Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Roatan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Roatan or San Juan del Sur?
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 San Juan del Sur. 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 San Juan del Sur?
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.
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $38San Juan del Sur $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $38, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $53. 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 San Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $11San Juan del Sur $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $22San Juan del Sur $42
Compare Hotels in Roatan and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in Roatan or San Juan del Sur? 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 San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roatan $19San Juan del Sur $18
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:
- Chocolate Factory, Rum Factory, Markets, Island Tour, Private Transfer: $50
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $110
- East Sightseeing, Mangrove Tunnel Snorkel, Hole in the Wall, with Transfer: $130
- Extreme Zipline, City Tour, Chocolate, Rum Factory, Beach Break, Transfer: $91
- Ground transfers and ticket ferry to Utila or La Ceiba: $80
- Horseback Riding, Beach with Palapa and Transfer: $130
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $65
- Mayan Eden Eco Wildlife Park, City Tour & Private Transfer: $67
- North Side Blue Channel & Starfish Snorkeling, 20min JetSki, Transfer Included: $165
- Parasailing adventure with round trip transfers included: $130
- Parasailing, Beach Break, Chocolate Factory with Transfer: $155
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $141
Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur 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 $9.43San Juan del Sur $18
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 $27San Juan del Sur $15
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Shore Excursion: Roatan VIP Customizable Island Tour: $35
- Roatan Private Snorkeling Experience with Pick Up: $35
- Roatan Fun Bus Group Sightseeing Island Private Tour: $37
- Eco-Walk Nature Tour: $41
- Shore Excursion: Private Half-Day Sightseen Tour and Beach: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
- Roatan Chocolate Factory Rum Factory and Beach Day Tour: $45
- Monkeys & sloth hangout,Chocolate Factory,Rum Factory, island tour/Beach : $49
- Monkeys and Sloth Hang Out with Island Tour in Roatan: $49
- Goodman's Island Style Roatan Highlights Tour: $50
- Roatan City Tour-Viewpoints, Landmarks, Chocolate and Rum Tasting: $50
- Good Samaritan Tour: $51
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $7.07San Juan del Sur $13
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 San Juan del Sur, we can see that San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Roatan or San Juan del Sur?
San Juan del Sur has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Roatan and San Juan del Sur, 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.