Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Cochabamba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cochabamba or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cochabamba and Tamarindo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cochabamba or Tamarindo?
Cochabamba
With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.
The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.
Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCochabamba $63Tamarindo $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Cochabamba is $63, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $121. 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 Cochabamba and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCochabamba $25Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCochabamba $50Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Cochabamba and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Cochabamba or Tamarindo? 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: Cochabamba Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cochabamba $16Tamarindo $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:
- MiniVan or Bus Transfer from Cochabamba Airport CBB to Cochabamba: $28
- Airport - Hotels transfer Service 24/7: $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Hotel Riu Guanacaste: $15
- Private Transfer from Liberia/Tamarindo Guanacaste Airport: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Luna Llena Hotel Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Tamarindo Beach: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Selina Tamarindo: $21
- Private or VIP Transfer: Liberia Airport to Westin/Tamarindo: $22
- Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $31
- Flamingo/Tamarindo to Liberia Airport(LIR)- Departure Transfer: $38
- Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $55
- From Hotel Transfer to Liberia Guanacaste Airport: $62
- Monteverde: Transfer to Tamarindo: $65
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to RIU Guanacaste Hotel: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Cochabamba or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Cochabamba 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 dayCochabamba $22Tamarindo $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cochabamba $25Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Cochabamba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:
- Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $38
- Tigre & Delta River Cruise - half day tour from Buenos Aires: $72
- Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche : $228
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Costa Rica: tour in electric car (only best view locations): $2.00
- Sea turtle watching tour near playa grande: $44
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $44
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Birdwatching Crocodiles and Monkey Tour: $50
- ATV Beach and Mountain Tour!: $62
- Tamarindo Estuary: Howler Monkey Mangrove Kayaking Tour: $65
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- ATV and UTV Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo and Conchal Beach: $67
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
- Zipline Canopy Tour from Guanacaste: $70
- Tamarindo Kayaking Tour with Snorkeling at Captain Island: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCochabamba $15Tamarindo $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cochabamba and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Cochabamba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cochabamba is in South America and Tamarindo 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 Cochabamba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cochabamba 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo than you might in Cochabamba.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cochabamba Expensive? and Is Tamarindo 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.