Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Acapulco de Juarez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Elena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Elena? 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 Santa Elena?
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAcapulco de Juarez $81Santa Elena $92
The average daily cost (per person) in Acapulco de Juarez is $81, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $92. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAcapulco de Juarez $39Santa Elena $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAcapulco de Juarez $78Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Elena? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $16Santa Elena $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Acapulco de Juarez
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Acapulco de Juarez:
- Private Airport Transfer &on 2nd Day 4Hr TourAll AttractionsCombo: $90
- Private Best Round Trip Airport - Hotel - Airport Transfer : $70
- Private - One Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $66
- Airport Transfer in Suburban: $65
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Acapulco Airport (ACA) - Bahia de Acapulco: $49
- 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
- Acapulco hotels to Acapulco Airport (ACA) – Departure Private Transfer : $20
- Acapulco Airport Transfer: $10
- Shared transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA) - Acapulco: $6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $180
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara : $269
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
Is it cheaper to fly into Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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
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Food Meals for one dayAcapulco de Juarez $29Santa Elena $24
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $18Santa Elena $30
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 Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $26
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $30
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour: $30
- Kinkajou Night Walk Tour: $30
- CuriCancha Reserve Admission Ticket: $33
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $34
- Night Adventures in Monteverde: $35
- Natural History Tour - Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve: $35
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Regular Guided tour Monteverde Reserve: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAcapulco de Juarez $11Santa Elena $6.22
When comparing the travel costs between Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena 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 Acapulco de Juarez is in North America and Santa Elena 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 Acapulco de Juarez Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Elena?
Acapulco de Juarez has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Santa Elena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Elena in the Summer?
Both Santa Elena and Acapulco de Juarez during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.
Acapulco de Juarez is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the summer. The daily temperature in Acapulco de Juarez averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Acapulco de Juarez. In the summer, Acapulco de Juarez often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Acapulco de Juarez gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.
Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Acapulco de Juarez. Acapulco de Juarez usually gets more rain in July than Santa Elena. Acapulco de Juarez gets 209 mm (8.2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAcapulco de Juarez 29°C (83°F)Santa Elena 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Elena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Elena. The autumn months attract visitors to Acapulco de Juarez because of the shopping scene. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Acapulco de Juarez is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez in October average around 28°C (83°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In Acapulco de Juarez, it's very sunny this time of the year. Acapulco de Juarez usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. Acapulco de Juarez gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Acapulco de Juarez gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Acapulco de Juarez gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAcapulco de Juarez 28°C (83°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Elena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Acapulco de Juarez as well as Santa Elena. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Acapulco de Juarez this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
In January, Acapulco de Juarez is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez average around 26°C (79°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Acapulco de Juarez this time of the year. In the winter, Acapulco de Juarez often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena. Acapulco de Juarez gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.
Acapulco de Juarez usually gets more rain in January than Santa Elena. Acapulco de Juarez gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAcapulco de Juarez 26°C (79°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Elena in the Spring?
Both Santa Elena and Acapulco de Juarez are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Acapulco de Juarez for the beaches. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Acapulco de Juarez is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the spring. The daily temperature in Acapulco de Juarez averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Acapulco de Juarez. Acapulco de Juarez usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena during spring. Acapulco de Juarez gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Acapulco de Juarez gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAcapulco de Juarez 27°C (81°F)Santa Elena 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Acapulco de Juarez
| Acapulco de Juarez | Santa Elena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.