Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City 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.
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Should you visit Punta Cana or Guatemala City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana or Guatemala 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: Punta Cana or Guatemala City?
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.
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 Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, and The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala.
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Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesGuatemala City Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $181Guatemala City $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $181, 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 Punta Cana and Guatemala City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $101Guatemala City $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $202Guatemala City $50
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and Guatemala City
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana 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.
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 Guatemala City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.80Guatemala City $6.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- Affordable Private SUBURBAN Transfer from Punta Cana Airport: $6.50
- Budget Punta Cana Airport Transfers-Cap Cana, Bavaro, Uvero Alto: $6.50
- Private Transfers Punta Cana Airport and Cap Cana Hotels: $8.00
- Private Transfers Punta Cana Airport & Hotels in Uvero Alto: $8.00
- PRiVATE TRANSFERS FROM PUNTACANA AIRPORT TO HOTELS -FAST SERVICE: $8.00
- Private Transfers from Punta Cana Airport to Cap Cana: $8.00
- PRiVATE TRANSFERS FROM PUNTA CANA AIRPORT TO HOTELS -FAST SERVICE: $9.00
- PRiVATE TRANSFERS FROM PUNTA CANA AIRPORT TO HOTELS -FAST SERVICE: $10
- PRiVATE TRANSFERS FROM PUNTA CANA AIRPORT TO HOTELS -FAST SERVICE: $10
- PRiVATE TRANSFERS FROM PUNTA CANA AIRPORT TO HOTELS -FAST SERVICE: $11
- Private Punta Cana Airport Transfers Hotels in Dominican Republic: $13
- PRiVATE TRANSFERS FROM PUNTA CANA AIRPORT TO HOTELS -FAST SERVICE: $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Airport Transfer for Large Groups – Private Bus: $195
- From Guatemala City One way shared transfer to Semuc Champey: $49
- From One way shared transfer to El Paredon: $59
- Guatemala Airport (GUA) to San Felipe de Lara - Arrival Transfer: $185
- Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
- One way Shared Transfer to Antigua: $24
- One way private transfer to Antigua: $69
- One way shared transfer to Panajachel: $44
- Private Museums Tour with Transfers: $225
- La Aurora Airport (GUA): One-Way Private Transfer to Antigua: $32
- PRIVATE TRANSFER From Airport/Guate City to ANTIGUA or Vice-versa: $40
- Private Airport Transfer from Guatemala to La Aurora airport: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or Guatemala City?
Prices for flights to both Guatemala City 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
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Food Meals for one dayPunta Cana $68Guatemala City $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- Half Day Punta Cana Food Tour Including Transportation: $35
- Origen Tasting Adventure Dinner or Lunch of 8 Courses Dom Cuisine: $85
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride and Taino Party with Dinner: $139
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $145
- Dinner in the Sky Experience in Punta Cana: $149
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride and Taino Party with Dinner: $230
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Guatemala: Wine and Pizza Tasting Experience: $35
- Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $80
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $195
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza with Great Volcano Views: $205
- Puerto Quetzal: Private Tour Pacaya Volcano 4x4 and Pizza: $550
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $32Guatemala City $1.23
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:
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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:
- Guided Shopping Tour - Rum tasting, chocolate factory, Cigar factory: $5.00
- Tour de Compras: Chocolate, Café y Artesanías en Punta Cana.: $5.00
- Guided Tour to Don Lucas Cigars Factory and Souvenirs Store: $5.00
- Santo Domingo: Panoramic tour to Punta Cana with Buggy Ride: $5.00
- Shopping Tour in Punta Cana with Round Trip Transportation: $5.00
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Pickup: $6.00
- Guided Shopping Tour to Bella Mare Store (Cigars, Chocolate, Rum and Souvenirs): $6.00
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Free Pickup: $6.00
- Souvenir Shopping Tour in Punta Cana Pickup Included: $9.00
- Shopping tour Punta Cana rum cigars coffee larimar chocolate souvenirs mamajuan: $10
- Shopping Tour Local Crafts and Cultural Tastings: $15
- Punta Cana Jungle Buggy Tour: Macao Beach Visit and Cenote Swim: $17
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- Historic Center Walking Tour; Art and History: $27
- Volcano-Grown Coffee Tasting Experience: $28
- Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $32
- Half-Day Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $34
- Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City: $35
- Walking Tour: $35
- Walking Tour of Guatemala City's Historical Center: $35
- Guatemala city walking tour only weekends. 2 persons and up: $39
- Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $40
- City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
- Heart of Guided with a local Tour Guide: $50
- Heart of Guatemala City Tour with Local Guide: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $11Guatemala City $6.96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Cana and Guatemala City, we can see that Punta Cana is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Cana is in Caribbean Islands 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 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 Guatemala City.
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 Guatemala City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Cana or Guatemala City?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Punta Cana. When comparing the sizes of Punta Cana 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.
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.