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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.


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

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

  • Mar del Plata Prices
    Argentina Prices
    Antigua Guatemala Prices
    Guatemala Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Mar del Plata $55
    Antigua Guatemala $74

The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $55, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $74. 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 $42
    Antigua Guatemala $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mar del Plata $84
    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: Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mar del Plata $3.01
    Antigua Guatemala $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala

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

  • From Antigua: One way private transfer to Panajachel: $194
  • Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Semuc Champey or Coban: $182
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Panajachel: $153
  • Private transfer from Antigua to La Aurora Airport: $90
  • Private Transfer from the Airport to Antigua: $90
  • Private Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $90
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Santa Catarina Palopó: $88
  • From Antigua: Transfer to Guatemala City: $85
  • Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Monterrico Beach: $85
  • One way shared transfer to Flores, Peten: $79
  • Private Transfer One Way Antigua Guatemala to El Paredon Beach: $75
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Panajachel: $75

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 $6.65
    Antigua Guatemala $25

Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala

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


  • Lunch
    $3.28
  • Lunch
    $7.87

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:

  • Antigua: Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Classes — Casa San Miguel.: $38
  • Antigua Guatemalan Authentic Cooking Class Chef David Farfan: $38
  • Antigua: Traditional cooking lesson with a Guatemalan family: $48
  • Pepián Plates Antigua Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $59
  • Antigua: Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family: $60
  • Antigua Street Food Tour: $65
  • Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
  • Antigua: Cooking Class With Wine, Transfer & Vegan Option: $72
  • Cooking Classes and Jade Workshops: $75
  • Guatemalan Mayan Cooking Workshop: $75
  • Local Street Food Tour of Antigua: $75
  • Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mar del Plata $20
    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 - Days : Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $150
  • 2-Day Kayak and Hike Adventure Package from Antigua: $219
  • 2-Day, 1-Night Tour of Volcano Acatenango from Antigua: $92
  • 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $220
  • 4 Hour Colonial Experience in Antigua Guatemala: $35
  • 4-Hour Colonial Experience in Antigua Guatemala: $25
  • 4WD Acatenango Volcano Tour & Fuego / All Inclusive !: $400
  • 4WD experience to Acatenango Volcano/Fuego Volcano from Antigua: $333
  • 4x4 tour from Antigua with a night camp in front of the Fuego volcano: $1,300
  • ANTIGUA Villages Tour: $103
  • ATV Off Road Adventure at Pacaya Volcano from Antigua: $99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mar del Plata $7.51
    Antigua Guatemala $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Antigua Guatemala

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

  • Antigua Bar Crawl: $26


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.