A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cairo vs. Puerto Viejo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cairo or Puerto Viejo?

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 Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo?

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.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town in Caribbean Costa Rica in the province of Limon. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea. Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. It's known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra, but this burgeoning party town is no longer a destination only for intrepid surfers; it's bustling with tourist activity. Stylish eateries serve global fusion, and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump dancehall and reggaeton. With its blend of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures. Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town's vibrant roadside. Nearby you'll find rainforest fruit and cacao farms and wide-open beaches. If you're looking to chill a little, party a little and eat a little, you've come to the right place.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo or Cairo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $33, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $169. 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 Puerto Viejo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $11
    Puerto Viejo $71
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $22
    Puerto Viejo $142
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Puerto Viejo

Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Puerto Viejo? 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 Cairo


Hotels in Puerto Viejo


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 Puerto Viejo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $3.80
    Puerto Viejo $38
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 Puerto Viejo

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

  • Private transfer from San Jose Airport to Puerto Viejo Limon: $320

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Puerto Viejo?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo 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 day
    Cairo $18
    Puerto Viejo $58
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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairo $9.09
    Puerto Viejo $78
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

Tours and Activities in Puerto Viejo

For Puerto Viejo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Canoe Adventure & Caribbean Family Experience: $47
  • Puerto Viejo Limón: Birdwatching Tour at Nativo Park: $50
  • Wildlife Night Tour in the Jungle: $55
  • Kayaking Tour in Gandoca Lagoon throug mangrove forest: $58
  • Indigenous Experience & Chocolate Tour: $74
  • Puerto Viejo Limón: Best Canopy Tour / Ziplines: $83
  • Night Adventure in the Wild Talamanca: $85
  • Dolphin Watching & Netflix Featured Organic Jungle Farm Tour: $88
  • Epic Manzanillo Combo Tour: Snorkel, Dolphins & Farm Tour: $119
  • Puerto Viejo&Cahuita: Tour of 3 Waterfalls, Talamanca, Limón: $149
  • Puerto Viejo Talamanca: Quad Tour with 2 Waterfalls: $310

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.48
    Puerto Viejo $13

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Cairo or Puerto Viejo?

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 Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Puerto Viejo. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

Also, September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season. It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Cairo usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Viejo. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 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 Puerto Viejo. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun.

In July, Cairo is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Cairo 28°C (82°F) 
    Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

Both Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Puerto Viejo is September to October. The rainy season in Puerto Viejo is November to January. It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In October, Cairo usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 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 Puerto Viejo during autumn. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Cairo is cooler than Puerto Viejo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Cairo 23°C (73°F) 
    Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

Both Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo year-round.

November to January is the rainy season in Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cairo usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejo. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the winter, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Cairo is much colder than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cairo in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 25°C (77°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Cairo 14°C (57°F) 
    Puerto Viejo 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Puerto Viejo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Cairo usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during spring. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Cairo is generally cooler than Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 21°C (70°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Cairo 21°C (70°F) 
    Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Cairo

Cairo Puerto Viejo
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 319 mm (12.6 in)
Feb 14°C (57°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 25°C (77°F) 201 mm (7.9 in)
Mar 17°C (63°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 26°C (78°F) 193 mm (7.6 in)
Apr 21°C (70°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 0 mm (0 in) 27°C (80°F) 281 mm (11.1 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 0 mm (0 in) 26°C (80°F) 276 mm (10.9 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 1 mm (0 in) 26°C (79°F) 408 mm (16.1 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 0 mm (0 in) 28°C (82°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Sep 26°C (79°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 163 mm (6.4 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 1 mm (0 in) 26°C (78°F) 367 mm (14.4 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 25°C (77°F) 402 mm (15.8 in)