A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mandeville vs. San Pedro for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mandeville or San Pedro?

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

Should I visit Mandeville or San Pedro? 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: Mandeville or San Pedro?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

San Pedro

San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro or Mandeville?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, while the average daily cost in San Pedro is $135. 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 Mandeville and San Pedro in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandeville $38
    San Pedro $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandeville $76
    San Pedro $132
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and San Pedro

Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or San Pedro? 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 Mandeville


Hotels in San Pedro


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandeville $31
    San Pedro $34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:

  • Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure (Boat Transfer): $205

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or San Pedro?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro and Mandeville 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
    Mandeville $24
    San Pedro $40

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro

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

  • Belizean Sunset and Cultural Dinner Cruise: $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandeville $8.31
    San Pedro $33

Tours and Activities in San Pedro

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

  • The best of San Pedro Town walking tour: $201
  • 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $54
  • 5-Hour Guided Jetboat Tour to Secret Beach, San Pedro, Belize.: $200
  • All-Inclusive Full-Day Hol Chan Snorkeling Tour : $120
  • Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from San Pedro Ambergris Caye: $250
  • Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $75
  • Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $93
  • Cave Tubing and Zip line Adventure from San pedro Ambergris caye: $250
  • Cave-kayaking Ziplining Experience for San Pedro Ambergris Caye Guest: $289
  • Double Activity Limo Tour: Xunantunich Ruins & Cave Tubing Adventure: $220
  • Exclusive All-in-1 Full Day Shared Guided Tour: $139
  • Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour: $105

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandeville $6.51
    San Pedro $16


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

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


Which is Bigger, Mandeville or San Pedro?

Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of San Pedro. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and San Pedro, 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.


When is the best time to visit Mandeville or San Pedro?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Mandeville or San Pedro in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as San Pedro. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in San Pedro. Mandeville usually gets less rain in July than San Pedro. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Pedro. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the summer, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than San Pedro. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Pedro receives 226 hours of full sun.

Mandeville is around the same temperature as San Pedro in the summer. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and San Pedro fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Mandeville 29°C (83°F) 
    San Pedro 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Mandeville or San Pedro in the Autumn?

Both San Pedro and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Pedro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Pedro. It's quite rainy in Mandeville. In October, Mandeville usually receives less rain than San Pedro. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than San Pedro during autumn. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while San Pedro receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, Mandeville is around the same temperature as San Pedro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mandeville in October average around 28°C (82°F), and San Pedro averages at about 26°C (80°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Mandeville 28°C (82°F) 
    San Pedro 26°C (80°F)

Should I visit Mandeville or San Pedro in the Winter?

Both San Pedro and Mandeville during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Pedro year-round.

San Pedro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mandeville usually gets less rain in January than San Pedro. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the winter, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than San Pedro. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Pedro receives 199 hours of full sun.

In January, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as San Pedro. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 26°C (79°F), and San Pedro fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Mandeville 26°C (79°F) 
    San Pedro 24°C (74°F)

Should I visit Mandeville or San Pedro in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and San Pedro. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Pedro. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Pedro this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than San Pedro during spring. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while San Pedro receives 256 hours of full sun in the spring.

Mandeville is around the same temperature as San Pedro in the spring. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and San Pedro fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Mandeville 26°C (80°F) 
    San Pedro 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for San Pedro and Mandeville

Mandeville San Pedro
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 24°C (74°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 24°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 26°C (78°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 27°C (80°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 28°C (82°F) 101 mm (4 in) 28°C (82°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 258 mm (10.2 in)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 243 mm (9.6 in)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 187 mm (7.4 in)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 160 mm (6.3 in) 26°C (80°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 25°C (77°F) 183 mm (7.2 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 25°C (76°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)