Which place is cheaper, Belize City 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 Belize City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Belize City? 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 Belize City?
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.
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.
This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize.
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Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesBelize City Prices
Belize Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $89Belize City $108
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $89, while the average daily cost in Belize City is $108. 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 Belize City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $36Belize City $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $72Belize City $98
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and Belize City
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Belize 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.
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 Belize City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $22Belize City $5.81
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Tulum Ruins Experience with Private Roundtrip Transfer: $115
- Transfer from Cancun airport to Riviera Maya hotel: $139
- Tour Bacalar Ponton with Transfer from Cancun & Playa del Carmen : $147
- Puerto Aventuras to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Private Departure Transfer: $87
- Private transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila: $131
- Private Transfers to Cancun Airport, from Playa del Carmen: $89
- Private Transfer: Akumal to Cancun Airport CUN in SUV: $119
- Private Transfer to Chiquila one-wey, from Cancún and Playa: $260
- Private Transfer to Cenotes at Riviera Maya: $171
- Private Transfer roundtrip to Xoximilco. from PLAYA and CANCUN: $260
- Private Transfer from Puerto Aventuras to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan -Minibus: $83
- Private Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Chiquila Ferry Dock: $299
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $108
- Belize Airport (BZE) to San Ignacio - Arrival Private Transfer: $89
- Belize City Airport to Placencia Private Transfer: $150
- Belize City to Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
- Belize City to Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
- Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city hotels -Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $72
- Private Transfer from Belize City To Hopkins Village : $115
- Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $150
- Private transfer from the Philip Goldson Airport to San Ignacio: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or Belize City?
Prices for flights to both Belize City 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 $37Belize City $47
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.
- Cenotes by Bike and Mayan Cooking Class Half-Day Guided Tour: $56
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $63
- Playa Del Carmen Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $75
- Playa del Carmen Walking Food Tour: $79
- Yucatecan Cooking Class & Unlimited Margaritas – Playa del Carmen: $85
- Playa del Camen Vegan Mexican Food Tour: $85
- Temazcal Mayan Ceremony and Dinner in Mayan Village: $89
- Mayan Cooking Class: Chicken Pibil in Secret Cenote: $95
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $109
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $109
- Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City
For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour - fish farm & restaurant : $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $15Belize City $29
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Mayan Jungle Adventure: $180
- Buggy Ride through Playa del Carmen Tour: $139
- Catamaran Cruise in Riviera Maya With Snorkeling & Beach Club: $85
- Cozumel Buggy Tour: $155
- Park Xenses Tour Play with your Senses from Playa del Carmen: $126
- Romantic tour in Akumal: $115
- The Best Ruins Tour : Coba Sunset Cultural / Extreme : $140
- "Tulum Adventures: Between Jungle, Cenotes and Mayan Mysteries": $110
- 3 in 1 Private Tour Tulum Cenote and Snorkeling in the reef: $210
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen : $16
- 4 amazing places for 1 price and 1 full day tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote and PDC: $40
- 4 to 7 Day Beach Cruiser Rental (Up to 7 Days, includes Ulock): $45
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- The Historic Belize City Tour: $35
- Belize City Tour: $40
- Cucumber Beach and City Tour: $49
- Cave Kayak tour for Belize Car Rental : $59
- Belizean Bits & Bites Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize: $60
- TukTuk Belize History & Culture Tour : $60
- Taste Bud Explosion Food Tasting Belize City Tour : $74
- Charlie's Cave Tubing Tour for cruisers (lunch included): $75
- Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
- The Incredible Cave Tubing Adventure from Belize City: $85
- Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break : $90
- Private Altun Ha Maya Ruin & Belize City Adventure From Belize City: $107
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $19Belize City $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:
- Madness tour bar crawl Playa del carmen open bar: $99
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Belize City, we can see that Belize City is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Belize 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 Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen 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 Belize City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Belize City than you might in Playa del Carmen.
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 Belize City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Belize City?
Belize City has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Belize 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.
When is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen or Belize City?
Playa del Carmen has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Belize City experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Belize City in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Playa del Carmen as well as Belize City. The summer months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Belize City throughout the year.
Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Belize City in the summer. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Belize City fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Belize City. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In the summer, Playa del Carmen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Belize City. Playa del Carmen gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belize City receives 226 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Belize City. Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Playa del Carmen usually gets less rain in July than Belize City. Playa del Carmen gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPlaya del Carmen 28°C (82°F)Belize City 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Belize City in the Autumn?
Both Belize City and Playa del Carmen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Playa del Carmen this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Belize City because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Belize City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Playa del Carmen in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Belize City averages at about 26°C (80°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually receives more sunshine than Belize City during autumn. Playa del Carmen gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Belize City receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Belize City. It's quite rainy in Playa del Carmen. In October, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Belize City. Playa del Carmen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October in Playa del Carmen is the hurricane season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPlaya del Carmen 26°C (79°F)Belize City 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Belize City in the Winter?
Both Belize City and Playa del Carmen during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Belize City year-round.
In January, Playa del Carmen is generally around the same temperature as Belize City. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 23°C (73°F), and Belize City fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. In the winter, Playa del Carmen often gets more sunshine than Belize City. Playa del Carmen gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Belize City receives 199 hours of full sun.
Belize City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Playa del Carmen usually gets less rain in January than Belize City. Playa del Carmen gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPlaya del Carmen 23°C (73°F)Belize City 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Belize City in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa del Carmen and Belize City. Many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty. Belize City attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Belize City in the spring. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Belize City fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Belize City this time of the year. In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa del Carmen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Belize City during spring. Playa del Carmen gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Belize City receives 256 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Belize City. Playa del Carmen gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPlaya del Carmen 27°C (81°F)Belize City 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Belize City and Playa del Carmen
| Playa del Carmen | Belize City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
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.