A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salvador vs. Roatan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Salvador or Roatan?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salvador or Roatan, 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: Salvador or Roatan?

Salvador

Salvador de Bahia was the first capital of Brazil, founded by the Portuguese in 1549. Also known as "Brazil's capital of happiness," Salvador is famous for its plentiful and spirited street festivals. The third most populous city in Brazil, Salvador is also well-known for its Afro-Brazilian culture and Portuguese colonial architecture.

Roatan

Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.


Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Salvador?

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 Salvador is $51, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Salvador and Roatan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Salvador $23
    Roatan $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Salvador $46
    Roatan $22
Compare Hotels in Salvador and Roatan

Looking for a hotel in Salvador or Roatan? 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 Salvador


Hotels in Roatan


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: Salvador Hotel Prices and Roatan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Salvador $5.78
    Roatan $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Salvador

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Salvador:


  • Bus from Airport
    $1.13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salvador

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salvador:

  • Arrival or Departure Shared Transfer from Airport to hotels in Salvador: $15
  • Shared Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $15
  • Shared Transfer - North Coast: $21
  • Transfer Hotel in Salvador / Salvador Airport: $22
  • Transfer Salvador Airport / Hotel in Salvador: $22
  • Tourism and Transfer Salvador and Morro de São Paulo: $23
  • Praia do Forte Shared Transfer From Salvador : $26
  • Airport Transfer x Salvador Hotel - Sedan 1 to 4 people: $30
  • Executive Transfer - Salvador International Airport to Hotels or Residencia: $31
  • Transfer Salvador Airport / Hotel Litoral Norte: $35
  • Salvador Airport (SSA) to Salvador - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
  • Transfer Vila Galé Marés (Guarajuba) - Private: $39

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    $4.00

Is it cheaper to fly into Salvador or Roatan?

Prices for flights to both Roatan and Salvador 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
    Salvador $21
    Roatan $15
Typical Food Prices in Salvador

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Salvador:


  • Dinner for 2
    $1.31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salvador

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salvador.

  • Bahia Noite - Folkloric Show and Dinner, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: $68
  • Cooking class in Salvador, an authentic dinning experience: $85
  • Folklore Tour with Buffet Dinner: $91
  • Hands-On Bahian Cooking Class with Caipirinhas in Salvador: $95
  • Bahia Noite - Folklore and Dinner Show, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: $95
  • Folk Show - Bahia Night (Dinner Included) by Salvador Receptivo: $110
  • Private Bahian Cooking Class - An Amazing Experience!: $140
  • Salvador by Night: Cultural Dinner and Show: $146
  • Cultural Folkloric Show and Dinner in Salvador: $170
  • Authentic Cooking Class with Market Visit & Lunch: $175
  • Culinary Afro-Brazilian Delights & Churrascaria dinner.: $179
  • Bahia By Night: Dinner and Folkloric show: $195

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Salvador $5.45
    Roatan $26

Tours and Activities in Salvador

Here are a few actual costs in Salvador for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Vitória and Barra): $4.48
  • Walking tour historic Pelourinho: $12
  • City Tour in Salvador - Half Day: $19
  • Historic City Tour - Half Day in Salvador: $19
  • Salvador Historical City Center Tour: $22
  • Salvador Panoramic City Tour: $22
  • Panoramic Tour, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: $25
  • Historic City Tour in Salvador: $25
  • Panoramic City Tour in Salvador: $25
  • Bahia 500 Years Historic Tour, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: $25
  • Historical Salvador City Tour: $26
  • Panoramic Salvador Half Day City Tour: $26

Tours and Activities in Roatan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:

  • Monkeys and sloths, private tour , and beach: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Salvador $5.17
    Roatan $6.64
Typical Alcohol Prices in Salvador

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Salvador:


  • Beers for 2
    $1.31
  • Drinks
    $2.63


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salvador and Roatan, we can see that Salvador is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Salvador is in South America and Roatan 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Salvador would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salvador than you might in Roatan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salvador Expensive? and Is Roatan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Salvador or Roatan?

Salvador has a larger population, and is about 360 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Salvador and Roatan, 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.