Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Sapa?
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 Sapa or Roatan?
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 Sapa and Roatan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Sapa or Roatan?
Sapa
Sapa is a beautiful town in the northern mountains of Vietnam by the border with China. Many travelers pass through the area on their way from China into Hanoi. Alternatively, some travelers head north from Hanoi to spend a few days in the beautiful mountains where tribal cultures are still alive and well. There are a good number of ethnic minorities that populate the area. The eight populations in the area include H'mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, Muong, Thai, Hoa, and Xa Pho, but the vast majority in the area are H'mong. Within the town of Sapa itself, there are about 7,000 people. The rest of the population lives in the surrounding countryside and are peasant farmers.
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 Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam, The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Sapa Prices
Vietnam PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySapa $45Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Sapa is $45, 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 Sapa and Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSapa $11Roatan $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSapa $22Roatan $22
Compare Hotels in Sapa and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Sapa 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.
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: Sapa Hotel Prices and Roatan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sapa $8.93Roatan $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Sapa are as follows:
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Short Motorbike Ride$1.14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$4.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Roatan Island Buggy Adventure plus Transfer: $217
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Monkey & Sloth Park, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $155
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $150
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $124
- South Side Horseback Riding, Beach Break & Roundway Transfer: $120
- Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan -Round-Trip Transfer: $115
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $99
- West Bay Aquarium Snorkeling, Chocolate & Rum Factory, City Tour plus Transfer: $91
- Ground transfers and ticket ferry to Utila or La Ceiba: $80
- Catch a ride to West Bay & back to Port, Hotel, or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $75
- Mayan Eden Eco Wildlife Park, City Tour & Private Transfer: $67
Is it cheaper to fly into Sapa or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan and Sapa 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 daySapa $27Roatan $15
Typical Food Prices in Sapa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Sapa:
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Casual Dinner (for One)$2.58
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Quick Breakfast (for Two)$2.08
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Coffee (for Two)$2.27
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Western Dinner (for Two)$7.55
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Pho Soup$0.57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Authentic Roatan Cooking Class and Cultural Experience: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sapa $5.82Roatan $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sapa
For Sapa, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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CatCat Village Tax$1.52
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Ta Phin Village Tax$0.76
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Walking Stick$0.19
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Paddle Boat Rental on Sapa Lake (1 Hr)$3.03
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- ATVs ,Zipline ,island tour with sloths Sanctuary and Tastings: $130
- Bay Islands ATV City Tour and Wildlife Sanctuary Visit: $128
- Exclusive Roatan Islands Tour Monkey Sloth birds : $54
- Roatan Blue channel Snorkeling Tour with Beach Break: $70
- 1 HR Horseback riding + Sloths, Island Tour & Beach Break : $115
- 2-Hour Private Off Road ATV and Beach Experience in Bay Islands: $90
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkel Experience in Roatan: $50
- 4-Hour Private Tour to Roatan Island: $52
- ATV Adventure , Zip Line , Horseback Ride Combo Tour: $175
- ATV Ride and Animals Park Tour Mahogany Bay and Ports Roatan: $135
- ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $132
- Adventures of Roatan ATV Pineapple beach break: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySapa $7.76Roatan $6.64
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Sapa are as follows:
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Two Beers$0.95
When comparing the travel costs between Sapa and Roatan, we can see that Sapa is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Sapa is in Asia and Roatan is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sapa Expensive? and Is Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sapa or Roatan?
Sapa has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Sapa 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.
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.