Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Punta del Este?
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 del Este or Antigua Guatemala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este or Antigua Guatemala, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Punta del Este or Antigua Guatemala?
Punta del Este
Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.
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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.
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Punta del Este Prices
Uruguay PricesAntigua Guatemala Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta del Este $115Antigua Guatemala $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $115, 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 del Este and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta del Este $52Antigua Guatemala $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta del Este $104Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Punta del Este and Antigua Guatemala
Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este 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.
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 del Este Hotel Prices and Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta del Este $21Antigua Guatemala $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport MVD: $268
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Montevideo hotels: $268
- Bodega Garzon Wine Experience with Private Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Special Art Icons Tour: $185
- Private Transfer from Montevideo to Punta Del Este Cruise Port: $163
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Cruise Port to Montevideo: $163
- Private Transfer - Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Punta Del Este Port: $113
- Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Antigua: One way private transfer to Panajachel: $194
- Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Semuc Champey or Coban: $182
- Private Transfer from Antigua to Semuc Champey Lanquin: $145
- Private transfer from Antigua to La Aurora Airport: $90
- Private Transfer from the Airport to Antigua: $90
- Private Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $90
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Santa Catarina Palopó: $88
- From Antigua: Transfer to Guatemala City: $85
- Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Monterrico Beach: $85
- One way shared transfer to Flores, Peten: $79
- Private Transfer One Way Antigua Guatemala to El Paredon Beach: $75
- Private Transfer:Antigua GuatemalaLake Atitlán(Any Town)OneWay: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or Antigua Guatemala?
Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Punta del Este 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 del Este $50Antigua Guatemala $25
Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:
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Lunch$3.27
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Lunch$7.86
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
- Antigua Guatemalan Authentic Cooking Class Chef David Farfan: $38
- Antigua: Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Classes — Casa San Miguel.: $38
- Antigua: Traditional cooking lesson with a Guatemalan family: $48
- Cooking class and market tour/Pepian Workshop: $50
- Antigua: Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family: $60
- Private Street Food Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $65
- Antigua Street Food Tour: $65
- Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
- Antigua: Cooking Class With Wine, Transfer & Vegan Option: $72
- Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $75
- Cooking Classes and Jade Workshops: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta del Este $10Antigua Guatemala $15
Tours and Activities in Punta del Este
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
- Best private Have It Your Way Tour in Punta Del Este.: $290
- Candelaria Church and Punta del Este Old Town Private Tour: $122
- Discovering Half-Day City Tour: $47
- From Montevideo: Punta del Este Full-Day City Tour: $62
- Full Experience Tasting Menu Viña Edén: $165
- Guided Tour of Vineyards: $33
- Guided Tour of the Winery Viña Edén: $19
- Half Day Tour in Punta del Este and Jose Ignacio: $170
- Jewish History Punta del Este Old Town Private Walking Tour: $150
- Montevideo: City Tour, Punta del Este, & Colonia Trip: $129
- Montevideo: Punta del Este Full-Day Tour with Hotel Pick-Up: $88
- Museo del Mar Private Guided Tour in Punta del Este: $141
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
- ¡Pacaya Volcano Tour from Antigua!: $100
- 2 - Days : Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $150
- 2-Day Kayak and Hike Adventure Package from Antigua: $219
- 2-Day, 1-Night Tour of Volcano Acatenango from Antigua: $92
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $220
- 4 Hour Colonial Experience in Antigua Guatemala: $32
- 4-Hour Colonial Experience in Antigua Guatemala: $25
- 4WD Acatenango Volcano Tour & Fuego / All Inclusive !: $400
- 4WD experience to Acatenango Volcano/Fuego Volcano from Antigua: $333
- 4x4 Acatenango Volcano and Fuego Vistas 2 Day Shared Tour: $260
- 4x4 tour from Antigua with a night camp in front of the Fuego volcano: $1,300
- ANTIGUA Villages Tour: $103
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta del Este $7.36Antigua Guatemala $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta del Este
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
- Wine Tasting: $42
- Wine Lovers - Fun Wine Tasting outside Punta del Este!: $199
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 del Este and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Punta del Este is more expensive. And not only is Antigua Guatemala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta del Este is in South America 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 del Este would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta del Este 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 del Este Expensive? and Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta del Este or Antigua Guatemala?
Antigua Guatemala has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este 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.
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.