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

Should you visit Puerto Princesa or Guatemala City?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Puerto Princesa and Guatemala City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Puerto Princesa or Guatemala City?

Puerto Princesa

The island of Palawan is known the Philippines' last frontier and its capital, Puerto Princesa, is considered the greenest city in the Philippines. With plenty of land that has yet to be explored and inundated with tourists, Puerto Princesa, also known as "The City of the Living God," is a nature buff's dream. Whether you want to swim with starfish, walk among the mangrove treetops, or visit the world's largest saltwater crocodile at the Palawan Nature Conservation Center, Puerto Princesa and its surrounding area offers plenty of opportunities to get into the great wide open.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, and The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City or Puerto Princesa?

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 Puerto Princesa is $79, 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 Puerto Princesa and Guatemala City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Princesa $22
    Guatemala City $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Princesa $44
    Guatemala City $50
Compare Hotels in Puerto Princesa and Guatemala City

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa


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: Puerto Princesa Hotel Prices and Guatemala City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Princesa $46
    Guatemala City $6.28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Princesa

Also for Puerto Princesa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shared Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $7.11
  • Transfers to/from Port Barton: $14
  • Puerto Princesa:El Nido – Shared Van Transfer: $14
  • One-Way Transfer To/From El Nido: $16
  • Shared Transfer Puerto Princesa/Port Barton: $17
  • Transfer to/from Puerto Princesa and El Nido: $17
  • Transfer between Puerto Princesa and El Nido: $18
  • Private Airport Transfers to/from hotel: $21
  • Relaxing Massage with optional transfers: $23
  • Puerto Princesa City Van Transfers: $23
  • Honda Bay Island: Island Tour with Lunch & Transfer: $52
  • Private for your group - transfers Puerto princesa to elnido: $100

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Transfer from La Aurora airport to Antigua Guatemala.: $80
  • Transfer Private Group Airport to Antigua or Viceversa: $120
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $30
  • San Salvadorz: Convenient bus transfer from/to Guatemala: $41
  • Private transfer from La Aurora Airport to Panajachel: $78
  • Private transfer from Airport to Panajachel: $78
  • Private transfer - San Pedro la Laguna to Guatemala City: $200
  • Private and Exclusive Transfer from Airport to Panajachel: $210
  • Private Transfers from Guatemala city to Panajachel: $200
  • Private Transfer: Guatemala City ⇄ Antigua – One-Way: $40
  • Private Transfer: Guatemala City Airpot(GUA) to Antigua Guatemala: $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Princesa or Guatemala City?

Prices for flights to both Guatemala City and Puerto Princesa 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
    Puerto Princesa $31
    Guatemala City $27

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Princesa

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

  • Firefly Watching Paddle Boat Tour & Dinner: $27
  • Jungle Firefly Watching Boat Tour & Dinner: $32
  • Firefly Watching Bay Cruise with Dinner: $34
  • Firefly Watching with Dinner: $39
  • Firefly Watching Tour with Dinner: $53
  • Seafood Lunch or Dinner with transfers: $59
  • Underground River with Dinner at Kalui: $80
  • Underground River and Firefly Watching with Dinner: $87
  • Balayong People's Park with Dinner and Show: $116

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

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

  • Cooking Experience in Guatemala from Market to Table: $23
  • Guatemala: Wine and Pizza Tasting Experience: $35
  • Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $80
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • Food Tour Zona 4: Dinner Date Experience: $125
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza with Great Volcano Views: $205
  • Pacaya Volcano. Tour and pizza making on Volcanic Heat: $275
  • Puerto Quetzal: Private Tour Pacaya Volcano 4x4 and Pizza: $550

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Princesa $6.16
    Guatemala City $1.23

Tours and Activities in Puerto Princesa

For Puerto Princesa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • PPS CITY TOUR: $13
  • Puerto Princesa; Half day City tour: $13
  • Puerto Princesa City Tour with Snacks: $14
  • Cathedral and Baker's Hill Tour: $14
  • Half-Day City Tour with Optional Massage: $14
  • Half Day City Tour with Butterfly Garden: $14
  • Half-day Puerto Princesa City Tour: $15
  • City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan (hotel & cruiseship pick up): $20
  • 2in1 City tour + museum & transportation from cruise port /hotel: $25
  • Puerto Princesa 2in1 City Tour with Museum sightseeing excursion: $25
  • Puerto Princesa Half Day City Tour (shared tour): $27
  • Shared Half City Tour with SPA: $30

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

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

  • 1 Day Lake Atitlan Tour from Guatemala City: $150
  • 2-Day Tour: Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlan and Hobbitenango: $299
  • 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $199
  • 3 Days Tour in Acatenango Volcano: $265
  • 3-Day Antigua Guatemala and Pacaya Volcano Adventure: $256
  • 3-Hour Bike Tour Guatemala City: $60
  • Antigua + Guatemala City Full Day Tour - History Lovers Favorite: $245
  • Antigua City Tour Full Day From Guatemala City: $60
  • Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $89
  • Antigua Guatemala Cultural Tour History and Gastronomy: $85
  • Antigua Guatemala Express Half Day Colonial Charm Tour: $45
  • Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Tour from Guatemala City: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Princesa $13
    Guatemala City $6.97

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 Puerto Princesa and Guatemala City, we can see that Puerto Princesa is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa Expensive? and Is Guatemala City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Puerto Princesa or Guatemala City?

Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Puerto Princesa. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Princesa 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.