Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Sapa?
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 Sapa 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 Sapa and Antigua Guatemala can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Sapa or Antigua Guatemala?
Sapa
Sapa is a beautiful town in the northern mountains of Vietnam by the border with China. Many travelers pass through the area on their way from China into Hanoi. Alternatively, some travelers head north from Hanoi to spend a few days in the beautiful mountains where tribal cultures are still alive and well. There are a good number of ethnic minorities that populate the area. The eight populations in the area include H'mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, Muong, Thai, Hoa, and Xa Pho, but the vast majority in the area are H'mong. Within the town of Sapa itself, there are about 7,000 people. The rest of the population lives in the surrounding countryside and are peasant farmers.
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 Budget Tours to Vietnam, The Best Tours for Seniors to Vietnam, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.
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Sapa Prices
Vietnam PricesAntigua Guatemala Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySapa $45Antigua Guatemala $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Sapa is $45, 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 Sapa and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSapa $12Antigua Guatemala $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSapa $24Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Sapa and Antigua Guatemala
Looking for a hotel in Sapa 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: Sapa Hotel Prices and Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sapa $8.96Antigua Guatemala $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Sapa are as follows:
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Short Motorbike Ride$1.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Semuc Champey or Coban: $182
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Santa Catarina Palopó: $88
- Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Monterrico Beach: $85
- Private Transfer One Way Antigua Guatemala to El Paredon Beach: $75
- Private Transfer:Antigua GuatemalaLake Atitlán(Any Town)OneWay: $74
- Private Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $70
- Private Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel Atitlan: $70
- Private Transfers in Guatemala: $39
- Private Transfer from Antigua to La Aurora Airport: $32
- Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $30
- Private Transfer From Antigua to Guatemala City / Airport: $30
- Shared Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel (Atitlan): $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Sapa or Antigua Guatemala?
Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Sapa 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 daySapa $27Antigua Guatemala $25
Typical Food Prices in Sapa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Sapa:
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Casual Dinner (for One)$2.58
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Quick Breakfast (for Two)$2.09
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Coffee (for Two)$2.28
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Western Dinner (for Two)$7.57
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Pho Soup$0.57
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$3.28
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Lunch$7.87
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:
- Cooking and pastry class in Casa San Miguel: $38
- Cooking class and market tour/Pepian Workshop: $50
- Private Street Food Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $65
- Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
- Cooking Class With Local Family: $70
- Cooking Classes and Jade Workshops: $75
- Market and Mayan Cooking Class: $80
- Street Food Tour Around Antigua: $85
- Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour: $85
- Guatemalan Cooking Class & Market Tour: $85
- Make your own Mayan Pepian - Cooking class: $89
- Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua: $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sapa $5.83Antigua Guatemala $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sapa
For Sapa, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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CatCat Village Tax$1.52
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Ta Phin Village Tax$0.76
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Walking Stick$0.19
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Paddle Boat Rental on Sapa Lake (1 Hr)$3.04
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
- 2 - Days : Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $150
- 2-Day Kayak and Hike Adventure Package from Antigua: $219
- 3-Hour Chateau Defay Vineyard Tour in Central America: $170
- 4 Hour Colonial Experience in Antigua Guatemala: $35
- 4x4 Acatenango Volcano and Fuego Vistas 2 Day Shared Tour: $260
- ANTIGUA Villages Tour: $103
- ATV tour of picturesque villages around Antigua: $60
- Acatenango Hike: Glamping Experience from Antigua: $230
- Acatenango Hike: Overnight Group Adventure from Antigua: $225
- Acatenango Overnight Hike Multiday Tour: $129
- Acatenango Volcano Experience for 2 Days and 1 Night: $79
- Acatenango Volcano Overnight Tour: $119
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySapa $7.78Antigua Guatemala $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Sapa are as follows:
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Two Beers$0.95
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 Sapa and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Antigua Guatemala is more expensive. And not only is Sapa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sapa is in Asia 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 Sapa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sapa 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 Antigua Guatemala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antigua Guatemala than you might in Sapa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sapa Expensive? and Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sapa or Antigua Guatemala?
Sapa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Antigua Guatemala. When comparing the sizes of Sapa 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.