Which city is cheaper, Guatemala City or San Pedro La Laguna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Guatemala San Pedro La Laguna vs. Guatemala City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
Jump to 
Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Guatemala City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Guatemala City? 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 Guatemala City?
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.
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro La Laguna $36Guatemala City $44
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $36, while the average daily cost in Guatemala City is $44. 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 Pedro La Laguna and Guatemala City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro La Laguna $8.23Guatemala City $24
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro La Laguna $16Guatemala City $48
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Guatemala City
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna or Guatemala City? 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $13Guatemala City $6.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $70
- Shared Departure Transfer: Guatemala City Hotels to Airport: $14
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $14
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $28
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán: $120
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Coban: $155
- Private Airport Transfer: Guatemala to La Aurora International Airport (GUA): $38
- Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, Lake Atitlan: $128
- Collective Transfer From Guatemala City to La Aurora Airport: $20
- Airport transfer from Guatemala City airport to Antigua: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or Guatemala City?
Prices for flights to both Guatemala City 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 daySan Pedro La Laguna $11Guatemala City $15
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 Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour: $70
- Guatemala Food Tour from Guatemala City: $117
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $118
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $21Guatemala City $1.21
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)$6.94
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:
- Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51
- Indian Nose Hiking Adventure (custom and private tour): $51
- Horseback Riding Tour: $51
- Chichicastenango Market Day Tour: $60
- Camping, Short hike & Watch the sunrise on the top of Indian Nose (Private tour): $85
- Lake Atitlan Village Tour - from Panajachel: $205
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 11-Day Mayan Ruins Tour: Guatemala and Copán: $1,859
- 2 Day Tour Share and Private to Copan and Quirigua: $247
- 2 Day Tour: Chichicastenango Market and Lake Atitlan from Guatemala City: $150
- 2-Day Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan Tour from Guatemala City or Antigua: $265
- 2-Day Tour: Auto Safari Chapín Zoo and Monterrico Black Sand Beach from Guatemala City or Antigua: $276
- 3-Day Tour of Cobán and Semuc Champey from Guatemala City: $391
- 4-Day Tour: Guatemala City, Antigua, Chichicastenango Market and Lake Atitlan: $345
- 5-Day Tour from Antigua, Chichicastenango, Panajachel and Santiago Atitlán: $439
- 6-Day Tour: Traditional Guatemala Including Antigua, Chichicastenango Market, Lake Atitlan and Tikal: $910
- 8-Day Best of Guatemala Tour: Antigua, Pacaya Volcano, Lake Atitlan and Tikal Ruins: $1,508
- Acatenango Volcano Overnight Adventure from Guatemala City: $295
- Antigua City Tour Full Day From Guatemala City: $60
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $5.58Guatemala City $6.83
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro La Laguna and Guatemala City, we can see that Guatemala City is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Pedro La Laguna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro La Laguna 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 Guatemala City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guatemala City than you might in San Pedro La Laguna.
Related Articles for San Pedro La Laguna
Related Articles for Guatemala City
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
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.