Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Antigua Guatemala?
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 Antigua Guatemala or La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Antigua Guatemala or La Serena, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Antigua Guatemala or La Serena?
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.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
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Antigua Guatemala Prices
Guatemala PricesLa Serena Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAntigua Guatemala $74La Serena $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Antigua Guatemala is $74, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $106. 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 Antigua Guatemala and La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAntigua Guatemala $22La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAntigua Guatemala $44La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Antigua Guatemala and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Antigua Guatemala or La Serena? 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: Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices and La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Antigua Guatemala $12La Serena $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel (Atitlan): $27
- Private Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $90
- Private Transfer from Antigua to La Aurora Airport: $28
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Puerto Quetzal Port: $185
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Panajachel: $65
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to La Aurora Airport: $25
- Private Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel Atitlan: $66
- Private Ground Transfer From Antigua To Guatemala City Airport: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Antigua Guatemala or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena and Antigua Guatemala 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 dayAntigua Guatemala $25La Serena $46
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$3.26
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Lunch$7.82
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:
- Taste of Guatemala,Walking Food Tour in Antigua Guatemala : $50
- Antigua Street Food Tour : $65
- Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
- Local Street Food Tour of Antigua: $75
- Street Food Tour Around Antigua: $80
- Guatemalan Cooking Class & Market Tour: $85
- Private Pacaya Volcano Hike & Optional Pizza Experience: $85
- Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour: $85
- Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua: $90
- Foodie & Street Food Tour in Antigua: $95
- Guatemalan Cooking Class and Market Tour: $98
- The Culinary Antigua Food Tour: $116
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Antigua Guatemala $15La Serena $24
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
- ¡Pacaya Volcano Tour from Antigua!: $100
- 2 - Days : Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua: $130
- 2 Day Tour: Chichicastenango Market and Lake Atitlan from Antigua: $150
- 2-Day Antigua Tour 1 Night at Acatenango Volcano: $87
- 2-Day Kayak and Hike Adventure Package from Antigua: $219
- 3-Hour Chateau Defay Vineyard Tour in Central America: $78
- ANTIGUA Villages Tour: $103
- ATV Cultural & Adventure Tour: Antigua Villages Experience: $95
- ATV Tour of the Magic Towns of Antigua: $65
- ATV or UTV Coffee Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $75
- Acatenango 2 Days Camping Adventure: $128
- Acatenango Overnight Hike Multiday Tour: $129
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Astronomical Tour Collowara Observatory: $64
- Astronomy and Astrophotography Tour: $55
- Charm Valley Archaeological Tour, Shamanism and Petroglyphs: $175
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $165
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour: Full Day History and Flavors : $42
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Grand Tour Valley of Elqui Mystic Mountains and Cultural Treasures: $115
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $110
- Milky Way Sanctuary Stargazing Tour at Pangue Observatory: $225
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAntigua Guatemala $11La Serena $22
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 Antigua Guatemala and La Serena, we can see that La Serena is more expensive. And not only is Antigua Guatemala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Antigua Guatemala is in Central America and La Serena is in South 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 La Serena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Serena 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 Antigua Guatemala Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Antigua Guatemala or La Serena?
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Antigua Guatemala. When comparing the sizes of Antigua Guatemala and La Serena, 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.