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

Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Key West?

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

Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Key West? 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 Key West?

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.

Key West

Key West is both a city and an island as well as the southern most Florida Key. It is also the southern most city in the continental United States. The island is only about four miles long and one mile wide. The total land mass covers just 4.2 square miles. The most famous street in town is Duval Street, which runs just 1.1 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. There are 14 blocks. The size of the island doubled during the 1950s when many of the salt ponds along the eastern side of the island were filled in.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Guatemala, The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Key West or San Pedro La Laguna?

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

  • San Pedro La Laguna Prices
    Guatemala Prices
    Key West Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    San Pedro La Laguna $45
    Key West $832

The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $45, while the average daily cost in Key West is $832. 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 Key West in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.34
    Key West $132
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Pedro La Laguna $17
    Key West $264
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Key West

Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna or Key West? 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 Key West


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: Key West Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $13
    Key West $51

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro La Laguna

Also for San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shared Transfer from Panajachel Atitlan to Guatemala City: $47
  • Private transfer from Panajachel to Antigua Guatemala: $65

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Key West

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Key West:


  • Rental Car for One Day
    $38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Key West

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Key West:

  • One Way Airport Transfer Service: $54
  • Key West to Key West Airport (EYW) - Departure Private Transfer: $163
  • Key West hotels to Key West Int Airport (EYW) Departure Transfer: $155
  • Key West Int Airport EYW to Key West Hotels Arrival Transfer: $155
  • Key West Int Airport (EYW) to Key West - Arrival Private Transfer: $163

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

Prices for flights to both Key West 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 $19
    Key West $667
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
    $2.09
  • Cake
    $1.30
  • Ice cream
    $0.39
  • Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
    $3.00

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:

  • Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
  • Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Key West

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

  • Sunset Dinner Cruise with Open Bar & Live Music: $74
  • Cooking Show Chef Demonstration with Meal: $81
  • Key West Sunset Cruise: Dinner, Live Music & Drinks Included: $84
  • Southernmost Food & Cultural Walking Tour by Key West Food Tours: $90
  • Key West Sunset Buffet Dinner Cruise with Open Bar and Live Music: $100
  • Secret Walking Food Tour: $115
  • Sunset Sail Full Bar, Live Music & Dinner & Early Morning Snorkeling: $160

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $22
    Key West $33
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)
    $1.96
  • Coffee Tour (for 2)
    $7.04

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
  • Sunrise Tour in Indian Nose Hike and Views of Lake Atitlan: $35
  • Lake Atitlan Guided Tour by Boat from Panajachel: $35
  • Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $35
  • Tour of San Juan Lake Atitlan: $35
  • Tour in the Atitlan Nature Reserve : $40
  • La Nose of the Indian Mountain Tour: $40
  • Authentic tour of Mayan art and culture in Lake Atitlan: $42
  • Sunrise Hike Tour on Indian's Nose Mountain: $45
  • Sololá Colourful Market Day Tour: $50
  • 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
  • Private Tour of Lake Atitlán by Mototaxi: $50

Tours and Activities in Key West

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

  • 2 Hour Key West Mini Catamaran Eco Tour: $285
  • 2-Hour Live Music Guided Tour in Key West: $35
  • Day Sailing Adventure in the Florida Marine Sanctuary: $99
  • Day in Key West - Private SUV Tour From Miami: $1,300
  • Florida Key West Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Florida Keys: Aquarium Encounters Day Tour with Lunch: $182
  • Florida Keys: Dolphin Research Center Day Tour with Lunch: $182
  • Florida Keys: Up The Keys Nature Tour: $128
  • Fort East Martello Ghost Tour & VIP Robert the Doll Experience: $99
  • From Dolphin Watching Tour with Lunch & Drinks: $150
  • From Sandbar Cruise with Lunch and Open Bar (18+): $151
  • Full-Day Tour of Florida Keys Including Aquarium Encounters from Key West: $169

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Pedro La Laguna $5.65
    Key West $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Key West

Also in Key West, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Key West Bar Crawl: $15
  • Key West Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour with Free T-Shirt: $32
  • Bone Island Haunted Pub Crawl: $32
  • Key West Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
  • Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $35
  • 2.5-Hour Duval Street Pub Crawl: $43


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro La Laguna and Key West, we can see that Key West is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Pedro La Laguna is in Central America and Key West 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 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 Key West would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Key West than you might in San Pedro La Laguna.

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 Key West Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Pedro La Laguna or Key West?

Key West has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro La Laguna and Key West, 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.