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

Should you visit Salvador or Roatan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salvador or Roatan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Salvador or Roatan?

Salvador

Salvador de Bahia was the first capital of Brazil, founded by the Portuguese in 1549. Also known as "Brazil's capital of happiness," Salvador is famous for its plentiful and spirited street festivals. The third most populous city in Brazil, Salvador is also well-known for its Afro-Brazilian culture and Portuguese colonial architecture.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.


Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Salvador?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Salvador is $55, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Salvador and Roatan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Salvador $25
    Roatan $10
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Salvador $50
    Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in Salvador and Roatan

Looking for a hotel in Salvador or Roatan? 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 Salvador


Hotels in Roatan


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: Salvador Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Salvador $6.20
    Roatan $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Salvador

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Salvador:


  • Bus from Airport
    $1.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salvador

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salvador:

  • Arrival or Departure Shared Transfer from Airport to hotels in Salvador: $15
  • Private Transfer from Salvador de Bahia Airport (SSA): $17
  • Private Transfer to Salvador de Bahia Airport (SSA): $17
  • Private Transfer and City Tour in Salvador.: $19
  • Shared Transfer - North Coast: $25
  • Salvador Airport Transfer to Salvador City Hotels: $26
  • Transfer Hotel in Salvador / Salvador Airport: $27
  • Transfer Salvador Airport / Hotel in Salvador: $27
  • Roundtrip Private Transfer from Salvador de Bahia airport (SSA): $33
  • Transfer Salvador Airport / Hotel Litoral Norte: $34
  • Salvador Airport (SSA) to Salvador - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
  • Private Transfer Salvador: $38

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan

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


  • Water Taxi
    $3.91

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:

  • Airport, Hotel or Cruise Port, Ferry Roatan Private Transfer: $35
  • Catch a ride to West Bay & back to Port, Hotel, or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $75
  • Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $60
  • Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $150
  • Extreme Zipline, City Tour, Chocolate, Rum Factory, Beach Break, Transfer: $105
  • King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $80
  • Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $59
  • Parasailing, Beach Break, Chocolate Factory with Transfer: $150
  • Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $95
  • Roatan Private Catamaran Shipwreck, Blue Channel and Starfish with Transfer: $79
  • Roatan West Bay Beach Break with Roundtrip Transfer: $65
  • Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $55

Is it cheaper to fly into Salvador or Roatan?

Prices for flights to both Roatan and Salvador 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
    Salvador $23
    Roatan $15
Typical Food Prices in Salvador

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Salvador:


  • Dinner for 2
    $1.41

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salvador

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

  • Eat and drink before you fly: Cooking class near Salvador airport: $50
  • Enjoy before flying: Cooking class near Salvador airport: $50
  • Cooking class in Salvador, fun hands on experience with caips: $63
  • 4h Cooking Class in Salvador with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $65
  • 4h Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $68
  • Savour Salvador Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $75
  • Traditional Moqueca Cooking Class: $75
  • Bahia Bites Salvador Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $79
  • Bahia Bites Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $80
  • Brazilian Cooking Class with Unlimited Caipirinhas: $89
  • Folk Show - Bahia Night (Dinner Included) by Salvador Receptivo: $105
  • Salvador by Night: Cultural Show and Dinner: $124

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan

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

  • Roatan Cooking Class and Cultural Experience: $125

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Salvador $5.85
    Roatan $25

Tours and Activities in Salvador

Here are a few actual costs in Salvador for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Salvador Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.74
  • Self-Guided Podcast Tour Guardians of the Bay: $5.45
  • City Tour Salvador Panoramic: $19
  • Historic City Tour - Half Day in Salvador: $19
  • City Tour Salvador Historica: $19
  • City Tour in Salvador - Half Day: $19
  • Authentic Bars Tour in Santo Antônio Beyond the Carmo!: $19
  • Beyond a Night Tour: An Autentic Bar Experience in Salvador: $22
  • Full Day Tour to Frades Islands + Itaparica: $23
  • Walking tour historic Pelourinho: $23
  • Historic City Tour in Salvador: $24
  • Salvador Historical City Center Tour: $25

Tours and Activities in Roatan

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

  • Custom Private Roatan Shuttle Tour: Explore at Your Own Pace: $30
  • Roatan Fun Bus Group Sightseeing Island Private Tour: $36
  • Roatan Zipline & Eco walk/Suspension Bridge Combo Tours: $45
  • Roatan Comprehensive Real Estate Tour Experience: $45
  • Private Roatan Shopping Tour with Local Guide: $45
  • Customizable Island Tour While on Roatan: $45
  • Roatan VIP island tour in Honduras: $45
  • Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
  • Roatan global Tours in Roatan Island Honduras: $45
  • Private Roatan Sightseeing Tour: $49
  • Roatan Private island tour In Honduras: $50
  • Roatan : Private Customizeble Tour with Driver & Guide: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Salvador $5.55
    Roatan $6.49
Typical Alcohol Prices in Salvador

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Salvador:


  • Beers for 2
    $1.41
  • Drinks
    $2.82

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
  • Roatan Coffee and Chocolate Tour with Brewery Stop: $90
  • Roatan Horseback Ride, Island Tour and Brewery Tasting: $125


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


Which is Bigger, Salvador or Roatan?

Salvador has a larger population, and is about 360 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Salvador and Roatan, 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.