A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Buzios vs. Liberia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Buzios or Liberia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Buzios or Liberia? 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: Buzios or Liberia?

Buzios

Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.

Liberia

Liberia is a town in northwestern Costa Rica. It is the capital of the Guanacaste province, which is about 140 miles away from Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The town has a population of about 56,000 and is one of the tourism centers of the country.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, Liberia or Buzios?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $77, while the average daily cost in Liberia is $112. 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 Buzios and Liberia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buzios $37
    Liberia $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buzios $74
    Liberia $120
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Liberia

Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Liberia? 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.

Hotels in Buzios


Hotels in Liberia


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: Liberia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buzios $19
    Liberia $43

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios

Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $25
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $28
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $28
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Santos Dumont (SDU): $28
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU): $32
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $32
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio city hotels: $36
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $43
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $47
  • Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $52
  • Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
  • Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:


  • Bike Rental
    $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:

  • Transfer Dreams Las Mareas from Airports ROUND TRIP: $300
  • Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Santa Teresa: $300
  • Punta Islita Hotel to/from Liberia Airport - Shuttle & Transfers Service: $279
  • Liberia Airport (LIR)to Malpais / Montezuma - Raund-Trip Transfer: $272
  • Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Nosara: $250
  • Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Dreams Las Mareas: $245
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Liberia Guanacaste Airport to La Fortuna (Arenal): $241
  • Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Dreams Las Mareas, Costa Rica: $240
  • Private Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Arenal / La Fortuna : $232
  • Transfers Tamarindo Diria or Occidental Tamarindo, Round Trip.: $230
  • Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Dreams Las Mareas - Costa Rica: $215
  • Private Transfer Ato Lir - JW Marriott Standar: $210

Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Liberia?

Prices for flights to both Liberia and Buzios 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 day
    Buzios $24
    Liberia $21

Typical Food Prices in Liberia

Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:


  • Snacks
    $1.97
  • Lunch at The Shack (for 1)
    $4.95
  • Lunch
    $11
  • Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)
    $14
  • Ginger Ale
    $1.28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Liberia

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Liberia.

  • 2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara : $65
  • Private Local Cooking Class in Nosara: $85
  • Private Sunset Dinner at the Beach with Chef : $190

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buzios $27
    Liberia $25

Tours and Activities in Buzios

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.

  • Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $12
  • Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $16
  • Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
  • Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $24
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
  • Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $29
  • Buzios Trolley City Tour: $29
  • Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $32
  • 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $33
  • 7 Beaches In Búzios With Photos On A Private Tour!: $35
  • Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $37
  • From Buzios To Arraial With Photos On A Private Tour!: $50

Tours and Activities in Liberia

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:

  • ATV Tour Guanacaste the Beach Excursion & Trail: $110
  • Llanos de Cortez Safari and Waterfall Tour: $190
  • Mega Combo Adventure: $195
  • Nicaragua one day tour from Costa Rica, Discover it: $250
  • (Private) La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike: $41
  • 2 Hour ATV Private Tour in Costa Rica: $81
  • 2 In 1 Jet Sky & Buggy Private Tour: $300
  • 2-Hours UTV Tour: $110
  • 3 Hour ATV Adventure Tour in El Jobo: $130
  • 4 Tours in 1 Action Package - Playa del Coco area: $170
  • 5 in 1 sloth, Rainforest, waterfalls, hanging bridges, volcanic activity tour.: $285
  • 6 Hours Guanacaste Cultural and Local Farm Experience: $77

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buzios $17
    Liberia $13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Liberia, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is Buzios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Buzios is in South America and Liberia 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 Buzios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buzios 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 Liberia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Liberia than you might in Buzios.

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


Which is Bigger, Buzios or Liberia?

Liberia has a larger population, and is about 93% larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios and Liberia, 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.