Which place is cheaper, San Pedro La Laguna or Merida?
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 Merida or San Pedro La Laguna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or San Pedro La Laguna, 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: Merida or San Pedro La Laguna?
Merida
Merida is the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It is also the capital of the state of Yucatan as a whole. There is a population of 750,000 and is very rich in diversity and culture.
San Pedro La Laguna
Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Eco Tours in Guatemala.
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Merida Prices
Mexico PricesSan Pedro La Laguna Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerida $99San Pedro La Laguna $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $99, while the average daily cost in San Pedro La Laguna is $45. 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 Merida and San Pedro La Laguna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerida $40San Pedro La Laguna $8.34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerida $80San Pedro La Laguna $17
Compare Hotels in Merida and San Pedro La Laguna
Looking for a hotel in Merida or San Pedro La Laguna? 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: Merida Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merida $17San Pedro La Laguna $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Merida One Way: $44
- Private Transfer From Merida to Uxmal, English Speaking Driver: $156
- Private Airport Transfer from Mérida to Campeche: $292
- One-way Airport Transfers to Merida Hotels: $120
- Merida hotels to Mérida International Airport (MID) - Private Departure Transfer: $25
- Merida Airport (MID) Private Transfer to Merida Centre: $40
- Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $50
- Mérida International Airport (MID) to Merida hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro La Laguna
Also for San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer from Panajachel Atitlan to Guatemala City: $47
- Private transfer from Panajachel to Antigua Guatemala: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or San Pedro La Laguna?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro La Laguna and Merida 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 dayMerida $46San Pedro La Laguna $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merida
For Merida, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Street Food Tour + Historic Tour Merida - Best Rated : $44
- Merida Food Tour with local Yucatecan Chef : $56
- Merida Walking Food Tour. Authentic & Local Cuisine: $64
- Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit: $86
- Merida Shore Excursion- Mexican Cooking Class with Port Transfers: $102
- Market Tour and Authentic Cooking Class in Merida with Transfers: $154
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lemonade$2.09
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Cake$1.30
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Ice cream$0.39
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Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread$3.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
- Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merida $15San Pedro La Laguna $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Merida
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Merida's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Train at the Zoo$0.11
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Uxmal Entrance (for 2)$18
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Mayan Village Entrance (for 2)$5.43
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-hour Temazcal experience in the Mayan world: $167
- 3 Hour Tour in The Sotuta de Peón Live Museum: $56
- 4 Cenotes Full Day Tour from Merida: $104
- 4 Cenotes Tour in Homún all inclusive from Merida: $68
- 4x1 Tour Chichen Itza Magic Towns Valladolid & Izamal from Merida: $108
- 6-hour Guided Tour to Uxmal and Kabah Express: $89
- Adventure 4 cenotes with Izamal: $119
- Ake Ruins & Homun Cenotes Day Tour from Merida: $90
- Ancestral Mayan Private Culinary Experience in Merida: $128
- Boat tour through the mangroves of Celestún and Playa from Merida: $75
- Celestun Biosphere Reserve Tour from Merida: $165
- Celestun Nature Reserve Flamingo Tour-Boat to Flamingo Paradise from Merida: $230
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Canopy Tour (for 2)$39
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Kayaking (for 2)$1.96
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Coffee Tour (for 2)$7.04
Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna
For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Lake Atitlan Boat tour from Puerto Quetzal (Group): $125
- 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
- Authentic local experience with a community of women: $74
- Authentic tour of Mayan art and culture in Lake Atitlan: $42
- Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
- Bicycle Tour Around Lake Atitlan with Weaving Coops and Coffee Plantations: $112
- Boat tour in Mayan villages: $85
- Chichicastenango Market Day Tour from Panajachel: $96
- Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $35
- Full Day Tour to Chichicastenango from Panajachel : $160
- Half-Day Private Indian Nose Peak Tour from Lake Atitlan: $140
- Half-Day Scenic Bicycle Tour from Panajachel: $71
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerida $14San Pedro La Laguna $5.65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and San Pedro La Laguna, we can see that Merida is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merida is in North America and San Pedro La Laguna 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 San Pedro La Laguna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro La Laguna 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 Merida would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Merida than you might in San Pedro La Laguna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is San Pedro La Laguna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Merida or San Pedro La Laguna?
Merida has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of Merida and San Pedro La Laguna, 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.