Which place is cheaper, La Ceiba or Roatan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Roatan or La Ceiba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Roatan and La Ceiba. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Roatan or La Ceiba?
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.
La Ceiba
La Ceiba is the third largest city in Honduras, situated on the north Caribbean coast. The city has a population of about a quarter million people. Many people who visit this city do so before heading into Pico Bonito National Park. It hasn't had the best infrastructure for tourists in the past but is developing fast. It is about 200 kilometers from San Pedro Sula, another large city in Honduras.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $38La Ceiba $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $38, while the average daily cost in La Ceiba is $65. 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 Roatan and La Ceiba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $11La Ceiba $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $22La Ceiba $46
Compare Hotels in Roatan and La Ceiba
Looking for a hotel in Roatan or La Ceiba? 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: Roatan Hotel Prices and La Ceiba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roatan $19La Ceiba $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$4.22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
- Roatan Island hotels to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Round trip transfers from airport or ferry to hotel: $40
- AJ's Sloth & Monkeys Family Excursion, City Tour & Private Transfer: $57
- Roatan Private Sloths, Monkeys, Birds Encounters, City Tour and Transfer: $60
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $65
- Mayan Eden Eco Wildlife Park, City Tour & Private Transfer: $67
- Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Honduras -Round-Trip Transfer: $78
- Roatan Private Catamaran Shipwreck, Blue Channel and Starfish with Transfer: $90
- Extreme Zipline, City Tour, Chocolate, Rum Factory, Beach Break, Transfer: $91
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Ceiba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Ceiba:
- Ferry Transfer between La Ceiba and Roatán Island: $43
- Private Transfer from Goloson Airport (LCE) to Banana Coast Port: $81
- Private Transfer from La Ceiba hotels to Banana Coast Cruise Port: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or La Ceiba?
Prices for flights to both La Ceiba and Roatan 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 dayRoatan $9.33La Ceiba $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Private Roundtrip Transfer to West End for Dinner and Nightlife : $70
- Catamaran Tiki Boat Sunset Snorkeling Dinner Cruise in Roatan: $127
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $210
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roatan $27La Ceiba $22
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Organized trips and adventures: $26
- Roatan Fun Bus Group Sightseeing Island Private Tour: $37
- Roatan Night Snorkel Adventure: $40
- 1 Stop Snorkel Adventure with Beach Break: $40
- Private Tour in Roatan with Pick Up: $44
- Roatan Chocolate Factory Rum Factory and Beach Day Tour: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
- Shore Excursion: Private Half-Day Sightseen Tour and Beach: $45
- Make your day, Your way Roatan city freestyle tour: $49
- Goodman's Island Style Roatan Highlights Tour: $50
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkel Experience in Roatan: $50
- Roatan : Private Customizeble Tour with Driver & Guide: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $7.00La Ceiba $5.11
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Roatan and La Ceiba, we can see that La Ceiba is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 La Ceiba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Ceiba 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 Roatan Expensive? and Is La Ceiba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Roatan or La Ceiba?
La Ceiba has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Roatan and La Ceiba, 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.