Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Basse-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Basse-Terre or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Jaco? 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: Basse-Terre or Jaco?
Basse-Terre
In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasse-Terre €151Jaco €98
The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €151, while the average daily cost in Jaco is €98. 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 Basse-Terre and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasse-Terre €90Jaco €64
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasse-Terre €180Jaco €128
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre or Jaco? 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: Basse-Terre Hotel Prices and Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basse-Terre €8.00Jaco -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
- From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
- Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $200
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Transfer Private From Jaco to San José or Airport up to 5 passengers (one way) : $245
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and Basse-Terre 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 dayBasse-Terre €46Jaco €20
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Hermosa BeachLlunch€3.74
-
Tsunami Sushi Dinner€17
-
Taco Bar Dinner€8.55
-
Pizza & Smoothie Lunch€5.99
-
Ice Cream€5.61
-
Breakfast Taco Bar€3.17
-
Fruit Plate€2.81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jacó: $87
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basse-Terre €47Jaco €57
Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basse-Terre are as follows:
- Full day tour: the best of the island w/photos drone sunset: $213
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Dance Class€9.32
-
Surf Lesson€47
-
Bike Rental€9.32
-
Tortuga Island Tour€93
-
Massage€42
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching Tour: $35
- Crocodile Man Tour THE ORIGINAL: $40
- Jason Crocodile Tours: $40
- Jaco Beach: 2-Hour Chocolate Experience Tour: $43
- Horseback Riding Pacific Experience in Tarcoles Garabito: $47
- 2 Hours Private Guided Hiking Experience to El Miro in Jaco: $50
- From Canopy Tour in Hacienda Nosavar: $50
- Guided visit to Carara National Park (Ticket included): $50
- "Miro Jaco" & Jaco Beach Horseback Tour: $59
- Jaco Horse Tours: $60
- Chocolate Experience: $62
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $64
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasse-Terre €13Jaco €30
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
-
Wine€14
-
Night at the Bar€25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Jaco, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Jaco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and Jaco 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 Jaco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaco 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 Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre than you might in Jaco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basse-Terre Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Jaco?
Basse-Terre has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Jaco, 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 Basse-Terre or Jaco?
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 Basse-Terre or Jaco in the Summer?
Both Jaco and Basse-Terre during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
Jaco gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets less rain in July than Jaco. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the summer, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Jaco. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Jaco. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyBasse-Terre 27°C (81°F)Jaco 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Jaco in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Jaco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Jaco receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than Jaco. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Jaco during autumn. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Jaco in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBasse-Terre 27°C (80°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Jaco in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Jaco. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in January than Jaco. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Jaco 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 Jaco. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the winter, Basse-Terre often gets less sunshine than Jaco. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Basse-Terre is cooler than Jaco. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basse-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Jaco averages at about 27°C (81°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBasse-Terre 24°C (76°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Jaco in the Spring?
Both Jaco and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In April, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Jaco. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Jaco. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Jaco during spring. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Basse-Terre is generally cooler than Jaco. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilBasse-Terre 26°C (78°F)Jaco 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Jaco and Basse-Terre
| Basse-Terre | Jaco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.