Which place is cheaper, Managua or Roatan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Roatan or Managua?
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 Managua. 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 Managua?
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.
Managua
Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $38Managua $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $38, while the average daily cost in Managua is $55. 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 Managua in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $11Managua $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $22Managua $46
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Managua
Looking for a hotel in Roatan or Managua? 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 Managua Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roatan $19Managua $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$4.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Roatan Island Buggy Adventure plus Transfer: $217
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Snorkeling, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Monkey & Sloth Park, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
- North Side Blue Channel & Starfish Snorkeling, 20min JetSki, Transfer Included: $165
- Parasailing, Beach Break, Chocolate Factory with Transfer: $155
- Horseback Riding, Beach with Palapa and Transfer: $130
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, Hiking, Beach Break plus Transfer Included: $130
- Scuba Dive in the West End of Roatan with Private Transfer: $125
- South Side Horseback Riding, Beach Break & Roundway Transfer: $120
- Roatan Special Catamaran for Cruise Ship Passengers plus Transfer: $113
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $110
- Transfers, Zip Line and Monkey Park: $110
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport private transfer from Managua.: $25
- Managua Augusto Sandino Airport(MGA) to Managua- Arrival Transfer: $33
- Managua to Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) - Departure Transfer: $33
- San Jorge Rivas Transfer: $47
- PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
- Granada: Managua to Granada Airport private transfer: $64
- Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $65
- Rivas: Managua to Rivas Airport private transfer: $75
- Managua-Leon: Airport private transfer from to Managua /Leon: $85
- Transfer From Managua International Airport: $90
- Popoyo Beach Transfer: $90
- Private Transfer in Nicaragua: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or Managua?
Prices for flights to both Managua 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 $9.43Managua $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roatan $27Managua $16
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Mangrove cruise garífuna Culture sightseeing and Lunch : $89
- Shore Excursion: VIP Island City Tour and Drift Snorkel : $60
- Sloths Sanctuary/Monkeys Play + Dune Buggy/ATV Adventure & Private Beach Resort: $139
- 2 Hour Zip Lining Private Tour in Mahogany Bay: $65
- 3 Hours ATV Adventure in Politilly Bight: $85
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkel Experience in Roatan: $50
- 4-Hour East Side Roatan Private Guided Tour with Canoe Ride: $120
- 4-to-5 Hour Cruise Ship Tour, Monkeys/Sloths & West Bay Resort: $48
- 4x4 ATV tour With Lunch : $109
- Adventures of Roatan ATV Pineapple beach break: $120
- Animal Sightings and Walking Tour at Gumbalimba Park with Addons: $90
- Atv Island Tour: $85
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
- Private lava tour-Masaya Volcano from Managua: $49
- Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $53
- Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
- Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
- PRIVATE Laguna de apoyo day pass + masaya volcano lava tour: $70
- Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour" : $75
- PRIVATE Boat ride + Colonial city tour at Granada+Catarina lookout: $80
- PRIVATE Day trip Granada Isletas +Colonial City tour from Managua: $80
- Managua City Tour: $84
- PRIVATE Boat tour + Granada City +Masaya Volcano Night Tour : $85
- full tour Somoto Canyon Nicaragua: $86
- PRIVATE Boat tour+Granada City and Catarina lookout from Managua: $88
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $7.07Managua $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
- 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 Managua, we can see that Managua 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 Managua would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Managua 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 Managua Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Roatan or Managua?
Managua has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Roatan and Managua, 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.