A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bali vs. Quepos for Food, Nightlife, Resorts, and Beaches

Should you visit Bali or Quepos?

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 Bali and Quepos can help you decide which place is right for you.

Bali

Bali is a frequented, spiritual, and cultural island. Bali is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Bali travel costs.

Quepos

Quepos is a laid-back, relaxed, and local town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and beaches. See Quepos travel costs.

Bali and Quepos: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bali or Quepos?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bali. Although Bali and Quepos are both popular with visitors, Bali has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bali is more popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Quepos is known for its museums and attractions. Bali is more touristy than Quepos and is popular for its many temples, beautiful beaches, world class scuba diving, and cultural retreats. It is also home to Pura Lempuyang. Quepos is popular for its big game sport fishing.

How is Bali different from Quepos?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Quepos and Bali. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bali or Quepos?

Quepos is not a good place to visit for its sights and museums. However, Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

Quepos offers a few options for museum-goers. You won't find much as far as museums go around town.

Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Bali or Quepos? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bali is a world-class destination for its restaurants. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Bali has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. The food is rich and diverse with a lot of spices and complex flavors. Turmeric is a common spice and many dishes use coconut milk. Popular local dishes include Nasi Ayam (a chicken dish), Satay (grilled chicken), and Babi Guling (a pork dish).

Quepos offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find a mix of cafes, fine dining, and seafood restaurants in the area. You can get traditional Costa Rican dishes as well as a more international flavor depending on your preference.

Is Bali or Quepos Better for Nightlife?

Bali is a world-class destination for its evening party scene. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

People head to Bali just to party. The island is known for its crazy raves and all night pool parties. There are multi-story dance clubs as well as upscale bars and beach clubs that host parties late into the night. The best nightlife areas are around Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu.

Quepos has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find a few bars and clubs around town, but it is a small town and the selection can be limited.

Is Bali or Quepos Better for Resorts?

Bali is a world-class destination for its luxury resorts. However, Quepos is lacking in good options for its resorts.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Bali is a perfect choice. The island has resorts as well as private villas that cater to everyone from celebrities to families or even budget travelers. Private villas offer a more secluded vacation while resorts usually have more amenities and the opportunity to socialize with other guests. There are also many family-friendly resorts around the island.

Quepos has a few resort options worth checking out. It's a fishing town with a local vibe, so you'll likely want to stay outside of town if you're looking for an upscale resort.

Is Bali or Quepos Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Bali is a world-class destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Quepos is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

The scuba diving and snorkeling in Bali is not to be missed. The waters are crystal clear and the marine life is abundant making scuba diving and snorkeling popular around the island. There are many snorkeling day trips that you can arrange and there are also dive shops that will take you out on the water.

Quepos is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bali or Quepos Better for Beaches?

Bali is a world-class destination for the beach. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its beaches.

With world-famous beaches, Bali is a very popular vacation destination. The island is large enough that it has a diversity of beach styles. There are popular beaches with water sports as well as secluded bays where you can enjoy a more peaceful setting. Some beaches are dramatic with limestone cliffs while others are lined with palm trees.

Quepos has a beach worth visiting. If you want to be close to the beach, you'll do better to stay at nearby Manuel Antonio. Quepos does have a waterfront and access to deep sea fishing.

Is Bali or Quepos Better for Hiking?

Bali is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Quepos is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Bali. Walking on the island is beautiful and with its varied landscapes you can explore scenic rice paddies or pristine rainforests. You'll find the most challenging hikes in West Bali National Park, where a guide is recommended, but there are many other shorter hikes on the island that can be explored independently.

Quepos is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bali or Quepos?

Bali is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bali. A big appeal of shopping on the island is the affordability. There are many local items that are fun to bring home including jewelry, handicrafts, furniture, and clothing.

Quepos is a great destination for shopping. You'll find boutique shops around town that sell everything from clothing to art.

Is Bali or Quepos More Beautiful?

Bali is a world-class destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Quepos is not a destination known for its beauty.

Bali is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches and stunning countryside. It's also a very cultural island with a lot of spirituality.

Quepos is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bali or Quepos Better for Families?

