A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Pedro La Laguna vs. Granada for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Granada?

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

Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Granada? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: San Pedro La Laguna or Granada?

San Pedro La Laguna

Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.

Granada

Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Guatemala, The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Granada or San Pedro La Laguna?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $36, while the average daily cost in Granada is $40. 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 San Pedro La Laguna and Granada in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.23
    Granada $17
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Pedro La Laguna $16
    Granada $34
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Granada

Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna or Granada? 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 San Pedro La Laguna


Hotels in Granada


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: Granada Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $13
    Granada $8.57

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:

  • One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or Granada?

Prices for flights to both Granada and San Pedro La Laguna 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
    San Pedro La Laguna $11
    Granada $14
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lemonade
    $2.06
  • Cake
    $1.29
  • Ice cream
    $0.39
  • Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
    $2.96

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Guatemalan street food tour with a local bilingual guide: $40
  • Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
  • Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $55

Typical Food Prices in Granada

Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:


  • Pizza
    $2.29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $21
    Granada $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Canopy Tour (for 2)
    $39
  • Kayaking (for 2)
    $1.93
  • Coffee Tour (for 2)
    $6.95

Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
  • Tour a NGO non profit Vocational Training Center Amigos de Santa Cruz and explore the Mayan village: $33
  • Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $35
  • Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
  • Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
  • Sololá Colourful Market Day Tour: $50
  • Private Tour of Lake Atitlán by Mototaxi: $50
  • 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
  • Lake Atitlan Lower Mayan Trail Hiking Tour from Panajachel: $51
  • Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51
  • Sunrise Hike Tour on Indian's Nose Mountain: $52
  • sunset tour : $55

Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:


  • Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour
    $8.17

Tours and Activities in Granada

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

  • Bird Watching Tour: $90
  • Boat Tour and Granada City Tour: $120
  • Charming Granada Outdoor "Private Tour" : $92
  • Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65
  • Fabulous Night Tour in Masaya Volcano from Granada: $157
  • From Full-Day Tour to 6 Attractions with Lunch incl: $125
  • Full Day Tour Isletas + Pueblos Blancos + Laguna from Granada: $120
  • Full Day Tour in Granada with Volcano Visit: $222
  • Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
  • Granada City Tour: $40
  • Granada Colonial City Tour and Masaya Volcano: $130
  • Granada Kayak Tour: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Pedro La Laguna $5.58
    Granada $7.50

Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada

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


  • Tequila
    $1.36


When comparing the travel costs between San Pedro La Laguna and Granada, we can see that Granada is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Pedro La Laguna Expensive? and Is Granada Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Pedro La Laguna or Granada?

Granada has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro La Laguna and Granada, 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.