Which place is cheaper, San Pedro La Laguna 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 San Pedro La Laguna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana or San Pedro La Laguna? 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 San Pedro La Laguna?
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.
San Pedro La Laguna
Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.
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 Guatemala, and The Best Eco Tours in Guatemala.
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Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSan Pedro La Laguna Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $181San Pedro La Laguna $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $181, while the average daily cost in San Pedro La Laguna is $45. 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 San Pedro La Laguna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $101San Pedro La Laguna $8.39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $202San Pedro La Laguna $17
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and San Pedro La Laguna
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana or San Pedro La Laguna? 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 San Pedro La Laguna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.79San Pedro La Laguna $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- private transfer standard and premium punta cana airport to puerto plata: $265
- private transfer standard and premium airport punta cana to hotels pta cana: $25
- YC VIP Transfers: $50
- Vip Private Transfer to Punta Cana from Santo Domingo: $153
- VIP Transfers PUJ Airport to Bavaro and Punta Cana Hotels: $65
- VIP Transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Punta Cana / Bavaro Hotel: $67
- VIP Transfer Santo Domingo Las Americas Airport to Punta Cana: $153
- VIP Transfer Punta Cana Airport to Punta Cana & Bavaro Hotels (Not Uvero Alto): $70
- VIP Suburban Transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Bavaro Hotels: $130
- VIP SUV Suburbans Transfer Punta Cana Airport & Hotels: $48
- VIP SUV Airport Transfer From or To Uvero Alto: $45
- VIP Private Transfers from Punta Cana Airport to Uvero Alto: $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro La Laguna
Also for San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private One Way Transfer Lake Atitlán to Antigua Guatemala: $74
- Private Transfer from Lake Atitlán to Guatemala Airport (GUA): $96
- Private transfer from Panajachel to Airport or Capital city: $78
- Private transfer from Panajachel to Antigua Guatemala: $75
- Shared Transfer from Panajachel Atitlan to Guatemala City: $50
- Transfer from SanPedro Lago de Atitlan and airport Guatemala: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or San Pedro La Laguna?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro La Laguna 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 $68San Pedro La Laguna $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $139
- 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
- Night Buggy Tour with Cenote Swim & Dinner Combo: $190
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $294
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lemonade$2.10
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Cake$1.31
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Ice cream$0.39
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Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread$3.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $60
- Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $32San Pedro La Laguna $22
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:
- 3 ADVENTURES: Sailing Catamaran Cruise - Hooka Diving - Snorkeling: $105
- 3 Hour Punta Cana Outdoor Adventure: $65
- 3 Hours Half Day Tour Buggy Macao Beach cenote Hotel Pickup: $34
- 3 Hours Panoramic Tour in Punta Cana with Artisan Market: $35
- 3-Day Ultimate Dominican Adventure: Nature, Culture & History: $190
- 3-Hour Extreme Buggy Tour of Punta Cana: $45
- 4 Hour ATV and Horseback Adventure in Punta Cana: $125
- 4 Hour Buggys Adventure Tour in Punta Cana: $50
- 4 Hour Punta Cana Fishing Tour: $97
- 4 Hour Speed Experience in Punta Cana: $80
- 4 Hours Tour in Round Mountain and Macao Beach From Uvero Alto: $150
- 4-Hour ATV and Horseback Adventure from Bávaro: $100
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Canopy Tour (for 2)$39
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Kayaking (for 2)$1.97
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Coffee Tour (for 2)$7.08
Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
- San Juan La Laguna Magic Town Walking Tour: $28
- Indian Nose Tour Maya Face at Sunrise: $30
- Tour of San Juan Lake Atitlan: $30
- San Juan and San Pedro Tour: The Heart of Mayan Art in Atitlán: $30
- Tour in the Atitlan Nature Reserve: $33
- Coffee, Chocolate and Textile Tour in Lake Atitlan: $35
- Coffee Walk Tour in San Juan La Laguna: $35
- La Nose of the Indian Mountain Tour: $36
- Lake Atitlan Guided Tour by Boat from Panajachel: $40
- Sunrise Tour in Indian Nose Hike and Views of Lake Atitlan: $40
- Tour Golden Dawn Indian nose: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $11San Pedro La Laguna $5.69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Cana and San Pedro La Laguna, we can see that Punta Cana is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Cana is in Caribbean Islands and San Pedro La Laguna 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 San Pedro La Laguna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro La Laguna 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 San Pedro La Laguna.
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 San Pedro La Laguna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Cana or San Pedro La Laguna?
Punta Cana has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of Punta Cana and San Pedro La Laguna, 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.