A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mar del Plata vs. Antigua Guatemala for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Antigua Guatemala?

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 Mar del Plata and Antigua Guatemala can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Antigua Guatemala?

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.

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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Eco Tours in Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Mar del Plata?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $63. 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 Mar del Plata and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mar del Plata $3.15
    Antigua Guatemala $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mar del Plata $6.30
    Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Antigua Guatemala

Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata 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.

Hotels in Mar del Plata


Hotels in Antigua Guatemala


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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mar del Plata $2.50
    Antigua Guatemala $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala

Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer Guatemala City to Aurora to Antigua Guatemala: $130
  • Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $80
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Puerto Quetzal Port: $27
  • Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $23
  • From Guatemala City: One-way Shared Transfer to Antigua: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Antigua Guatemala?

Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Mar del Plata 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
    Mar del Plata $3.81
    Antigua Guatemala $14

Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:


  • Lunch
    $3.22
  • Lunch
    $7.72

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:

  • Make your own Mayan Pepian - Cooking class: $69
  • Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $74
  • Street Food Tour Around Antigua: $75
  • Market food tour and tortilla workshop: $79
  • Market and Mayan Cooking Class: $80
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class & Market Tour: $85
  • Foodie & street food tour: $85
  • Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua: $90
  • Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $95
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour: $98
  • From Guatemala City: Guatemala Cooking Class Tour: $110
  • Pacaya Volcano Luxury Sunset Horseback Riding Tour/ Dinner Cooked by-Lava Chef: $295

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mar del Plata $2.27
    Antigua Guatemala $15

Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.

  • ¡Pacaya Volcano Tour from Antigua!: $100
  • 2-Day Kayak and Hike Adventure Package from Antigua: $219
  • 2-Day Shared Hiking Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $110
  • 2-Day Shared Hiking Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $125
  • 2-Day Tour of Lake Atitlan & Chichicastenango Market: $220
  • 2-day tour to Acatenango Volcano: $75
  • ANTIGUA Villages Tour: $72
  • ATV Cultural & Adventure Tour: Shared Antigua Villages Experience: $90
  • ATV or UTV Coffee Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $100
  • Acatenango Overnight Hike Multiday Tour: $116
  • Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hiking from Antigua - 2 Days Private Tour: $215
  • Acatenango Volcano Tour with Overnight from Antigua: $99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mar del Plata $1.78
    Antigua Guatemala $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Antigua Guatemala

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Antigua Guatemala:

  • Macadamia Chocolate and Wine Tour on ATV or UTV: $85


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Antigua Guatemala?

Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Antigua Guatemala. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata 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.