Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Cairo or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cairo and Jaco can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Cairo or Jaco?
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
-
Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesJaco Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $33Jaco $119
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $33, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $119. 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 Cairo and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $11Jaco $67
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $22Jaco $134
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Jaco? 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: Cairo Hotel Prices and Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.80Jaco -
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
-
Metro Ride$0.08
-
Taxi Ride$0.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- private transfer from Cairo to Alexandria: $70
- private Airport Transfer from any destination in Cairo or Giza : $35
- one transfer from airport to Cairo Giza hotels or hotels to Cairo airport: $27
- VIP Meet and Greet Private Hotel Transfer from Cairo Airport: $39
- VIP Meet and Assist in Cairo Airport with Private Transfer to Cairo Hotels: $49
- VIP Cairo and SPX International Airport Meet assist transfer: $15
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cairo APT-HTL (CAI): $33
- Transfer to Cairo & Giza Hotels From Cairo Airport: $35
- Transfer from Cairo, Giza or Cairo airport to Ain Sokhna: $60
- Transfer from Cairo Int. Airport to Cairo/Giza hotels: $21
- Transfer from Cairo Airport to the Hotels in Cairo or Giza : $18
- Transfer from Cairo Airport to the Hotels in Cairo or Giza: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer: $144
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $204
- One-Way Private Transfer from Jaco to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $175
- Private Direct SJO ↔ Jaco Beach/Los Sueños Transfer Service: $70
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Jaco Beach Puntarenas: $66
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Playa Jaco Puntarenas: $63
- Shuttle & transfer rides to SJO Airport Costa Rica: $55
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $235
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and Cairo 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 dayCairo $18Jaco $36
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
-
Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
- Great tour toThe Grand Museum of Giza and Nile River DinnerCruise: $5.00
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
- Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride : $7.00
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $8.00
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
- Local Oriental Food Tour from Cairo or Giza hotels: $9.00
- Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $9.00
- Cairo Food Tour in local places & Egyptian Mint Tea: $9.00
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $9.00
- Giza pyramids,Sphinx,ATV bike,Camel ride,Dinner cruise& shopping: $9.00
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Hermosa BeachLlunch$3.94
-
Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
-
Taco Bar Dinner$9.00
-
Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.30
-
Ice Cream$5.91
-
Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
-
Fruit Plate$2.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Traditional Costa Rican cooking class and meal with a modern twist: $139
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $9.09Jaco $60
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.84
-
Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.47
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Private Tour in Cairo and Giza: $90
- 2 Days in Cairo & Giza Private Tour : $80
- 2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums: $253
- 2-Day Tour Ancient Egypt and Old Cairo Highlights Tour: $290
- 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
- 2-Days Tours at Cairo & Giza : $143
- 3 Days Private Tour in Giza, Cairo, and Alexandria: $70
- 8-Hour Private Tour Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and local Bazaars: $14
- Alexandria Private Day Tour From Cairo: $95
- Alexandria day tour : $75
- All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour to All Pyramids and Cairo and 2 evenings: $299
- All Inclusive Full-Day Tour to Pyramids, Museum, mosque and Felucca: $39
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Dance Class$9.81
-
Surf Lesson$49
-
Bike Rental$9.81
-
Tortuga Island Tour$98
-
Massage$44
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cold Plunge Experience in Jaco: $35
- Crocodile Man Tour THE ORIGINAL: $35
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching tour/Tarcoles River CR: $40
- Chocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $45
- 10 WATERFALLS and NATURAL POOLS HIKING EXPERIENCE 4x4 TRUCK RIDE: $60
- Party Safari Tractor Tour with Visit the waterfall: $60
- Jaco Beach Horseback Riding Tour: $60
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $61
- Horseback Riding in Tarcoles Garabito, a Life Experience.: $62
- Birdwatching tour in Carara National Park: $65
- Mountain View Zip-line Tour: $67
- Jacó beach horseback riding experience : $67
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.48Jaco $32
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $70
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
-
Wine$15
-
Night at the Bar$27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Jaco, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa and Jaco 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Jaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaco than you might in Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Jaco?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 1890 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Jaco, 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.
When is the best time to visit Cairo or Jaco?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Cairo or Jaco in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Jaco. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Jaco. Cairo usually gets less rain in July than Jaco. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the summer, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Jaco. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, Cairo is generally around the same temperature as Jaco. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 28°C (82°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyCairo 28°C (82°F)Jaco 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Jaco in the Autumn?
Both Jaco and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Jaco is November to May. The hurricane season in Jaco is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Jaco. In October, Cairo usually receives less rain than Jaco. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Jaco during autumn. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Cairo is cooler than Jaco in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCairo 23°C (73°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Jaco in the Winter?
Both Jaco and Cairo during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
Cairo usually gets more rain in January than Jaco. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the winter, Cairo often gets less sunshine than Jaco. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Cairo is much colder than Jaco. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cairo in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Jaco averages at about 27°C (81°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCairo 14°C (57°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Jaco in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Jaco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to May in Jaco is the dry season. June to October is the hurricane season in Jaco. In April, Cairo usually receives less rain than Jaco. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jaco this time of the year. In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Jaco during spring. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cairo is generally cooler than Jaco. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 21°C (70°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilCairo 21°C (70°F)Jaco 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Jaco and Cairo
| Cairo | Jaco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
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.