A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guatemala City vs. Manaus for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guatemala City or Manaus?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Guatemala City or Manaus? 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 Manaus?

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.

Manaus

Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil.


Which place is cheaper, Manaus 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in Manaus is $66. 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 Manaus in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guatemala City $24
    Manaus $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guatemala City $48
    Manaus $82
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Manaus

Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Manaus? 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.

Hotels in Guatemala City


Hotels in Manaus


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 and Manaus Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guatemala City $6.25
    Manaus $7.63

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $90
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
  • Private transfer from Airport to Panajachel: $65
  • Private transfer Guatemala airport to Antigua.: $60
  • Private Transfers from Guatemala city to Panajachel: $200
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Antigua: $28
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $120
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Puerto Quetzal Port: $209
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Panajachel or Atitlan: $254
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Coban: $161
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
  • Private Transfer From La Aurora AirPort to Panajachel Atitlan : $67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus

Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 24-hour Hotel Transfer to Manaus Airport: $16
  • 24-hour transfer from airport to hotel in Manaus: $17
  • 24h Private Transfer Service Hotel to Manaus Airport: $23
  • Transfer service from Iberostar (Port) to Manaus Airport: $23
  • Serviço de Transfer Privado 24h Aeroporto - Hotel em Manaus: $25
  • Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
  • Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
  • Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $45
  • Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $55
  • Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
  • Manaus private Airport transfer: $60
  • Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $64

Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Manaus?

Prices for flights to both Manaus 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Guatemala City $27
    Manaus $21

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus

For Manaus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
  • Food Tour: $60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guatemala City $1.22
    Manaus -

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 Manaus

For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Manaus Private Walking Tour with a Local: $30
  • Walking Tours in Manaus: $36
  • MUSA and INPA Museums with Observation Tower Tour: $50
  • Half-Day City Tour: $54
  • Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River: $55
  • Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
  • City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $55
  • Manaus City Tour e Musa: $60
  • Manaus Sightseeing Tour: $64
  • Meeting of the Waters & Pink Dolphin Tour with Lunch: $65
  • Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
  • Full-Day Package Tour in Presidente Figueiredo : $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guatemala City $6.93
    Manaus $2.72

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 Manaus, we can see that Manaus 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 Manaus 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 Manaus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manaus 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 Manaus Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Manaus?

Manaus has a larger population, and is about 61% larger than the population of Guatemala City. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City and Manaus, 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.