A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Punta Cana vs. Antigua Guatemala for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Punta Cana or Antigua Guatemala?

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

Should I visit Punta Cana 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: Punta Cana or Antigua Guatemala?

Punta Cana

Punta Cana, located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is renowned for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant culture. This Caribbean paradise offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to all types of travelers, whether you're on a tight budget, seeking thrilling activities, exploring local cuisine, or figuring out the best ways to get around.

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 Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Punta Cana?

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 Punta Cana is $181, 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 Punta Cana and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Punta Cana $101
    Antigua Guatemala $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Punta Cana $202
    Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and Antigua Guatemala

Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana 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.

Hotels in Punta Cana


Hotels in Antigua Guatemala


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: Punta Cana Hotel Prices and Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Punta Cana $6.80
    Antigua Guatemala $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:

  • El Dorado Water Park Entry Ticket with Transfer: $400
  • Coco Bongo Nightclub VIP Entry & Transfers: $400
  • Private Transfer from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo: $270
  • La Romana port transfers (combined transfers: airport-hotel-port): $266
  • private transfer standard and premium punta cana airport to puerto plata: $265
  • Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) to Santo Domingo - Round-Trip Transfer: $253
  • Private Round Trip Punta Cana Airport to Uvero Alto Villa/Hotel Transfer: $250
  • Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Las Terrenas Arrival Private Transfer: $249
  • 1 Hour Beach Photoshoot in Punta Cana with Round Trip Transfer: $240
  • Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) to Santo Domingo hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $239
  • Private VIP SUV Transfer – PUJ Airport to/from Miches Hotels: $235
  • Tesla Transfer from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo: $235

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala

Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $30
  • Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Monterrico Beach: $85
  • Private Transfer From Antigua Guatemala to La Aurora Airport: $29
  • Private Transfer From Antigua to Guatemala City / Airport: $30
  • Private Transfer One Way Antigua Guatemala to El Paredon Beach: $75
  • Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Airport: $27
  • Private Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $70
  • Private Transfers in Guatemala: $39
  • Shared Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel (Atitlan): $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or Antigua Guatemala?

Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Punta Cana 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
    Punta Cana $68
    Antigua Guatemala $25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.

  • 3hr Punta Cana Cooking Class: Mofonguitos & Morir Soñando: $85
  • 'Chillo al Coco' Cooking Class & Taino Concept store: $98
  • ATV or Buggy Tour with Swim & Cooking Class: $99
  • "PRIVATE"- Wild Dominican Sancocho Cooking Adventure!: $99
  • Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $108
  • Punta Cana Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $118
  • Unique Night Tour, Cenote Swim, & Dinner: $122
  • Punta Cana Buggy Ride and Taino Party with Dinner: $139
  • Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $145
  • Private: Nighttime Buggy Ride with Dinner & Open: $145
  • Dinner in the Sky Experience in Punta Cana: $149
  • Night Adventure – Waterfall Pool, Polaris Ride, Surf & Turf Dinner with Drinks: $169

Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:


  • Lunch
    $3.28
  • Lunch
    $7.87

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
  • Cooking class and market tour/Pepian Workshop: $50
  • Private Street Food Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $65
  • Cooking Class With Local Family: $70
  • Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
  • Guatemalan Mayan Cooking Workshop: $75
  • Local Street Food Tour of Antigua: $75
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class & Market Tour: $85
  • Make your own Mayan Pepian - Cooking class: $89
  • Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua: $90
  • Market food tour and tortilla workshop: $90
  • Foodie & Street Food Tour in Antigua: $95

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Punta Cana $32
    Antigua Guatemala $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Punta Cana

Here are a few typical costs in Punta Cana for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Dune Buggy Adventure
    $54

Tours and Activities in Punta Cana

Here are a few actual costs in Punta Cana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • "Saona Expedition: 4 Beaches Tour from Punta Cana": $100
  • 3 ADVENTURES: Sailing Catamaran Cruise - Hooka Diving - Snorkeling: $105
  • 3 Hours Half Day Tour Buggy Macao Beach cenote Hotel Pickup: $34
  • 3 Hours Panoramic Tour in Punta Cana with Artisan Market: $35
  • 3-Hour Punta Cana Party Boat & Catamaran Cruise: $48
  • 3-in-1 Activity-Buggy-Horse-Zipline-City Tours-Macao Beach: $85
  • 4 Hour Punta Cana Fishing Tour: $97
  • 4 Wheel Adventure Beach and River Ride with Lunch: $135
  • 4 hour deep sea fishing experience from punta cana: $100
  • 4-Hour ATV and Horseback Adventure in Uvero Alto: $130
  • 4-Hour Glass Bottom Boat Experience in Punta Cana: $90
  • 4x4 ATV Tour: Cave Swim & Cultural Experience: $31

Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.

  • Signature Lattes Tasting Experience in Antigua for Coffee Lovers: $13
  • Express tour in Antigua: $20
  • Antigua Walking Tour: $24
  • Antigua Sightseeing: Private Walking Tour Culture and History: $24
  • Antigua Guatemala Walking Tour History Architecture & Facades: $25
  • Walking tour Jewels of Antigua : A Tour of the Unmissable: $25
  • Colonial Antigua Afternoon Walking Tour: $25
  • Antigua Walking Tour Morning and Afternoon: $27
  • Coffee Tasting- Mayan Experience: $28
  • Antigua Guatemala Walking Group Tour: $30
  • Antigua Guatemala Walking Tour History Culture and Architecture: $30
  • Coffee Tour Adventure Antigua Guatemala: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Punta Cana $11
    Antigua Guatemala $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Punta Cana

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

  • Bar Crawl in Punta Cana: $35

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


Which is Bigger, Punta Cana or Antigua Guatemala?

Punta Cana has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Antigua Guatemala. When comparing the sizes of Punta Cana 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.