A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Ceiba vs. Ponce for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Ceiba or Ponce?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between La Ceiba and Ponce can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Ceiba or Ponce?

La Ceiba

La Ceiba is the third largest city in Honduras, situated on the north Caribbean coast. The city has a population of about a quarter million people. Many people who visit this city do so before heading into Pico Bonito National Park. It hasn't had the best infrastructure for tourists in the past but is developing fast. It is about 200 kilometers from San Pedro Sula, another large city in Honduras.

Ponce

Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.


Which place is cheaper, Ponce or La Ceiba?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in La Ceiba is $74, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 La Ceiba and Ponce in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    La Ceiba $22
    Ponce $151
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    La Ceiba $44
    Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in La Ceiba and Ponce

Looking for a hotel in La Ceiba or Ponce? 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.

Hotels in La Ceiba


Hotels in Ponce


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: La Ceiba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    La Ceiba $30
    Ponce $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Ceiba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Ceiba:

  • From Copan: One Way Shared Transfer to La Ceiba: $29
  • Ferry Transfer between La Ceiba and Roatán Island: $43
  • From Roatan: One Way Shared transfer to La Ceiba: $49
  • Private Transfer from Goloson Airport (LCE) to Banana Coast Port: $180
  • Private Transfer from La Ceiba hotels to Banana Coast Cruise Port: $180

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:

  • San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
  • Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
  • San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
  • Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
  • Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
  • Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
  • Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
  • Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
  • Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185

Is it cheaper to fly into La Ceiba or Ponce?

Prices for flights to both Ponce and La Ceiba 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    La Ceiba $30
    Ponce $61

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.

  • Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
  • Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
  • Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
  • Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    La Ceiba $21
    Ponce $56

Tours and Activities in Ponce

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:

  • Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
  • Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
  • Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
  • La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
  • Prive Tours in Puerto Rico: $40
  • Las Tinajas Waterfall: Guided Short Hike Adventure from Fajardo: $55
  • Walking Guided Tour of History and Myths of Old San Juan : $60
  • Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
  • 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
  • Half-Day Small-Group River Experience in El Yunque with Local : $68
  • El Yunque Rainforest, Waterslides & Beach Tour from San Juan: $75
  • Party Bus Experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $79

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    La Ceiba $4.85
    Ponce $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce

Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Ceiba and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is La Ceiba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Ceiba is in Central America and Ponce is in Caribbean Islands, 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 La Ceiba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Ceiba 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in La Ceiba.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Ceiba Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, La Ceiba or Ponce?

Ponce has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of La Ceiba. When comparing the sizes of La Ceiba and Ponce, 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.

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