Antigua on 30/Day: The Full Budget Breakdown

I did 5 days in Antigua, Guatemala for $150. That's $30/day all-in. Here's every dollar.

Everyone says Antigua is getting too expensive for budget travelers. They're going to the wrong places. If you avoid the tourist-trap restaurants around the main plaza and stick to the local spots, this colonial city is still incredibly cheap.

Here is the exact math on how I kept it to $30/day, plus how you can book the exact same trip.

Daily Budget Breakdown:

The Breakdown:

ACCOMMODATION: $10/day
Hostel Antigueno — $10/night for a dorm. 9.1 rating on Hostelworld. It has a huge grassy courtyard, a great social vibe, and it's not a chaotic party hostel. Crucially, they have free filtered water, which saves you $2-3 a day right there.
Alternative: Socialtel Antigua is about $9/night if you want more of a party atmosphere.

FOOD: $10/day
Street food is the move here. If you sit down at a restaurant with an English menu near the Santa Catalina Arch, you will blow your budget immediately. Hit up the food stands near La Merced church instead.

• Breakfast: $2 (Coffee and a fresh pastry from a local panaderia)
• Lunch: $4 (Menu del dia — the daily set menu — at a local comedor near the market. Usually soup, grilled chicken, rice, beans, and tortillas)
• Dinner: $4 (Shucos — Guatemalan street hot dogs loaded with guac and cabbage — and tostadas from the street carts)

TRANSPORTATION: $3/day
Antigua is insanely walkable. You really don't need wheels within the city. The $3/day is basically an average for taking chicken buses (camionetas) to nearby towns or paying for a quick tuk-tuk if you're out late. Uber exists but it kills the budget fast.

ACTIVITIES: $5/day
Walking up to Cerro de la Cruz for the volcano views is completely free. Most of your activity budget goes to tipping on the free walking tours ($5) and paying the small entrance fees (around $5) to explore the gorgeous earthquake ruins like the Convento de Santa Clara.

The Honest Review:

What was great: The cobblestone streets with Volcán de Agua looming in the background is an unreal sight. The street food scene is fire, and it's one of the best coffee cities on earth.
What sucked: Those same cobblestones will absolutely destroy your ankles if you bring the wrong shoes. Also, the tourist creep is real — you have to actively try to avoid the overpriced gringo spots.
Would I go back: 100%. It's the perfect long weekend trip from the US.

Total Trip Cost:

How to Book This Trip:

1. The Flight: Use Google Flights to track routes from your city to GUA (Guatemala City). From Miami, nonstop flights on American or Spirit frequently drop to the $200-$220 range.
2. The Transit: Take a shared shuttle directly from the GUA airport to Antigua (about $15-20, takes 1.5 to 2 hours). Don't take a taxi.
3. The Hostel: Book Hostel Antigueno directly or through Hostelworld. Pay attention to the season — if you go during Holy Week (Semana Santa), prices will double.

Go. Seriously. You can afford this. Your weekend bar tab is probably more than this flight.

This post contains affiliate links. If you book through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend stuff I'd actually use (and have used).