A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Veracruz vs. San Pedro La Laguna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Veracruz or San Pedro La Laguna?

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 Veracruz and San Pedro La Laguna can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Veracruz or San Pedro La Laguna?

Veracruz

Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Budget Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro La Laguna or Veracruz?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Veracruz Prices
    Mexico Prices
    San Pedro La Laguna Prices
    Guatemala Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Veracruz $143
    San Pedro La Laguna $45

The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $143, 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 Veracruz and San Pedro La Laguna in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Veracruz $49
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Veracruz $98
    San Pedro La Laguna $17
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and San Pedro La Laguna

Looking for a hotel in Veracruz 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.

Hotels in Veracruz


Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna


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: Veracruz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Veracruz $26
    San Pedro La Laguna $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz

Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $42
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: General Heriberto Jara International Airport to Veracruz Hotels: $23
  • Roundtrip Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $37
  • Private Transfer to Veracruz Airport (VER): $18
  • Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $18

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 Veracruz or San Pedro La Laguna?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro La Laguna and Veracruz 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
    Veracruz $78
    San Pedro La Laguna $19

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:


  • Lemonade
    $2.09
  • Cake
    $1.30
  • Ice cream
    $0.39
  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Veracruz $13
    San Pedro La Laguna $22

Tours and Activities in Veracruz

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.

  • 1 day tour of Tlacotalpan and Alvarado from Veracruz: $127
  • 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $23
  • Alvarado And Tlacotalpan Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio: $105
  • Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $25
  • Catemaco And Los Tuxtlas Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio: $105
  • City Tour en Veracruz y Acuario: $100
  • Full Day Coffee Guided Tour in Coatepec: $98
  • Full Day Tour to Alvarado and Tlacotalpan from Veracruz or Boca del Río: $92
  • Full Day Tour to Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas with Transportation: $92
  • Full Day Tour to La Antigua, Cempoala and Quiahuiztlán: $87
  • Full-Day Tour to El Tajin and Vanilla Factory from Veracruz: $138
  • Jalcomulco Rapids Adventure from Veracruz or Boca del Río: $141

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:


  • Canopy Tour (for 2)
    $39
  • Kayaking (for 2)
    $1.96
  • 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Veracruz $16
    San Pedro La Laguna $5.65


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Veracruz and San Pedro La Laguna, we can see that Veracruz is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Veracruz 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 Veracruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Veracruz 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 Veracruz Expensive? and Is San Pedro La Laguna Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Veracruz or San Pedro La Laguna?

Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz 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.