Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City or Tulum?
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 Tulum or Guatemala City?
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 Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City?
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.
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, and The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala.
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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesGuatemala City Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $141Guatemala City $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $141, while the average daily cost in Guatemala City is $56. 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 Guatemala City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $57Guatemala City $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $114Guatemala City $50
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Guatemala City
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or Guatemala 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.
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 Guatemala City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $27Guatemala City $6.28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Transfer from Hotel and Airbnb to Tulum Airport: $63
- Tulum Airport Private Transfer to Hotels and Airbnbs: $73
- Xcaret to Tulum - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $83
- Private Transfer Tulum to Chichen Itza with Flexible Stops: $93
- Private Transfers from Tulum Airport to Akumal: $96
- Private Transfers from Tulum Airport to Playa del Carmen: $98
- Private Transfer from Tulum to Valladolid with a Cobá Detour: $107
- Tulum to Xcaret - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $113
- Airport Transfer One Way - Cancun / Tulum - Private or Luxury: $119
- Tulum to Playa del Carmen - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $119
- Private Transfer Cancun International Airport CUN to Tulum City: $125
- Tulum Airport: One-Way or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $144
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Private Transfer La Aurora Airport GUA to Guatemala City Hotel: $19
- Private Departure Transfer:Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport(GUA): $24
- Private Airport Transfer from Guatemala to La Aurora airport: $26
- Private Transfer: Guatemala City Airpot(GUA) to Antigua Guatemala: $29
- Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $30
- Private Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Antigua: $32
- Private Transfer from Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $32
- Private Arrival Transfer: La Aurora International Airport to Antigua Hotel: $35
- PRIVATE TRANSFER From Airport/Guate City to ANTIGUA or Vice-versa: $40
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
- Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
- Private Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Guatemala City?
Prices for flights to both Guatemala City 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 $57Guatemala City $27
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Salsa Class,Mezcalita Workshop & Mexican Dinner: $88
- Tortilla & Taco Cooking Class – Mexican Cuisine from scratch: $94
- Mexican Cooking class experience in Tulum: $140
- Private Authentic Mayan Cooking Class with Tulum Hotel Transfers: $280
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more): $299
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $30Guatemala City $1.23
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Tulum Mayan Ruins GPS Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Return Home: $11
- Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of Tulum: $15
- Cenotes Casa Tortuga Admission Ticket: $15
- ATV Cenote and Ziplines Adventure in Tulum from Riviera Maya: $25
- Adrenaline Tulúm Tour: ATV, Zipline, and Cenote Adventure: $30
- Tulum Taco Tour: $36
- Tulum Extreme Mayan Adventure with ATV, Zipline and Cenote: $38
- Guided Day Tour to Chichén Itzá, Cenote Swim and Valladolid: $38
- Tulum Area Experiences E-Bike Daily Rental: $45
- Tulum Area Experiences Scooter Daily Rental: $45
- Chichén Itzá, Chichikán Cenote & Valladolid Tour from Tulum: $50
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $32
- Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City: $35
- Walking Tour of Guatemala City's Historical Center: $35
- Guatemala city walking tour only weekends. 2 persons and up: $39
- Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $40
- City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
- Heart of Guatemala City Tour with Local Guide: $50
- Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Shared City Tour: $54
- El mejor Tour VIP Ciudad de Guatemala (el mas Completo): $55
- Pacaya Volcano Shared Hiking Tour: $59
- Day Tour in Antigua Guatemala, the Colonial City: $60
- Half-Day Guatemala City Tour: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $24Guatemala City $6.96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Guatemala City, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Guatemala City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Guatemala City?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Guatemala 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.
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.