Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Cabarete?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cabarete or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cabarete or Quepos, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Cabarete or Quepos?
Cabarete
Nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete is a vibrant beach town known for its stunning coastline, world-class water sports, and lively nightlife. Originally a small fishing village, Cabarete has transformed into a hub for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.
Traveling to Cabarete on a budget is entirely feasible with a bit of planning. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to affordable hotels and guesthouses. Eating on a budget is easy in Cabarete, with numerous local eateries and street vendors serving delicious Dominican dishes at reasonable prices. Look for "comedores," small local restaurants where you can enjoy meals like "la bandera" (rice, beans, and meat) for under $5. Public transportation in Cabarete is both affordable and convenient. The local "guaguas" (minibuses) and "motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis) are inexpensive ways to get around.
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 Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Cabarete Prices
Dominican Republic PricesQuepos Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCabarete $181Quepos $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Cabarete is $181, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $153. 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 Cabarete and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCabarete $74Quepos $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCabarete $148Quepos $168
Compare Hotels in Cabarete and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Cabarete 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: Cabarete Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cabarete $42Quepos $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete
Also for Cabarete, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from Santo Domingo Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
- Transfers from Cabarete to Santiago Airport: $50
- Sosua/Cabarete to Puerto Plata Airport (POP) - Departure Transfer: $59
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $45
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Puerto Plata: Private Airport Transfer to/from Cabarete: $40
- Puerto Plata Airport Transfer to Sosua: $30
- Cibao Airport (STI) to Sosua/Cabarete - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO): $164
- Puntarenas city to Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO)-Departure Private Transfer: $104
- Private transfer from Manuel Antonio Quepos to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $269
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to or from Manuel Antonio Quepos: $235
- Private Transfer from Quepos Port to Liberia Int Airport (LIR): $256
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $205
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to Liberia City Hotels: $256
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Manuel Antonio: $88
- Private Transfer FROM or TO Manuel Antonio - Sierpe: $209
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $110
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Arenal La Fortuna: $195
- Private Airport Transfer to Manuel Antonio: $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Cabarete or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos and Cabarete 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
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Food Meals for one dayCabarete $72Quepos $56
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$16
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 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
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $96
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cabarete $53Quepos $19
Tours and Activities in Cabarete
For Cabarete, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 10-Hour Guided Tour of Samana and Bacardi Island Los Haitises: $130
- 27 Waterfalls: Zip 'n Splash Adventure with Horse Ride: $125
- 4 Wheel Adventure: $127
- Buggie & atv adventure Jungle Adventure: $80
- Combo Monkeys & plantation & city tours amber cove and Taino bay: $108
- Damajagua Waterfalls Adventure from Puerto Plata: $75
- Deep Caves in Cabarete with Guided Tour and Swimming: $35
- Excursions 3 in 1 Monkey Home Waterfalls And City Tours: $169
- Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
- Jamáo al Norte: Hidden River Kayak Adventure & Nature Escape: $250
- Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
- Private Deep-Sea Fishing Adventure in Puerto Plata: $759
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Hour Kayak Tour in Quepos: $85
- 2-Hour Kayak Tour in Quepos Mangroves – See Monkeys & Sloths: $65
- Adventure to Natural Wonders on the Pacific Coast: $130
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $86
- All Inclusive Zip line & Catamaran Eco Adventure: $170
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
- All-Inclusive Jungle Night Tour: $59
- Barista Experience Workshop: $120
- Barista Experience Workshop: $120
- Barista Experience Workshop: $120
- Birding at El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Private Birding Tour: $120
- Birdwatching Manuel Antonio/ El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Group Tour: $129
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCabarete $17Quepos $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabarete and Quepos, we can see that Cabarete is more expensive. And not only is Quepos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cabarete 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 Cabarete would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabarete 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 Cabarete Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cabarete or Quepos?
Quepos has a larger population, and is about 91% larger than the population of Cabarete. When comparing the sizes of Cabarete 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.
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.