Which place is cheaper, Roatan 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.
Jump to 
Should you visit Punta Cana or Roatan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana or Roatan? 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 Roatan?
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.
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
-
Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $170Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $170, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $95Roatan $11
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $190Roatan $22
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana or Roatan? 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 Roatan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.39Roatan $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- Private Transfers Punta Cana Airport and Cap Cana Hotels: $6.00
- Private Transfers Punta Cana Airport & Hotels in Uvero Alto: $6.00
- One Way Shared Transfer from Punta Cana : $9.34
- Private Transfers from Punta Cana : $13
- Private Punta Cana Airport Ground Transfers: $14
- Transfer From Airport To Destination In Punta Cana: $14
- Private Punta Cana Airport Transfers & Hotels : $14
- Affordable Punta Cana Airport Transfers, Taxis and Shuttles: $15
- Private Round-Trip Airport Transfer from Punta Cana Airport (PUJ): $15
- Private Transfers From Punta Cana Airport to Punta Cana Hotels: $15
- Private Punta Cana Airport Round Trip Transfer to Punta Cana Hotels: $15
- Round trip Transfer from Punta Cana Airport To hotels in Dominican Republic: $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
-
Water Taxi$4.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 dayPunta Cana $64Roatan $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- Origen Tasting Adventure Dinner or Lunch of 8 Courses Dom Cuisine: $85
- Taste of DR Street Food Tour: $125
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $130
- Punta Cana Night Tour Polaris Ride Dinner Music and Open Bar: $169
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $30Roatan $26
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$51
Tours and Activities in Punta Cana
Here are a few actual costs in Punta Cana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Pickup: $4.80
- Shopping Tour in Punta Cana with Round Trip Transportation: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour - Rum tasting, chocolate factory, Cigar factory: $5.00
- Tour de Compras: Chocolate, Café y Artesanías en Punta Cana.: $5.00
- Shopping Tour In Don Lucas Cigar Factory, Rum tasting, Cocoa factory, Souvenirs : $5.00
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Free Pickup: $6.00
- Tour of Souvenirs, Shopping in Punta Cana with Transportation Included: $10
- Punta Cana Shopping Tour : $15
- Punta Cana Shopping Tour with Transportation: $15
- ATV Buggy Adventure in Punta Cana with Cultural Experience: $24
- ATV Buggy Adventure to Macao Beach and Blue Water Cave: $25
- ATV & Buggy adventure in Punta Cana + Water Cave + Macao Beach: $25
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Monkeys and sloths, private tour , and beach: $89
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $10Roatan $6.64
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Cana and Roatan, we can see that Punta Cana is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Cana is in Caribbean Islands and Roatan 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
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 Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Cana or Roatan?
Punta Cana has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Punta Cana and Roatan, 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.