Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Playa del Carmen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Playa del Carmen or Antigua Guatemala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Antigua Guatemala? 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: Playa del Carmen or Antigua Guatemala?
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
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 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesAntigua Guatemala Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $94Antigua Guatemala $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $94, 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 Playa del Carmen and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $38Antigua Guatemala $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $76Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Antigua Guatemala
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen 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.
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: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices and Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $23Antigua Guatemala $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Private Van Transfer to Merida: $389
- Private Van Transfer to Valladolid: $348
- Private Van Transfer to Chiquilá (Holbox): $348
- Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila Ferry Dock: $299
- Private Transfer roundtrip to Xoximilco. from PLAYA and CANCUN: $260
- Private Transfer to Cenote at Tulum: $213
- Round Trip Private Transfer (Costa Mujeres): $210
- Cancun Airport Private Roundtrip Transfer to Riviera Maya Hotels: $195
- Private Transfer to Cenotes at Riviera Maya: $189
- Private Transfer from ATO Cancun to Playa del Carmen: $177
- Private Transfer to Xplor/Xplor fire/Xenses, roundtrip from PDC: $160
- Private Van Transfer to Cancun Airport: $151
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One way shared transfer to Flores, Peten: $79
- One-Way Shared Van Transfer to Panajachel: $25
- Antigua: One way private transfer to Guatemala City: $69
- Antigua: One way shared transfer to Guatemala City: $24
- Antigua: One way shared transfer to Semuc Champey, Lanquin: $49
- Antigua: Private Transfer to Guatemala City Airport: $30
- From Antigua Guatemala One way shared transfer to El Paredon: $34
- From Antigua: One way private transfer to Panajachel: $194
- From Antigua: Transfer to Guatemala City: $85
- From Panajachel: One Way Shared Transfers to Antigua: $25
- Guatemala City Airport: Private Transfer to Antigua: $30
- Panajachel: One way shared transfer to Antigua: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Antigua Guatemala?
Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Playa del Carmen 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
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Food Meals for one dayPlaya del Carmen $39Antigua Guatemala $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Christmas Eve Dinner in a magical jungle setting: $45
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $67
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Drinks: $77
- Food Tour Through Markets with 7 Tastings: $82
- local walking food tour Inlakech Playa del Carmen: $82
- Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $85
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $89
- Mayan Ceremony in Tulum. Temazcal, Dinner and pick up included.: $92
- Mexican Cooking Class 1 or 3 Courses Tequila and Mezcal Tasting: $105
- Mexican Cooking Class: $113
- Mayan Cooking Class: Chicken Pibil in Secret Cenote: $114
Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:
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Lunch$3.27
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Lunch$7.86
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:
- Cooking and pastry class in Casa San Miguel: $38
- Antigua Guatemalan Authentic Cooking Class Chef David Farfan: $38
- Antigua: Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Classes — Casa San Miguel.: $38
- Antigua: Traditional cooking lesson with a Guatemalan family: $48
- Cooking class and market tour/Pepian Workshop: $50
- Antigua: Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family: $60
- Private Street Food Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $65
- Antigua Street Food Tour: $65
- Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
- Antigua: Cooking Class With Wine, Transfer & Vegan Option: $72
- Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $75
- Cooking Classes and Jade Workshops: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $16Antigua Guatemala $15
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Cenotes & Kaan Luum Lagoon Adventure from Playa del Carmen: $142
- 3 Hour Tour ATV Single with Underground River from Tulum: $135
- 3-in-1 Tour to Tulum, Cenote and Maya Village Riviera Maya: $99
- 3D Museum of Wonders Admission Ticket: $41
- 4 Casa Tortugas Cenotes Tour from Playa del Carmen: $142
- 5X1: Tulum and Coba Ruins, Cenote & Mayan Village Full Day Tour: $82
- AQUA WONDER (Half-Day Aquatic Tour in Tulum with Snorkeling and Meals): $129
- ATV (Shared) & Cenote Jungle Adventure from Riviera Maya: $130
- ATV Adventure with Ziplines & Cenote from Playa del Carmen: $57
- ATV Extreme and Snorkel Adventure from the Riviera Maya: $149
- ATV Shared & Ziplines Adventure in Tulum Jungle from Riviera Maya: $140
- ATV Tour in Playa del Carmen with Zip Lines: $71
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
- Antigua Earthquake Baroque Architecture Audio Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
- Antigua Guatemala Historic Center Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $5.00
- Signature Lattes Tasting Experience in Antigua for Coffee Lovers: $13
- Half-Day Walking Tour: $20
- Historical and Cultural Walking Tour of Antigua Guatemala: $20
- Express tour in Antigua: $20
- Guided City Tour with Chef David Farfan: $20
- Cultural and Fun Walking Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $22
- Walking Tour with Local Guide: $23
- From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Tour in English/Spanish: $23
- Guided Walking Tour with Coffee: $24
- Antigua Sightseeing: Private Walking Tour Culture and History: $24
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $20Antigua Guatemala $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:
- Playa del Carmen Local Brewery and Tacos Experience: $58
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 Playa del Carmen and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Antigua Guatemala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North 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 Antigua Guatemala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antigua Guatemala 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 Playa del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Carmen than you might in Antigua Guatemala.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Playa del Carmen Expensive? and Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Antigua Guatemala?
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Antigua Guatemala. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.