Should you visit Belize City or Tamarindo?
Should I visit Belize City or Tamarindo? 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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
Which city is cheaper, Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo is $79. 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 Tamarindo 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.
A hotel room in Tamarindo is about $64 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
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.
On average, meal and food prices in Tamarindo cost around $21 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $8.40.
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Food
Meals for one day
Belize City $22
Tamarindo $21
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
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See and Taste Belize Cave Tubing and Food Tour:
$77
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Belize Cultural Food Tour Altun Ha Ruin Included:
$95
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Mestizo Food Tour (Rum & Ruin Included):
$125
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.
The average price of local transportation around Tamarindo is $45 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Belize Travelcation Airport Shuttle & Transfers:
$28
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Belize: Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Transfer:
$45
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Private Transfer: Belize Airports or Water Taxi Terminal to Hotel in San Ignacio:
$96
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Tours&airport transfer:
$128
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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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
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Volcano Adventure Sisisi Transfers & Tours Costa Rica:
$155
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Transfer TO or FROM Tamarindo Area to SJO Airport:
$325
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Transfer Liberia to Tamarindo:
$90
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Private transfer from Tamarindo to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport:
$265
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Private Transfer to Tamarindo Beach from Liberia Airport:
$100
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Private Round-Trip Transfer: Liberia Airport to Tamarindo with Free Drinks:
$89
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Private Premium Transfer: From Tamarindo Zone:
$85
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Liberia Airport Private Transfer To Or From Tamarindo:
$86
Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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.
Tamarindo's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $11 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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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Historical Tour:
$27
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Belize City and Rum Factory Tour:
$33
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Downtown Belize City Tour (Rum Factory included):
$37
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Belize City Tour:
$43
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Kukumba Beach and Belize City Tour:
$49
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Cave Kayaking v.i.v.Tour:
$60
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Zipline Adventures from Belize City:
$62
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Belize Party Bus Ultimate Evening Experience Fridays Only:
$64
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Cave Kayaking for Cruise Ship Passengers:
$65
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Saint Herman's Cave Hiking and Blue Hole Tour from Belize City:
$68
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Private Snuba Experience in Rendezvous Cay:
$70
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Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City:
$70
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
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2 Days & 2 Nights Diving Adventure:
$1,750
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2.5 Hours Tamarindo ATV Snorkel Tour to Secluded Beaches:
$77
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4 Hour Beach & Mountain Tamarindo ATV Adventure:
$144
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ATV Adventures:
$85
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ATV Tour at Tamarindo:
$77
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ATV Tour in Tamarindo:
$92
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ATV Zipline Tour from Tamarindo/Flamingo:
$125
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ATV and SUP Tour from Tamarindo Beach:
$128
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Afternoon Sailing Tour in Guanacaste:
$85
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Antares Sailing Adventures tour:
$87
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Arenal One Day Tour:
$230
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Blue Dolphin Sailing Adventure:
$81
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Belize City spend on average $9.58 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $9.04 on alcoholic beverages in Tamarindo per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When comparing the travel costs between Belize City and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo 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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