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

Should you visit La Ceiba or Saint Thomas?

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 Saint Thomas can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Ceiba or Saint Thomas?

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.

Saint Thomas

Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.

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


Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas 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.

  • La Ceiba Prices
    Honduras Prices
    Saint Thomas Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    La Ceiba $78
    Saint Thomas $258

The average daily cost (per person) in La Ceiba is $78, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Saint Thomas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    La Ceiba $23
    Saint Thomas $131
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    La Ceiba $46
    Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in La Ceiba and Saint Thomas

Looking for a hotel in La Ceiba or Saint Thomas? 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 Saint Thomas


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 $32
    Saint Thomas $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Ceiba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Ceiba:

  • Private Transfer from Goloson Airport (LCE) to Banana Coast Port: $79
  • Private Transfer from La Ceiba hotels to Banana Coast Cruise Port: $79
  • Ferry Transfer between La Ceiba and Roatán Island: $43

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $65
  • Taxi Ride
    $5.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas

Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $29
  • Private Transfer from Charlotte Amalie Port to Charlotte Amalie: $29
  • Cyril E.King Airport (STT) to Charlotte Amalie - Arrival Transfer: $50
  • Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St.Thomas-Airport Transfer Bluebeard’s / Yacht Haven: $110
  • Vi Top Taxi -St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove : $110
  • PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St.Thomas-Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove: $110
  • Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay / Limetree: $110
  • Cyril E.King Airport (STT) to St.Thomas-Arrival Private Transfer : $110
  • St Thomas to St Thomas Airport Private Departure Transfer: $110
  • St Thomas Airport to St Thomas Arrival Private Transfer: $110
  • Private Ground Transfers: $120
  • Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St. Thomas Airport Transfer to Wyndham Margaritaville: $160

Is it cheaper to fly into La Ceiba or Saint Thomas?

Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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 $31
    Saint Thomas $94

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas

For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • St. James Snorkel & Pizza Pi Lunch: $90
  • Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $109
  • St. John Dinner Sail to Lovango with Open Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres - Westin: $119
  • Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
  • Flavors of St Thomas Walking Food Tour : $145
  • Cruz Bay - PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail: $159
  • St. Thomas Dinner Sail to Lovango w/ Open Bar and Hors D'oeuvres - Ritz-Carlton: $159
  • St. Thomas Dinner Sail to St. John with Open Bar & Hors D'oeuvres - Ritz-Carlton: $169
  • St Thomas Legends Luxury Dinner Sail from the Ritz Carlton: $249

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    La Ceiba $22
    Saint Thomas $60

Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.

  • Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $10
  • Nature and Sightseeing Tour at Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden: $16
  • Drinks & Diamonds Shopping Experience in St. Thomas: $25
  • Coral World Ocean Park General Admission Ticket: $29
  • Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
  • Guided Tour of Coral World Ocean Park & Happy Hour: $40
  • Cruise Ship Port Shuttle to St John Ferry : $44
  • Cruise Ship Suttle to Ferry going to St. John: $45
  • Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI - St. Thomas, Virgin Islands- Island Scenic Tour: $49
  • St. John Rum Tasting Experience Flavors of the Caribbean: $53
  • Two-Hour Sightseeing Excursion : $58
  • Sunset Kayak Tour in the Mangrove Lagoon, St Thomas: $59

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    La Ceiba $5.11
    Saint Thomas $27


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Ceiba and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, La Ceiba or Saint Thomas?

La Ceiba has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of La Ceiba and Saint Thomas, 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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