Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Basse-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Basse-Terre or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Basse-Terre 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: Basse-Terre or Quepos?
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.
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 Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasse-Terre €151Quepos €111
The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €151, while the average daily cost in Quepos is €111. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasse-Terre €90Quepos €73
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasse-Terre €180Quepos €146
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre 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: Basse-Terre Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basse-Terre €8.00Quepos €9.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- 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
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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 €46Quepos €28
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch€14
-
Seafood Dinner (for 1)€19
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.Basse-Terre €47Quepos €16
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
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 dayBasse-Terre €13Quepos €14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Quepos, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Quepos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands 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 Quepos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quepos 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 Quepos.
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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Quepos?
Basse-Terre has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre or Quepos in the Summer?
Both Quepos 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 Quepos year-round.
Quepos 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 Quepos. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Quepos 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 Quepos. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyBasse-Terre 27°C (81°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Quepos 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 Quepos. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Quepos 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 Quepos during autumn. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Quepos in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBasse-Terre 27°C (80°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Quepos in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Quepos. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 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. 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 Quepos. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Basse-Terre is cooler than Quepos. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basse-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBasse-Terre 24°C (76°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos 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 Quepos 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 Quepos. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 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 Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos during spring. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Basse-Terre is generally cooler than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilBasse-Terre 26°C (78°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Basse-Terre
| Basse-Terre | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.