A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santo Domingo vs. Belize City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santo Domingo or Belize City?

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 Belize City can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Santo Domingo or Belize City?

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.

Belize City

Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.

This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize.


Which place is cheaper, Belize City 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Santo Domingo is $99, while the average daily cost in Belize City is $108. 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 Belize City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santo Domingo $40
    Belize City $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santo Domingo $80
    Belize City $98
Compare Hotels in Santo Domingo and Belize City

Looking for a hotel in Santo Domingo or Belize 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.

Hotels in Santo Domingo


Hotels in Belize City


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 Belize City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santo Domingo $4.59
    Belize City $5.81

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santo Domingo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santo Domingo:

  • VIP Private Transfer from Las Americas Airport AILA To Punta Cana: $155
  • Transfer to and from Santo Domingo.: $50
  • Transfer in Tesla from SDQ Airport to Santo Domingo: $68
  • Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $37
  • Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $30
  • Santo Domingo to La Romana transfer: $177
  • Santo Domingo Airport to Uvero Alto Exclusive Transfer: $197
  • Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Uvero Alto - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $88
  • Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Santo Domingo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $60
  • Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Santo Domingo - Arrival Transfer: $37
  • Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Puerto Plata - Private Transfer: $37
  • Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) Arrival Transfer to Punta Cana: $74

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City

Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Belize City to Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
  • Belize City to Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
  • Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city hotels -Arrival Private Transfer: $55
  • Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $72
  • Private transfer from the Philip Goldson Airport to San Ignacio: $80
  • Belize Airport (BZE) to San Ignacio - Arrival Private Transfer: $89
  • Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $108
  • Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
  • Private Transfer from Belize City To Hopkins Village : $115
  • Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $150
  • Belize City Airport to Placencia Private Transfer: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Santo Domingo or Belize City?

Prices for flights to both Belize City 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Santo Domingo $53
    Belize City $47

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City

For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour - fish farm & restaurant : $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santo Domingo $14
    Belize City $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Santo Domingo

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


  • Snorkeling Tour
    $42

Tours and Activities in Santo Domingo

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

  • Discover Santo Domingo Gualey and Zona Colonial Private Tour: $115
  • Santo Domingo A Historic Day Tour with Lunch from Punta Cana: $109
  • 6 Hours Private Cultural Tour in Santo Domingo: $190
  • 6-Hour Private Tour of Águilas Bay and the Bauxite Mine: $130
  • Cabarete Caves & Nature Adventure: $128
  • Cultural VIP Private Tour From Santo Domingo: $150
  • Cumayasa Private Buggies Tour from Santo Domingo: $135
  • Full Day Tour to Santo Domingo from Punta Cana with Lunch: $80
  • Full Dominican Adventure: Zipline, ATV Buggie, Horseback & Safari: $266
  • Full-Day Adventure Tour of Culture through Santo Domingo: $125
  • Full-Day Cultural Adventure Tour of Santo Domingo from Samana: $140
  • Full-Day Santo Domingo City Tour from Punta Cana: $89

Tours and Activities in Belize City

For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • The Historic Belize City Tour: $35
  • Belize City Tour: $40
  • Cucumber Beach and City Tour: $49
  • Cave Kayak tour for Belize Car Rental : $59
  • Belizean Bits & Bites Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize: $60
  • TukTuk Belize History & Culture Tour : $60
  • Taste Bud Explosion Food Tasting Belize City Tour : $74
  • Charlie's Cave Tubing Tour for cruisers (lunch included): $75
  • Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
  • The Incredible Cave Tubing Adventure from Belize City: $85
  • Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break : $90
  • Private Altun Ha Maya Ruin & Belize City Adventure From Belize City: $107

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santo Domingo $7.54
    Belize City $12


When comparing the travel costs between Santo Domingo and Belize City, we can see that Belize City 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. Even though Santo Domingo is in Caribbean Islands and Belize City is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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 Belize City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Santo Domingo or Belize City?

Santo Domingo has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Belize City. When comparing the sizes of Santo Domingo and Belize City, 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.