A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ocho Rios vs. San Pedro La Laguna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ocho Rios or San Pedro La Laguna?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or San Pedro La Laguna, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Ocho Rios or San Pedro La Laguna?

Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.

San Pedro La Laguna

Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro La Laguna or Ocho Rios?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $77, while the average daily cost in San Pedro La Laguna is $36. 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 Ocho Rios and San Pedro La Laguna in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ocho Rios $52
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ocho Rios $104
    San Pedro La Laguna $16
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and San Pedro La Laguna

Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios or San Pedro La Laguna? 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 Ocho Rios


Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna


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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ocho Rios $7.60
    San Pedro La Laguna $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios

Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Runaway Bay: $24
  • Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay Hotels: $228
  • Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $50
  • Riu Ocho Rios Private Airport Transfer: $81
  • Riu Ocho Rios Jamaica Private Airport Transfer: $60
  • Private Transfers to Runaway Bay or Ocho Rios (42O VIP Offered): $60
  • Private Transfer to Yaaman Adventure Park from Ocho Rios: $60
  • Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain from Ocho Rios: $20
  • Private Transfer to Konoko Falls Botanical Gardens: $27
  • Private Transfer to Hotels in Ocho Rios from Montego Bay Airport: $63
  • Private Transfer from Sangster International Airport to Ochi Rios: $120
  • Private Transfer from Ocho Rios to Sangster Airport MBJ: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or San Pedro La Laguna?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro La Laguna and Ocho Rios 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
    Ocho Rios $17
    San Pedro La Laguna $11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios

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

  • From Flavors of Jamaica Guided Food Tour: $89
  • Taste of Jamaica Farm & Food Tour: $98
  • Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $128
  • Taste of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $130
  • Taste of Jamaica Food Tour: $140
  • The Jamaica School of Cooking and Ocho Rios Highlights Tour: $141
  • Ocho Rios Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Dinner: $218

Typical Food Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lemonade
    $2.06
  • Cake
    $1.29
  • Ice cream
    $0.39
  • Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
    $2.96

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Guatemalan street food tour with a local bilingual guide: $40
  • Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
  • Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ocho Rios $15
    San Pedro La Laguna $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios

For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate
    $11
  • Admission to Coyaba Gardens
    $5.47
  • Tour of Prospect Plantation
    $18

Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.

  • Authentic Jamaican Bamboo Rafting Tour from Runaway Bay: $194
  • Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour from Ocho Rios: $77
  • Dunn's River Falls & Blue Hole Combo Tour from Ocho Rios: $115
  • Full-Day Tour to Blue Hole Falls with Horseback Ride from Montego Bay: $220
  • Shopping Tour From Runaway Bay Hotels : $65
  • ATV, Bamboo Rafting and Horseback Riding Experience in Ocho Rios: $275
  • ATV, Bamboo Rafting, Horseback Ride Guided Tour from Montego Bay: $135
  • ATV, Horseback Riding and Bluehole Adventure Tour : $250
  • Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Runaway Bay: $206
  • Bamboo Rafting in Ocho Rios Private Experience: $208
  • Bamboo Rafting on the Lethe great/river(:),tour: $120
  • Bamboo River Rafting Experience from Ocho Rios: $71

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Canopy Tour (for 2)
    $39
  • Kayaking (for 2)
    $1.93
  • Coffee Tour (for 2)
    $6.95

Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Lake Atitlan Boat tour from Puerto Quetzal (Group): $125
  • 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
  • Authentic local experience with a community of women.: $67
  • Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
  • Bicycle Tour Around Lake Atitlan with Weaving Coops and Coffee Plantations: $112
  • Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
  • Boat tour in Mayan villages: $85
  • Chichicastenango Market Day Tour from Panajachel: $83
  • Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $35
  • Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
  • Full Day Tour to Chichicastenango from Panajachel : $152
  • Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ocho Rios $7.71
    San Pedro La Laguna $5.58


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

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


Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or San Pedro La Laguna?

San Pedro La Laguna has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios and San Pedro La Laguna, 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.