
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla Mujeres are as follows:
- Chill at -18°C Isla Mujeres Ice Bar (tickets): $35
- Excursion Crystal Boat Tour at the Caribbean: $41
- Tour Isla Mujeres excursion in Collective Transparent Boat: $41
- Transparent Boat Isla Mujeres Family Tour of the Caribbean: $42
- Crystal Boat Tour to Isla Mujeres and Reefs: $42
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Adventure at the Underwater Museum: $59
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour Adventure: $63
- Snorkel Tour at Musa and Manchones Reef: $64
- Transparent Boat Tour from Isla Mujeres: $66
- Snorkeling tour at 3 spots, Underwater Museum and reefs!: $70
- Snorkeling Adventure at Isla Mujeres Underwater Museum More: $73
- 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience: $88
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Custom Private Roatan Shuttle Tour: Explore at Your Own Pace: $30
- Roatan Island Tours, Sightseeing and Shopping Adventures: $39
- Roatán Ron and Chocolate Custom Tour.: $40
- Roatan Zipline & Eco walk/Suspension Bridge Combo Tours: $45
- Roatan Beach and Tour: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
- Private Customize Roatán Island Tour chocolate Rum local guide: $48
- Canopy Adventure in Roatán: $48
- Private Roatan Sightseeing Tour: $49
- Roatan VIP Free-Style Private Tour: $49
- Extreme Zip Line Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $49
- Cruise Travelers West Bay Beach Break with Island Tour in Roatan: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIsla Mujeres $25Roatan $6.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
- Roatan ATV Adventure, Island Tour and Craft Brewery Experience: $130
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla Mujeres and Roatan, we can see that Isla Mujeres is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Isla Mujeres is in North America and Roatan 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
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 Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Isla Mujeres or Roatan?
Isla Mujeres has a larger population, and is about 66% larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Isla Mujeres 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.