Which place is cheaper, San Pedro La Laguna or Punta Cana?
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 Punta Cana or San Pedro La Laguna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana or San Pedro La Laguna? 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: Punta Cana or San Pedro La Laguna?
Punta Cana
Punta Cana, located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is renowned for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant culture. This Caribbean paradise offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to all types of travelers, whether you're on a tight budget, seeking thrilling activities, exploring local cuisine, or figuring out the best ways to get around.
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 Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Budget Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala.
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Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSan Pedro La Laguna Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $170San Pedro La Laguna $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $170, 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 Punta Cana and San Pedro La Laguna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $95San Pedro La Laguna $8.34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $190San Pedro La Laguna $17
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and San Pedro La Laguna
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana 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: Punta Cana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.39San Pedro La Laguna $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- private transfer from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo airport (sdq): $156
- YC VIP Transfers: $50
- Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana - Airport Transfer - Round Trip: $137
- VIP Uvero Alto Private Transfer Suburban from Punta Cana: $60
- VIP Transfers in Luxury SUVs - Punta Cana: $19
- VIP Transfers PUJ Airport to Bavaro and Punta Cana Hotels: $72
- VIP Transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Punta Cana / Bavaro Hotel: $67
- VIP Transfer from Airport to Cap Cana Hotels: $149
- VIP Transfer From Punta Cana Int. Airport to Punta Cana / Bavaro: $120
- VIP Suburban Transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Bavaro Hotels: $47
- VIP SUV Suburbans Transfer Punta Cana Airport & Hotels : $35
- VIP SUV Airport Transfer from Punta Cana/Bavaro: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro La Laguna
Also for San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from Panajachel to Antigua Guatemala: $65
- Shared Transfer from Panajachel Atitlan to Guatemala City: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or San Pedro La Laguna?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro La Laguna and Punta Cana 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 dayPunta Cana $64San Pedro La Laguna $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- Origen Tasting Adventure Dinner or Lunch of 8 Courses Dom Cuisine: $85
- Taste of DR Street Food Tour: $125
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $130
- Punta Cana Night Tour Polaris Ride Dinner Music and Open Bar: $169
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.Punta Cana $30San Pedro La Laguna $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Punta Cana
Here are a few typical costs in Punta Cana for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Dune Buggy Adventure$51
Tours and Activities in Punta Cana
Here are a few actual costs in Punta Cana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Adventure:4x4 ATV Cave and Dominican Culture At Punta Cana: $40
- Enjoy Our Tours Higuey City Cultural : $45
- Explore Punta Cana Buggy or ATV Adventure in Macao: $59
- Full Day Tour to Santo Domingo with Lunch.: $70
- Full Experience Hacienda – 6 Exciting Adventures: $90
- Full-Day Boat Tour of Los Haitises National Park: $165
- Full-Day Santo Domingo City Tour: $89
- Half Day Higuey City Tour from Punta Cana with Pick Up: $82
- Macao Beach private horseback tour in punta cana : $55
- Private ATV Tour from Punta Cana : $250
- Tours Parasailing Punta Cana: $99
- Tours Ziplines Punta Cana : $99
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:
- Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
- Sunrise Tour in Indian Nose Hike and Views of Lake Atitlan: $35
- Lake Atitlan Guided Tour by Boat from Panajachel: $35
- Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $35
- Tour of San Juan Lake Atitlan: $35
- Tour in the Atitlan Nature Reserve : $40
- La Nose of the Indian Mountain Tour: $40
- Authentic tour of Mayan art and culture in Lake Atitlan: $42
- Sunrise Hike Tour on Indian's Nose Mountain: $45
- Sololá Colourful Market Day Tour: $50
- 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
- Private Tour of Lake Atitlán by Mototaxi: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $10San Pedro La Laguna $5.65
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta Cana
Also in Punta Cana, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Punta Cana: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Cana and San Pedro La Laguna, we can see that Punta Cana is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Cana is in Caribbean Islands 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 Punta Cana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta Cana 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 Punta Cana Expensive? and Is San Pedro La Laguna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta Cana or San Pedro La Laguna?
Punta Cana has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of Punta Cana 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.