Which place is cheaper, Galapagos Islands or Guatemala City?
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 Guatemala City or Galapagos Islands?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or Galapagos Islands? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Guatemala City or Galapagos Islands?
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.
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are a small archipelago of islands belonging to Ecuador in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Galapagos archipelago is world-renowned for its unique and fearless wildlife, much of which was inspiration for Charles Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection. Thanks to a lack of natural predators, friendly wildlife such as sea lions and gigantic sea tortoises let visitors get up close. This archipelago of about 19 islands and many smaller islets found over 620 miles off Ecuador's coast in the Pacific Ocean is a double World Heritage site, where both land and sea are protected. Each island boasts its own unique landscape, ranging from black, volcanic rocks to white sand beaches and gemstone-blue waters. There is no bad time to visit the Galapagos Islands but the busiest months for tourism tend to be June, July and August, as well as mid-December to mid-January. This is when prices are at their highest.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Ecuador, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Ecuador.
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Guatemala City Prices
Guatemala PricesGalapagos Islands Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $56Galapagos Islands $160
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in Galapagos Islands is $160. 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 Guatemala City and Galapagos Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24Galapagos Islands $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48Galapagos Islands $130
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Galapagos Islands
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Galapagos Islands? 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.25Galapagos Islands $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Panajachel or Atitlan: $254
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Puerto Quetzal Port: $209
- Private Transfer - Guatemala Airport (GUA) to Puerto Quetzal Port: $209
- Private Transfers from Guatemala city to Panajachel: $200
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $167
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Coban: $161
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $120
- Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $90
- Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $80
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
- Private Transfer From La Aurora AirPort to Panajachel Atitlan : $67
- Private transfer from Airport to Panajachel: $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galapagos Islands
Also for Galapagos Islands, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $56
- Private Transfer from Baltra Airport to Hotels in Santa Cruz Island: $123
- Private Transfer from Hotels in Santa Cruz to Baltra Airport: $123
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Galapagos Islands?
Prices for flights to both Galapagos Islands and Guatemala City 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 dayGuatemala City $27Galapagos Islands $55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- PRIVATE MAYAN COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF EN Guatemala City: $65
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $175
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.22Galapagos Islands $35
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 2-Hour Culture and Historical Tour From Guatemala: $29
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $195
- 3 Days Tour in Acatenango Volcano: $240
- 3-Day Antigua Guatemala and Pacaya Volcano Adventure: $256
- 3-Hour Bike Tour Guatemala City: $60
- 4-Hour Bike Tour Guatemala City: $70
- Antigua + Guatemala City Full Day Tour - History Lovers Favorite: $245
- Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $78
- Antigua Guatemala & Guatemala City Tour: $65
- Antigua Guatemala , Full-Day Shared Tour from Guatemala City: $75
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $65
- Antigua Guatemala Stopover Tour: $75
Tours and Activities in Galapagos Islands
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Galapagos Islands.
- Giant Turtle Watching and Lava Tunnels Tour: $39
- Santa Cruz Bay Tour: Half-Day Tour with 5 Sights: $48
- Bay Tour in Santa Cruz - Galapagos Islands: $60
- Half Day Bay Tour in Santa Cruz Island: $62
- Isabela Island Tour in Galapagos with Kayak : $64
- Hiking Tour to Sierra Negra Volcano: $67
- Private BiciTour Giant Tortoises and Lava Tunnel in Galapagos: $90
- Half-Day Hiking Tour to Sulfur Fumaroles on Isabela Island: $95
- Trekking experience at Sierra Negra Volcano: $100
- The Galapagos Giant Tortoise Experience + Los Gemelos | Shared: $105
- Tintoreras Islet Tour from Isabela - Hiking & Snorkeling : $108
- Santa Cruz Highland Tour: Giant Tortoises, Lava Tunnel & Gemelos: $158
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.93Galapagos Islands $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City
Also in Guatemala City, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Galapagos Islands, we can see that Galapagos Islands is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guatemala City is in Central America and Galapagos Islands 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 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 Galapagos Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Galapagos Islands 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 Guatemala City Expensive? and Is Galapagos Islands Expensive?.
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.