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

Should you visit Roatan or Washington?

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 Washington. 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 Washington?

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.

Washington

Washington, DC is the capital city of the United States of America. It is also a city rich in history and culture. The city dates back to 1791 when the states of Maryland and Virginia donated the land to create the capital. In 1846, Congress returned the land that was ceded by Virginia and in 1871 it created a single municipal government with the remaining area. Today, Washington, DC has a population of over 600,000 people. The metropolitan area includes suburbs in Maryland and Virginia and has a population of about 5.8 million.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Washington or Roatan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Roatan Prices
    Honduras Prices
    Washington Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Roatan $42
    Washington $226

The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $42, while the average daily cost in Washington is $226. 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 Washington in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Roatan $11
    Washington $113
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Roatan $22
    Washington $226
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Washington

Looking for a hotel in Roatan or Washington? 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 Washington


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 Washington Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Roatan $18
    Washington $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan

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


  • Water Taxi
    $4.00

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Washington

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


  • Metro Day Pass
    $9.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Washington

Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • DCA Airport Private Transfer to Washington D.C.: $37
  • Private Transfer Washington Airport DCA to Washington DC Hotels: $42
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Washington Reagan Airport DCA: $48
  • Private Departure Transfer to Washington Reagan Airport DCA: $48
  • Airport Transfer from Ronald Reagan Airport DCA ⇄ Washington DC: $65
  • Washington R. Reagan Airport (DCA) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer: $67
  • Washington to Washington R. Reagan Airport (DCA) - Departure Private Transfer: $67
  • Washington DC: One Way Airport Transfer Service: $80
  • Washington to Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) - Departure Private Transfer: $84
  • Transfer Dulles Airport (IAD) to Washington City Center: $88
  • Transfer Washington City Center to Dulles Airport (IAD): $89
  • Washington to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) - Departure Private Transfer: $89

Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or Washington?

Prices for flights to both Washington 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 $15
    Washington $66

Typical Food Prices in Washington

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:


  • Water
    $2.00
  • Snacks on Monuments Tour
    $6.15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Washington

For Washington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • DC: City Cruises Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $60
  • DC: City Cruises Gourmet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $71
  • Little Ethiopia Food Tour: $71
  • Adams Morgan Food Tour: $78
  • Dupont Circle Food Tour: $84
  • Washington D.C: Acquired Taste Food Tour in Georgetown: $95
  • DC: Eastern Market Eats Food Tour (5 Food Stops + Dessert): $99
  • Washington D.C.: Georgetown Guided Secret Food Tour: $104
  • City Cruises Washington DC: Signature Dinner Cruise: $121
  • City Cruises Washington DC: Premier Dinner Cruise: $127
  • Eastern Market Neighborhood Food Tour (5 Food Stops + Dessert): $129
  • Washington D.C.: Taste of Georgetown Walking Food Tour: $129

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Roatan $26
    Washington $24

Tours and Activities in Roatan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:

  • Monkeys and sloths, private tour , and beach: $89

Tours and Activities in Washington

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.

  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Washington: $6.00
  • The Kennedy Homes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Washington DC Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
  • Georgetown's Famous Ghosts Smartphone Guided Haunted Walking Tour: $9.75
  • Reflections on a Nation Self-Guided National Mall Highlights Tour: $9.99
  • Washington DC Mall Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $12
  • National Mall Democracy Quest Experience in Washington DC: $12
  • Washington DC Audio Tour: Washington, D.C. Audio Tour Adventure: $15
  • DC - Historical: At your leisure and your pace. Downloadable audiovisual tour.: $15
  • Washington DC Monuments Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
  • City Cruises DC: Water Taxi from Wharf or Old Town Alexandria: $20
  • Washington D.C.: Washington Wizards Basketball Game Ticket: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Roatan $6.64
    Washington $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Washington

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:

  • Epic Washington DC Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
  • Washington DC: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
  • DC Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl By US Ghost Adventures: $36
  • Washington, D.C.: History Tour Pub Crawl: $56
  • DC Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
  • DC: Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $105


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Roatan and Washington, we can see that Washington is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Roatan is in Central America and Washington is in North 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 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 Washington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Washington 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 Washington Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Roatan or Washington?

Washington has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Roatan and Washington, 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.