A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pingyao vs. Guatemala City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pingyao or Guatemala City?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pingyao and Guatemala City. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Pingyao or Guatemala City?

Pingyao

Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.

Guatemala City

Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City or Pingyao?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $69, while the average daily cost in Guatemala City is $56. 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 Pingyao and Guatemala City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pingyao $23
    Guatemala City $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pingyao $46
    Guatemala City $48
Compare Hotels in Pingyao and Guatemala City

Looking for a hotel in Pingyao or Guatemala City? 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 Pingyao


Hotels in Guatemala City


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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pingyao $13
    Guatemala City $6.25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $1.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
  • Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $25
  • Private Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $25
  • Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $26
  • Private Airport Transfer from Guatemala to La Aurora airport: $26
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Antigua: $28
  • Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $33
  • Private Arrival Transfer: La Aurora International Airport to Antigua Hotel: $35
  • Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
  • Private transfer Guatemala airport to Antigua.: $60
  • Private transfer from Airport to Panajachel: $65
  • Private Transfer From La Aurora AirPort to Panajachel Atitlan : $67

Is it cheaper to fly into Pingyao or Guatemala City?

Prices for flights to both Guatemala City and Pingyao 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
    Pingyao $34
    Guatemala City $27
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for 2)
    $5.05
  • Mango Juice
    $0.70

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.

  • PRIVATE MAYAN COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF EN Guatemala City: $65
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $175
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pingyao $19
    Guatemala City $1.22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:


  • All Day Bike Rental (for 2)
    $2.80
  • Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)
    $7.01
  • Bike Parking Fee (for 2)
    $0.56

Tours and Activities in Pingyao

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

  • Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
  • Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:

  • Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
  • 2-Hour Culture and Historical Tour From Guatemala: $29
  • Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $30
  • Guatemala city Walking Tour and public bus: $30
  • Walking Tour of Guatemala City's Historical Center: $35
  • Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City : $35
  • Private Tour: Antigua Guatemala Walking Tour from Antigua Guatemala: $35
  • Guatemala city walking tour on afternoon 14.00, 2 persons and up: $39
  • Private Tour in the Historic Center of Guatemala City: $45
  • City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
  • Private Night City Photo Tour in Guatemala: $50
  • Historical and natural bike tour in Guatemala City: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pingyao $14
    Guatemala City $6.93

Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City

Also in Guatemala City, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105


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

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


Which is Bigger, Pingyao or Guatemala City?

Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Pingyao and Guatemala City, 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.