Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas 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.
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Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Saint Thomas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Saint Thomas? 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 Saint Thomas?
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.
Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Eco Tours in Guatemala.
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San Pedro La Laguna Prices
Guatemala PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro La Laguna $45Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $45, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro La Laguna $8.38Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro La Laguna $17Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna or Saint Thomas? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $13Saint Thomas $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro La Laguna
Also for San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Lake Atitlán to Guatemala Airport (GUA): $96
- Private transfer from Panajachel to Airport or Capital city: $78
- Private transfer from Panajachel to Antigua Guatemala: $75
- Private One Way Transfer Lake Atitlán to Antigua Guatemala: $74
- Transfer from SanPedro Lago de Atitlan and airport Guatemala: $50
- Shared Transfer from Panajachel Atitlan to Guatemala City: $50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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Taxi Ride$5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vi Top Taxi -St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove: $110
- Vi Top Taxi - St. Thomas Airport Transfer to Wyndham Margaritaville: $180
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours - Airport Transfer to the Ritz Carlton: $180
- Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
- Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $81
- St.Thomas to St.Thomas Airport (STT) - Departure Private Transfer: $96
- St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Redhook Ferry: $180
- St.Thomas Airport (STT) to St.Thomas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $267
- St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to the Redhook Ferry: $180
- St. Thomas Airport (STT) to St.Thomas - Arrival Private Transfer: $133
- St. Thomas Airport (STT) to St.Thomas - Arrival Private Transfer: $96
- St Thomas Airport Private Transfers to Bouy haus: $135
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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
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Food Meals for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $19Saint Thomas $94
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:
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Lemonade$2.10
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Cake$1.31
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Ice cream$0.39
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Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread$3.02
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: $60
- Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- St. James Snorkel & Pizza Pi Lunch: $90
- St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $109
- Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
- Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
- Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
- St. Thomas Dinner Sail to Lovango w/ Open Bar and Hors D'oeuvres: $139
- Flavors of St Thomas Walking Food Tour: $145
- St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $149
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $22Saint Thomas $60
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:
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Canopy Tour (for 2)$39
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Kayaking (for 2)$1.97
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Coffee Tour (for 2)$7.08
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:
- 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
- Authentic local experience with a community of women: $73
- Authentic tour of Mayan art and culture in Lake Atitlan: $57
- Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
- Bicycle Tour Around Lake Atitlan with Weaving Coops and Coffee Plantations: $118
- Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
- Chichicastenango Market Day Tour from Panajachel: $120
- Coffee Walk Tour in San Juan La Laguna: $35
- Coffee, Chocolate and Textile Tour in Lake Atitlan: $35
- From Panajachel Canoe Adventure and Tul Route in Atitlan: $125
- Full Day Tour to Chichicastenango from Panajachel: $160
- Half-Day Private Indian Nose Peak Tour from Lake Atitlan: $140
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $169
- 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $159
- 3 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $139
- Aerial Sightseeing Adventure!: $250
- Best of Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Adventure with Picnic Lunch: $127
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
- Cas Cay - Kayak Hike and Snorkel Adventure: $79
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
- Cocktail Sunset Cruise from Sapphire Beach Resort: $130
- Coral Reef and Turtle Discovery Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $169
- Coral Reef and Turtle Discovery Tour: $159
- Coral World Ocean Park General Admission Ticket: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $5.68Saint Thomas $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Thomas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
- Da Conch Crawl- Walking Tour and Bar Crawl Downtown St. Thomas: $148
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro La Laguna and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Saint Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro La Laguna or Saint Thomas?
Saint Thomas has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro La Laguna and Saint Thomas, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.