You'll find very good kid-friendly activities in either Bali or Quepos.

Bali is a very kid-friendly island. The island has countless activities that kids can enjoy. There are watersports, snorkeling, surfing lessons and beautiful beaches. You can also expose your kids to the spiritual side of the island with kid-friendly yoga classes. Animals lovers will enjoy getting to see the monkeys up close and for a unique culinary experience, you can take a family cooking class.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Quepos. Most of the beaches are kid-friendly and the children will love the wildlife. You'll also find zipline tours in the area as well as canopy walks.

Is Bali or Quepos Better for Couples?

Both Bali and Quepos are fantastic destinations to visit as a couple.

For those traveling as a couple, Bali has plenty to offer. This beautiful island offers stunning beaches, adventure sports, and world class snorkeling. There are beautiful resorts with spas as well as couples yoga classes impressive natural areas.

Quepos has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The beaches and resorts make this a favorite honeymoon destination for couples. There are many great restaurants and plenty of activities like horseback riding or surfing nearby.

Is Bali or Quepos Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Bali and Quepos are fantastic destinations for backpackers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Bali. Backpackers flock to this beautiful island for its stunning setting and affordable accommodation. There are many nice places where backpackers can hang out and get to know other travelers. If you want to get off the beaten path, it's best to head into the countryside and away from the main tourist hubs.

A large number of backpackers visit Quepos, as it is a very popular island for budget travelers. It's one of the more popular destinations in Costa Rica, so you'll find plenty of hostels and other backpackers to hang out with.

Is Bali or Quepos Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Bali and Quepos offer good public transit options.

Bali has a few public transit options. There are minibuses and tourist shuttle buses around the island. You can also hire a taxi or rent a car, scooter, or bicycle.

Quepos has some public transit options. There are a number of buses that pass through town. There are also buses that travel between Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

Is Bali or Quepos a more walkable city?

Quepos is very good for its high level of walkability. However, Bali is not a good island for its ease of walking around.

Quepos is a somewhat walkable place. It is a relatively walkable town.

Bali is generally not a very walkable island. There are some walkable towns and cities on the island, but many areas can be challenging to navigate on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bali Worth Visiting? and Is Quepos Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Quepos or Bali?

How long in Bali or Quepos?

It's fun to spend time in either Bali or Quepos. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Bali due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 7-14 days is a good amount of time for Bali, and 2-4 days is enough time in Quepos.

Families should spend more time in Bali than Quepos. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Bali, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bali than Quepos. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bali that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bali than Quepos if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Bali.

One day in Bali or Quepos?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bali. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Quepos. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Bali or Quepos?

Bali is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Quepos is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Bali or Quepos?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bali. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With so much to do, five days is probably not enough time to see everything. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find food and shopping around the laid-back destination of Quepos. This town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bali or Quepos?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the spiritual destination of Bali. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

The local town of Quepos offers shopping and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Bali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bali is in Asia 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 Bali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bali 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 Bali.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bali Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bali or Quepos?

Bali has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Bali 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 Bali or Quepos?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Bali or Quepos in the Summer?

Both Quepos and Bali during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bali because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.

April to September is the dry season in Bali. Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bali usually gets less rain in July than Quepos. Bali gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Bali. In the summer, Bali often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Bali gets 253 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Bali is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bali in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Bali or Quepos in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bali and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bali year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Also, October to March is the rainy season in Bali. December to April in Quepos is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in Quepos. Quepos receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Bali usually receives less rain than Quepos. Bali gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Bali, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bali usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during autumn. Bali gets 266 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bali is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Bali or Quepos in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bali as well as Quepos. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.

October to March in Bali is the rainy season. Bali usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Bali gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. In the winter, Bali often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Bali gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.

Bali is around the same temperature as Quepos in the winter. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Bali or Quepos in the Spring?

Both Quepos and Bali are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bali throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Bali is April to September. The dry season in Quepos is December to April. May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season. In April, Bali usually receives more rain than Quepos. Bali gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Quepos. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bali. Bali usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during spring. Bali gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Bali is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bali in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos averages at about 29°C (85°F).

Typical Weather for Quepos and Bali