Which city is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Ignacio vs. San Juan del Sur for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit San Ignacio or San Juan del Sur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or San Juan del Sur, 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.
San Ignacio
So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.
You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.
This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Ignacio $57San Juan del Sur $43
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $57, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $43. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Ignacio and San Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $15San Juan del Sur $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $30San Juan del Sur $34
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $2.48San Juan del Sur $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Belize International Airport to San Ignacio Hotels: $70
- Shared Departure Transfer: San Ignacio Hotel to Belize International Airport: $60
- Shared Departure Transfer: San Ignacio Hotels to Belize International Airport: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan del Sur
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Juan del Sur:
- One-Way Private Transfer from San Juan del Sur to Managua: $146
Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur and San Ignacio 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 daySan Ignacio $16San Juan del Sur $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- Xunantunich & Food Tour from San Ignacio: $135
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan del Sur
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Juan del Sur.
- Food Tour - Nicaragua Gastronomy: $102
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Ignacio $80San Juan del Sur $12
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cultural and Historical Walking Tour: $36
- Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $48
- Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $62
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $70
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $72
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $75
- Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $76
- Xunantunich Riding tour: $85
- Barton Creek Tour: $87
- Horseback Riding and Tour in San Lorenzo Organic Farm: $91
- Cave Tubing Adventure: $93
- Mopan River Kayaking and Xunantunich Tour from San Ignacio: $100
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: $100
- ATV Tour: $103
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $201
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $14San Juan del Sur $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and San Juan del Sur, we can see that San Ignacio is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 Ignacio would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Ignacio than you might in San Juan del Sur.
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Budget Your Trip
Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.More City Comparisons
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