A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Roatan vs. Rosario for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Roatan or Rosario?

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 Rosario. 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 Rosario?

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.

Rosario

Rosario is the third largest city in Argentina. Located at the Parana river and known for its rich architectural heritage and beautiful riverside scenery, Rosario is the birthplace of the Argentinian flag as well as two of the nation's most famous icons, Che Guevara and Lionel Messi. Rosario is still an important river port but has done a great job of regenerating its center, which now has a vibrant cultural and night life. The abandoned buildings of the long riverbank have been converted into galleries, restaurants, skateparks and river beaches, which buzz with life in summer. Dynamic and confident without being showy, culturally rich and the best urban location to cool off in the boiling summers, Rosario is easily overlooked but not to be missed.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Rosario or Roatan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $38, while the average daily cost in Rosario is $9.05. 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 Rosario in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Roatan $11
    Rosario $3.11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Roatan $22
    Rosario $6.22
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Rosario

Looking for a hotel in Roatan or Rosario? 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.

Hotels in Roatan


Hotels in Rosario


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 Rosario Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Roatan $19
    Rosario $2.66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    $4.26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:

  • 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
  • Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $142
  • Horseback Riding, Beach with Palapa and Transfer: $130
  • East Sightseeing, Mangrove Tunnel Snorkel, Hole in the Wall, with Transfer: $130
  • Parasailing adventure with round trip transfers included: $130
  • 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
  • Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $99

Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or Rosario?

Prices for flights to both Rosario 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Roatan $9.43
    Rosario $3.84

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.

  • Tiki Boat Sunset Cruise in Roatan with Snorkeling and Dinner : $100
  • Cooking classes from a Local!: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Roatan $27
    Rosario $3.08

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
  • Shore Excursion: Zip & Dip Adventure: $69
  • Sloths Sanctuary/Monkeys Play + Dune Buggy/ATV Adventure & Private Beach Resort: $139
  • 2 Hour Zip Lining Private Tour in Mahogany Bay: $65
  • 4-Hour East Side Roatan Private Guided Tour with Canoe Ride: $120
  • ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $110
  • Adventures of Roatan ATV Pineapple beach break: $120
  • Animal Sightings and Walking Tour at Gumbalimba Park with Addons: $90
  • Atv Island Tour: $85
  • Cruise Excursion – 2 Scuba Dives with transport (for certified divers): $175
  • Cruise Ship Family Sloth & Monkeys, West Tour, Beach plus Private Vehicle: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Roatan $7.07
    Rosario $1.77

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 Rosario, we can see that Roatan is more expensive. And not only is Rosario much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Roatan is in Central America and Rosario is in South 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 Rosario would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rosario 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 Roatan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Roatan than you might in Rosario.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Roatan Expensive? and Is Rosario Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Roatan or Rosario?

Rosario has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Roatan and Rosario, 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.