Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cabarete or Santa Elena, 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 Santa Elena?
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Cabarete Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSanta Elena Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCabarete $170Santa Elena $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Cabarete is $170, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $109. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCabarete $70Santa Elena $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCabarete $140Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Cabarete and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Cabarete or Santa Elena? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cabarete $39Santa Elena $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete
Also for Cabarete, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
- Transfers from Cabarete to Santiago Airport: $50
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $45
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Saint Helena Monte Verde: $210
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to your Destination: $240
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $233
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- MiniVan Departure Transfer Monteverde to San Jose Airport SJO: $215
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $197
Is it cheaper to fly into Cabarete or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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 $68Santa Elena $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Monteverde Cooking Class: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cabarete $50Santa Elena $30
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 Damajagua Tour from Cabarete Sosua & Puerto Plata: $79
- 4 Wheel Adventure: $128
- 4-Wheel Adventure: $102
- Deep Caves in Cabarete with Guided Tour and Swimming: $60
- Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
- Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
- Paradise Island Cruise Snorkeling Excursion: $95
- Private tour: Dudu cenotes + Playa Grande Beach + much more: $220
- Puerto Plata Triple Adventure: $120
- Scuba Diving tour in puerto plata Hotel/Cruise: $189
- Snorkeling Tour & Sosua Beach Day: $81
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $22
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $40
- 2x1 Guided Tour Combo Hanging Bridges and Night Walk: $40
- 3 Hours Bird Watching Guided Experience in Bajo Cebadilla: $90
- 3 hours of the Longest and Highest Extreme Zip line Experience in Monteverde: $95
- Admission Ticket to Las Pumas Rescue Center : $20
- Adventure Day - Outdoor Fun for Family & Friends Package: $29
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course : $69
- Birdwatching Tour in Monteverde : $85
- Canopy Adventure From Monteverde: $86
- Cloud Forest Small Group Tour: $30
- Coffee Tour Monteverde : $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCabarete $16Santa Elena $6.21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabarete and Santa Elena, we can see that Cabarete is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cabarete is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cabarete Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.
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.