Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Tulum?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tulum or Antigua Guatemala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tulum and Antigua Guatemala can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Tulum or Antigua Guatemala?
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Eco Tours in Guatemala.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $122Antigua Guatemala $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $122, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $63. 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 Tulum and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $60Antigua Guatemala $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $120Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Antigua Guatemala
Looking for a hotel in Tulum 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: Tulum Hotel Prices and Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $28Antigua Guatemala $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Roundtrip Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $269
- Transfer from Tulum airport to Bacalar: $234
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Private Transfer From Tulum to Chetumal With a 2 Hour Stop: $217
- Private Transfer Tulum-Bacalar with optional 2h in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: $211
- Private Transfer From Cancun Airport - Tulum: $208
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $202
- Private transfer from Cancun airpot to Tulum up to 7 persons: $191
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Akumal, Tulum: $191
- Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $181
- Tulum to Mahahual - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $160
- Private Transfer Tulum Zone - Cancun International Airport: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Guatemala City: One-way Shared Transfer to Antigua: $20
- Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $23
- Guatemala: Antigua and Lago Atitlan Shuttle Transfer: $25
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Puerto Quetzal Port: $27
- Transfer Guatemala City to Aurora to Antigua Guatemala: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Antigua Guatemala?
Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Tulum 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 dayTulum $34Antigua Guatemala $14
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$3.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $86
- Vegan Walking Food Tour with Tasting: $87
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch and Mezcal Tasting in a Local Home in Tulum: $87
- Tulum Vegan Food Tour: $90
- Gourmet Experience: 5 Course Dinner, Cocktail Class and Wine Pairing: $159
- Mayan Night Guided Tour, Cenote Swim and Mayan Dinner: $210
- Private Mayan Food Cooking Class and Cenote: $289
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more) : $299
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$3.22
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Lunch$7.72
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:
- Make your own Mayan Pepian - Cooking class: $69
- Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $74
- Street Food Tour Around Antigua: $75
- Guatemalan Cooking Class & Market Tour: $85
- Foodie & street food tour: $85
- Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua: $90
- Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $95
- Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour: $98
- From Guatemala City: Guatemala Cooking Class Tour: $110
- Pacaya Volcano Luxury Sunset Horseback Riding Tour/ Dinner Cooked by-Lava Chef: $295
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $32Antigua Guatemala $15
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Full Day Tour from Tulum to Rio Lagartos: $179
- Luxury Tour to Chichen Itza and 2 Cenotes Only From Tulum: $128
- Private Tour - The best Cenotes in Yucatan - Suytun & Oxman: $195
- Romantic tour in Tulum: $169
- Sian Ka'an Boat Tour: Full Day Experience: $179
- 2 Cenotes Guided Snorkeling Adventure in Tulum: $149
- 4-Hour Cenotes Tour with Hotel Pickup in Riviera Maya: $109
- 4x1 Mayan Experience! Tulum Ruins, Coba, Cenote + Transportation from Tulum City: $78
- 5 Hours Mayan Snorkeling Experience in Tulum: $90
- 5x1 Deluxe Tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote Transportation from Tulum: $88
- 5x1: Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Mayan Village Full Day Tour: $75
- ATV Adventure and Horseback Ride with Ziplines, Cenote from Tulum: $105
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
- Artisan Shoemaking & Leather Craft Tour: $10
- Half-Day Walking Tour: $20
- City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $20
- Express tour in Antigua: $20
- La Antigua Horror Stories Night Walking Tour: $20
- Antigua Walking Tour: $23
- Chocolate workshop; gastronomic experience of cocoa.: $28
- Antigua Guatemala Walking Group Tour: $30
- Private Walking tour of Antigua Guatemala: $35
- Antigua Cultural Walking Tour : $35
- Walking Tour Antigua, an open Museum: $35
- WORRY DOLL TOUR: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $25Antigua Guatemala $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Tulum
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tulum:
- 30 Minutes Brewery Tour in Tulum: $39
- Wine Tasting at Pan y Vino Tulum: $58
- Beer Tasting and Brewery Tour: $69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Antigua Guatemala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America 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 Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum 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 Tulum Expensive? and Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Antigua Guatemala?
Antigua Guatemala has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum 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.