Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Acapulco de Juarez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Acapulco de Juarez or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Quepos? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Acapulco de Juarez or Quepos?
Acapulco de Juarez
Located on the southwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico is the beautiful beach city of Acapulco de Juarez. Acapulco is one of the original travel and resort destinations in Mexico, and it's still considered a popular spring break destination for Americans. Known as simply "Acapulco" to many travelers, this region is a popular spot for cruise lines to stop and timeshares to grow. Thanks to those cruise lines and timeshares, tourist activities like water parks and jet skis have experienced considerable growth.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAcapulco de Juarez $81Quepos $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Acapulco de Juarez is $81, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $117. 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 Acapulco de Juarez and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAcapulco de Juarez $39Quepos $77
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAcapulco de Juarez $78Quepos $154
Compare Hotels in Acapulco de Juarez and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Acapulco de Juarez or Quepos? 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: Acapulco de Juarez Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $16Quepos $9.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Acapulco de Juarez
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Acapulco de Juarez:
- Transfer in private minivan from Bahía de Acapulco -Acapulco Airport (ACA): $32
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Bahía de Acapulco - Acapulco Airport (ACA): $24
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Acapulco Airport (ACA) -Bahía de Acapulco: $24
- Shared transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA) - Acapulco: $6.00
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Acapulco Airport (ACA) - Bahia de Acapulco: $49
- Private Airport Transfer &on 2nd Day 4Hr TourAll AttractionsCombo: $90
- Airport Transfer in Suburban: $65
- Acapulco hotels to Acapulco Airport (ACA) – Departure Private Transfer : $20
- Acapulco Airport Transfer: $10
- Private Best Round Trip Airport - Hotel - Airport Transfer : $70
- Private - One Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
Is it cheaper to fly into Acapulco de Juarez or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos and Acapulco de Juarez 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 dayAcapulco de Juarez $29Quepos $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Acapulco de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Acapulco de Juarez.
- High Divers DeLuxe Three Course Dinner +Three Drinks plus SUNSET: $49
- Cliff Divers Exhibition 2 Drinks + Tacos al Pastor Dinner & Beer: $55
- Cliff Diver De Luxe 3 Course Dinner at "La Quebrada" in Acapulco: $56
- Cliff Divers Show With Dinner At Acapulco: $72
- Wrestling-Lucha Libre Experience Tacos Beer Dinner Only SUNDAY: $84
- Off the Beaten Path Mexican Cooking Class Lagoon Boatride &Lunch: $89
- Hands ON - Mex Cooking Class Experience - City Market & Lunch : $90
- Hands On Mexican Cooking Class with Food Tasting & Market Visit: $100
- Mexican Fiesta Show & Dinner: $115
- Bella Vista PRIVATE Al Fresco 3 Course Dinner Cliff Diver3Drinks: $191
- Super DeLuxe Bella Vista Dinner &1 Drink +2 Drinks at CliffDivers: $193
- Divers Show and Luxury Dinner in Acapulco: $199
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch$15
-
Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $18Quepos $17
Tours and Activities in Acapulco de Juarez
Here are a few actual costs in Acapulco de Juarez for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4Hrs City Tour Exclusively for Hotels, Divers, Chapel & Mural.: $44
- 6Hr Walking Tour San Diego Fort Museum Cliff Divers Zocalo: $68
- Small-Group or Private All Inclusive 4 Hours City Tour & Divers: $36
- 4 Hrs Exclusive to Cruise Ship Passengers Sightseeing Experience : $62
- 4-6Hrs Acapulco City Tour With a Fun Guide. Diver Show, Mex Lunch: $47
- 4Hrs Small Group Half Day City Tour with Lunch at High Divers: $85
- 4hr City Tour For Cruises or Hotels Diver Peace Chapel & Mural: $40
- 6Hr City Tour Cruise or Hotel Turtle Nesting High Diver & Market: $51
- 6Hr Cruise or Hotels City Tour, Divers, Baby Turtles Peace Chapel: $51
- 6Hr Cruisers or Hotels High Diver Peace Chapel BabyTurtleRelease: $50
- Acapulco City Tour : $35
- Acapulco Historical Tour with Cliff Divers Show: $65
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Manuel Antonio National Park tour : $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Group Guided Tour: $30
- Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park!: $35
- Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour with pick up included: $39
- Guided hiking Tour by the Mystic Ebano Rainforest in Costa Rica: $40
- Manuel Antonio: Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $45
- Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $45
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAcapulco de Juarez $11Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Acapulco de Juarez and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Acapulco de Juarez much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Acapulco de Juarez is in North America and Quepos 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 Acapulco de Juarez would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Acapulco de Juarez 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos than you might in Acapulco de Juarez.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Acapulco de Juarez Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Acapulco de Juarez or Quepos?
Acapulco de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Acapulco de Juarez and Quepos, 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.
When is the best time to visit Acapulco de Juarez or Quepos?
Acapulco de Juarez has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Quepos in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Acapulco de Juarez as well as Quepos. The beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Acapulco de Juarez this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Acapulco de Juarez is around the same temperature as Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Acapulco de Juarez averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Acapulco de Juarez this time of the year. In the summer, Acapulco de Juarez often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Acapulco de Juarez gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. Acapulco de Juarez receives a lot of rain in the summer. Acapulco de Juarez usually gets more rain in July than Quepos. Acapulco de Juarez gets 209 mm (8.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyAcapulco de Juarez 29°C (83°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Quepos in the Autumn?
Both Quepos and Acapulco de Juarez are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Acapulco de Juarez for the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Acapulco de Juarez is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez in October average around 28°C (83°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Acapulco de Juarez. Acapulco de Juarez usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during autumn. Acapulco de Juarez gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. It's quite rainy in Acapulco de Juarez. In October, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives less rain than Quepos. Acapulco de Juarez gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAcapulco de Juarez 28°C (83°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos and Acapulco de Juarez during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
In January, Acapulco de Juarez is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez average around 26°C (79°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Quepos, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Acapulco de Juarez. In the winter, Acapulco de Juarez often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos. Acapulco de Juarez gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.
Acapulco de Juarez usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Acapulco de Juarez gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAcapulco de Juarez 26°C (79°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Quepos in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Acapulco de Juarez and Quepos. Most visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez for the beaches during these months. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Acapulco de Juarez is around the same temperature as Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Acapulco de Juarez averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Quepos this time of the year. In Acapulco de Juarez, it's very sunny this time of the year. Acapulco de Juarez usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos during spring. Acapulco de Juarez gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives less rain than Quepos. Acapulco de Juarez gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilAcapulco de Juarez 27°C (81°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Acapulco de Juarez
| Acapulco de Juarez | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 271 mm (10.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 341 mm (13.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
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.