Which place is cheaper, San Pedro or Santo Domingo?
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 Santo Domingo or San Pedro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Santo Domingo and San Pedro can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santo Domingo or San Pedro?
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is a vibrant city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and modernity. Known for being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, Santo Domingo offers a wealth of experiences that cater to every type of traveler.
Traveling to Santo Domingo on a budget is entirely achievable with some strategic planning. Accommodations range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. The Zona Colonial, the historic district, offers several affordable lodging options that provide easy access to major attractions. Hostels offer comfortable accommodations and a chance to meet fellow travelers, too. Eating on a budget is also feasible in Santo Domingo. Local eateries, known as "comedores," serve traditional Dominican dishes at reasonable prices.
San Pedro
San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
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 Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.
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Santo Domingo Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSan Pedro Prices
Belize Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanto Domingo $99San Pedro $163
The average daily cost (per person) in Santo Domingo is $99, while the average daily cost in San Pedro is $163. 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 Santo Domingo and San Pedro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanto Domingo $40San Pedro $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanto Domingo $80San Pedro $132
Compare Hotels in Santo Domingo and San Pedro
Looking for a hotel in Santo Domingo or San Pedro? 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: Santo Domingo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santo Domingo $4.59San Pedro $34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santo Domingo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santo Domingo:
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) Arrival Transfer to Boca Chica: $11
- Private Airport Transfer (SDQ) to Santo Domingo / Punta Cana: $11
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Santo Domingo City): $12
- Roundtrip Airport Transfer (SDQ) to Santo Domingo / Punta Cana: $22
- Private Transfer from Int Las Americas Airport (SDQ): $27
- Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $30
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Puerto Plata - Private Transfer: $37
- Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $37
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Santo Domingo - Arrival Transfer: $37
- Puerto Plata to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Private Transfer: $39
- Transfer to and from Santo Domingo.: $50
- Private Transfer Santo Domingo Port to Santo Domingo Airport SDQ: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure (Boat Transfer): $210
Is it cheaper to fly into Santo Domingo or San Pedro?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro and Santo Domingo 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 daySanto Domingo $53San Pedro $69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Pedro.
- Maya Sunset Dinner Feast: $49
- The Maya Dinner Experience: Season 2: $111
- The Garifuna Dinner Experience: Season I: $111
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santo Domingo $14San Pedro $33
Typical Entertainment Prices in Santo Domingo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Santo Domingo are as follows:
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Snorkeling Tour$42
Tours and Activities in Santo Domingo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santo Domingo are as follows:
- Taínos 4D Experience Discover the Legacy of the Caribbean: $6.00
- Ron Barcelo Anejo Experience Factory Tour: $20
- Colonial Zone Bike Tour: $45
- Panoramic City Tour: $46
- Santo Domingo Small Group Walking Tour: Beer and Specialty Coffee: $59
- Iconic Highlights and historical Tour in Santo Domingo: $75
- Santo Domingo City Tour with Pickup Included From Santo Domingo: $75
- Half Day Santo Domingo Tour: Three Eyes Park to Colon Lighthouse: $80
- Full Day Tour to Santo Domingo from Punta Cana with Lunch: $80
- Santo Domingo Walking Tour for the Whole Family : $88
- Santo Domingo Cultural Tour: $89
- Full-Day Santo Domingo City Tour from Punta Cana: $89
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- The Maya Brunch Experience: $44
- 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $59
- Haunted Tales of the Maya: Cocktail | Dessert Experience: $66
- Ambergris Caye Food and History Tour: $75
- Half Day Snorkeling Tour Caye Caulker: $80
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $85
- Belizean Food Experience: $87
- San Pedro Local Diving Experience : $97
- Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour: $99
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $99
- Caye Caulker Private Camping Adventure: $100
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $113
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanto Domingo $7.54San Pedro $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santo Domingo and San Pedro, we can see that San Pedro is more expensive. And not only is Santo Domingo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santo Domingo is in Caribbean Islands and San Pedro 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 Santo Domingo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santo Domingo 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 San Pedro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro than you might in Santo Domingo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santo Domingo Expensive? and Is San Pedro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santo Domingo or San Pedro?
Santo Domingo has a larger population, and is about 260 times larger than the population of San Pedro. When comparing the sizes of Santo Domingo and San Pedro, 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.