Should you visit Belize City or Jaco?
Should I visit Belize City or Jaco? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.
This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Jaco or Belize City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $70, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $62. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Belize City and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $78 in Belize City For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Jaco can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $40, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $80.
Food
While meal prices in Belize City can vary, the average travelers spends about $22 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Belize City should cost around $8.80 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Belize City is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
The average traveler spends about $12 per day in Jaco for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Belize City $22
Jaco $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City
For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Private Mayan Cooking and Tasting Experience in Cayo:
$70
-
See and Taste Belize Cave Tubing and Food Tour:
$77
-
Belize Cultural Food Tour Altun Ha Ruin Included:
$95
-
Mestizo Food Tour (Rum & Ruin Included):
$125
Typical Food prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch
$3.20
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Taco Bar Dinner
$7.32
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch
$5.13
-
Ice Cream
$4.81
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Breakfast Taco Bar
$2.72
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Fruit Plate
$2.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Traveling Spoon Ceviche Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Online Costa Rican Cooking Class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman:
$35
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Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman:
$70
Local Transportation
Belize City's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $4.64 per person, per day on transportation in Belize City.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Tours&airport transfer:
$128
-
Private Transfer: Belize Airports or Water Taxi Terminal to Hotel in San Ignacio:
$96
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Private Arrival Transfer: Belize International Airport to San Ignacio Hotels:
$160
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Helicopter Transfer to Grand Caribe Heliport, Ambergris Caye:
$1,493
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Belize: Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Transfer:
$45
-
Belize Travelcation Airport Shuttle & Transfers:
$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer from Jaco to Monteverde up to 5 passengers:
$210
-
Transfer TO or FROM Jaco Beach Area to SJO Airport:
$95
-
Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport:
$152
-
Private Departure Transfer: Jaco Beach to Juan SantamarÃa International Airport:
$153
-
Jacó Private Transfer to San Jose Airport for 1 to 5 People:
$146
-
Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer:
$112
-
Jaco Airport Transfers:
$149
Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and Belize City 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Belize City can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $23 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Jaco can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $39 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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4-Day Aktun Tunichil Muknal and Lamanai City Tour:
$560
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5-Day Belize Sea and Land Adventure:
$799
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7-Night Tour Including The Orchid Garden Eco-Village Lodge and Ambergris Caye:
$1,399
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9-Day Tour Including Tikal Islander and Ambergris Caye:
$1,499
-
All Day Reef fishing tour with lunch from Belize City:
$540
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Altun Ha & Belize City Tour from Caye Caulker:
$163
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Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from Belize City:
$208
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Altun Ha City v.i.v Tour:
$79
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Altun Ha Maya & Belize City Adventure:
$85
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Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and River Wallace and Manatee Watch Tour:
$85
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Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City:
$70
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Altun Ha and Belize City Tour from San Pedro:
$180
Typical Entertainment prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class
$7.98
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Surf Lesson
$40
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Bike Rental
$7.98
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Tortuga Island Tour
$79
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Massage
$36
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2 Hour ATV Adventure Through Costa Rican Jungle in Jaco:
$71
-
2hrs ATV & Crocodile COMBO Tour:
$113
-
3 Hour ATV Tour Through Costa Rican Rainforest:
$90
-
3 hrs ATV Tour:
$87
-
3hrs ATV & Monkey Mangrove COMBO Tour:
$145
-
3hrs ATV Plus Horseback Waterfall COMBO Tour:
$159
-
4x4 Land Cruiser Ride to the Waterfalls Tour:
$33
-
4x4 Rainforest Adventure Booze Safari:
$98
-
4x4 Rainforest Tour - Lunch & Waterfall Included:
$95
-
ATV 2 Hour tour With Waterfall Experience:
$70
-
ATV Full-Day Tour in Jaco:
$186
-
ATV Tour in Jaco:
$54
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Belize City spend on average $9.58 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Jaco spend on average $21 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine
$12
-
Night at the Bar
$22
When comparing the travel costs between Belize City and Jaco, we can see that Belize City 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. Since both cities are in Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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