Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Santo Domingo?
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 Santo Domingo or Antigua Guatemala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Santo Domingo and Antigua Guatemala can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santo Domingo or Antigua Guatemala?
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is a vibrant city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and modernity. Known for being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, Santo Domingo offers a wealth of experiences that cater to every type of traveler.
Traveling to Santo Domingo on a budget is entirely achievable with some strategic planning. Accommodations range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. The Zona Colonial, the historic district, offers several affordable lodging options that provide easy access to major attractions. Hostels offer comfortable accommodations and a chance to meet fellow travelers, too. Eating on a budget is also feasible in Santo Domingo. Local eateries, known as "comedores," serve traditional Dominican dishes at reasonable prices.
Antigua Guatemala
Before a disastrous earthquake in 1773, Antigua was the colonial capital of Guatemala. For 200 years it had reigned as so and today shows remnants of its glorious past with Spanish colonial buildings and other architectural landmarks still standing. Due to this large amount of preserved architecture, Antigua was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is now the most touristed city of Guatemala.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.
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Santo Domingo Prices
Dominican Republic PricesAntigua Guatemala Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanto Domingo $105Antigua Guatemala $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Santo Domingo is $105, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $74. 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 Santo Domingo and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanto Domingo $42Antigua Guatemala $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanto Domingo $84Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Santo Domingo and Antigua Guatemala
Looking for a hotel in Santo Domingo or Antigua Guatemala? 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: Santo Domingo Hotel Prices and Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santo Domingo $4.84Antigua Guatemala $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santo Domingo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santo Domingo:
- Private Transfer Santo Domingo SDQ to Samana/Miches/Terrenas: $299
- Bahía de las Águilas w/ Private Transfer: $250
- Private taxi Transfer from, Airport Santo Domingo To Sosua: $250
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Santo Domingo International Airport (8 - 11): $244
- Private transfer Santo Domingo Airport to, Sosua, Cabarete,: $240
- Private transfer from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana & Viceversa (one way): $235
- Transfer from the Americas Inter. Airport to Punta Cana: $235
- Private Transfer from Santo Domingo Airport to Uvero Alto: $197
- Santo Domingo Airport to Uvero Alto Exclusive Transfer: $197
- Transfer from Santo Domingo SDQ /JBQ Airport to Punta Cana Hotels: $192
- Private Arrival Transfer: Santo Domingo International Airport to Hotels (5 - 7): $184
- Private Transfer Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Puerto Plata Port: $183
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Antigua: One way shared transfer to Guatemala City: $24
- Panajachel: One way shared transfer to Antigua: $25
- One-Way Shared Van Transfer to Panajachel: $25
- From Panajachel: One Way Shared Transfers to Antigua: $25
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Airport: $27
- Private Transfer From Antigua Guatemala to La Aurora Airport: $29
- Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $30
- Guatemala City Airport: Private Transfer to Antigua: $30
- Shared Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel (Atitlan): $30
- Antigua: Private Transfer to Guatemala City Airport: $30
- From Antigua Guatemala One way shared transfer to El Paredon: $34
- transfer service Guatemala City, Lake Atitlan destination: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Santo Domingo or Antigua Guatemala?
Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Santo Domingo 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 daySanto Domingo $56Antigua Guatemala $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santo Domingo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santo Domingo.
- Cooking Class in Santo Domingo:6 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $42
- Food Tour & Paradise Beach Day with Drinks: $140
Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:
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Lunch$3.27
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Lunch$7.86
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antigua Guatemala
For Antigua Guatemala, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Antigua: Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Classes — Casa San Miguel.: $38
- Antigua Guatemalan Authentic Cooking Class Chef David Farfan: $38
- Cooking and pastry class in Casa San Miguel: $38
- Antigua: Traditional cooking lesson with a Guatemalan family: $48
- Cooking class and market tour/Pepian Workshop: $50
- Antigua: Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family: $60
- Private Street Food Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $65
- Antigua Street Food Tour: $65
- Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
- Antigua: Cooking Class With Wine, Transfer & Vegan Option: $72
- Local Street Food Tour of Antigua: $75
- Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santo Domingo $15Antigua Guatemala $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Santo Domingo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Santo Domingo are as follows:
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Snorkeling Tour$44
Tours and Activities in Santo Domingo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santo Domingo are as follows:
- 6 Hours Private Cultural Tour in Santo Domingo: $190
- Cabarete Caves & Nature Adventure: $128
- Cultural VIP Private Tour From Santo Domingo: $150
- Cumayasa Private Buggies Tour from Santo Domingo: $135
- Dominican Food, Rum, and Beer Tasting Experience: $35
- Experience the Three Eyes Park and Columbus Lighthouse: $45
- From Catalina Island Day Tour: $85
- From Full day Historical Tour with Lunch: $75
- Full Dominican Adventure: Zipline, ATV Buggie, Horseback & Safari: $266
- Full-Day Cultural Adventure Tour of Santo Domingo from Samana: $140
- Half Day Comatillo Off-Road Experience: $135
- Half Day Santo Domingo Tour: Three Eyes Park to Colon Lighthouse: $80
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
- Signature Lattes Tasting Experience in Antigua for Coffee Lovers: $13
- Half-Day Walking Tour: $20
- Historical and Cultural Walking Tour of Antigua Guatemala: $20
- Guided City Tour with Chef David Farfan: $20
- Express tour in Antigua: $20
- Cultural and Fun Walking Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $22
- Walking Tour with Local Guide: $23
- From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Tour in English/Spanish: $23
- Guided Walking Tour with Coffee: $24
- Antigua Walking Tour: $24
- La Antigua Myths and Legends Stories Night Walking Tour: $25
- Antigua walking tour: Highlights, history, culture.: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanto Domingo $7.97Antigua Guatemala $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Antigua Guatemala
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Antigua Guatemala:
- Antigua Bar Crawl: $26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santo Domingo and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Santo Domingo is more expensive. And not only is Antigua Guatemala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santo Domingo is in Caribbean Islands and Antigua Guatemala is in Central 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 Antigua Guatemala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antigua Guatemala 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 Santo Domingo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santo Domingo than you might in Antigua Guatemala.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santo Domingo Expensive? and Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santo Domingo or Antigua Guatemala?
Santo Domingo has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Antigua Guatemala. When comparing the sizes of Santo Domingo and Antigua Guatemala, 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.