Which place is cheaper, Liberia or Colonia del Sacramento?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Colonia del Sacramento or Liberia?
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 Colonia del Sacramento and Liberia can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Colonia del Sacramento or Liberia?
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is in the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. It is filled with old colonial buildings and cobbled streets, and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, sandwiched in between the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish Viceroyalty of the River Plate, later Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. Its strategic position and use as a smuggling port meant that its sovereignty was constantly contested and the city changed hands several times between Spain and Portugal. The irresistibly picturesque town's charm and its proximity to Buenos Aires draw thousands of Argentine and other visitors on weekends and in summer. Prices rise in these periods and it can be difficult to find a room so make sure to book your trip well in advance.
Liberia
Liberia is a town in northwestern Costa Rica. It is the capital of the Guanacaste province, which is about 140 miles away from Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The town has a population of about 56,000 and is one of the tourism centers of the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColonia del Sacramento $68Liberia $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Colonia del Sacramento is $68, while the average daily cost in Liberia is $112. 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 Colonia del Sacramento and Liberia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColonia del Sacramento $34Liberia $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColonia del Sacramento $68Liberia $120
Compare Hotels in Colonia del Sacramento and Liberia
Looking for a hotel in Colonia del Sacramento or Liberia? 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: Colonia del Sacramento Hotel Prices and Liberia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $17Liberia $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Colonia del Sacramento
Also for Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Colonia Port Terminal Private Transfer : $15
- Colonia Bus Terminal Private Transfer : $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Bike Rental$25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:
- Transfers from Liberia Airport: $60
- Transfers Tamarindo Diria or Occidental Tamarindo, Round Trip.: $230
- Transfer from Playa Hermosa to Liberia Airport (LIR): $85
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Guanacaste Hotel in Guanacaste: $85
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort: $91
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to El Mangroove Hotel: $85
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Dreams Las Mareas Hotel: $149
- Transfer from El Mangroove Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR): $94
- Transfer from Dreams Las Mareas Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR): $148
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Dreams Las Mareas, Costa Rica: $240
- Transfer Riu Palace and Guanacaste Round-Trip: $160
- Transfer Liberia Airport to Planet Hollywood or Andaz Papagayo, ROUND TRIP.: $176
Is it cheaper to fly into Colonia del Sacramento or Liberia?
Prices for flights to both Liberia and Colonia del Sacramento 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 dayColonia del Sacramento $19Liberia $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Colonia del Sacramento
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sensory Experience - Blind dinner in Colonia Del Sacramento: $95
Typical Food Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Snacks$1.97
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Lunch at The Shack (for 1)$4.95
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Lunch$11
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Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)$14
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Ginger Ale$1.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Liberia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Liberia.
- 2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara : $65
- Private Local Cooking Class in Nosara: $85
- Private Sunset Dinner at the Beach with Chef : $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $24Liberia $25
Tours and Activities in Colonia del Sacramento
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking tour around Colonia del Sacramento Old Town: $15
- Goup Walking Tour - Spanish Only: $18
- Shared City Tour at sunset in Historic Neighborhood: $20
- Bus Ticket from Colonia del Sacramento to Carmelo: $27
- Hike at promenade + entry ticket to bullring (Walk 5.5km): $28
- Winery tour with shared transport and tasting included: $38
- Shared Boat Tour Experience - Colonia del Sacramento: $43
- Adventure Sightseeing Bike Tour: $53
- Full gastronomic experience: Uruguayan meat,cheese and wine: $55
- Historical Walking Tour with Snack: $58
- Colonia del Sacramento City Tour : $58
- From Horse Ride Experience: $72
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- ATV Tour Guanacaste the Beach Excursion & Trail: $110
- Llanos de Cortez Safari and Waterfall Tour: $190
- Mega Combo Adventure: $195
- Nicaragua one day tour from Costa Rica, Discover it: $250
- (Private) La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike: $41
- 2 Hour ATV Private Tour in Costa Rica: $81
- 2 In 1 Jet Sky & Buggy Private Tour: $300
- 2-Hours UTV Tour: $110
- 3 Hour ATV Adventure Tour in El Jobo: $130
- 4 Tours in 1 Action Package - Playa del Coco area: $170
- 5 in 1 sloth, Rainforest, waterfalls, hanging bridges, volcanic activity tour.: $285
- 6 Hours Guanacaste Cultural and Local Farm Experience: $77
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayColonia del Sacramento $5.85Liberia $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Colonia del Sacramento and Liberia, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is Colonia del Sacramento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Colonia del Sacramento is in South America and Liberia 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 Colonia del Sacramento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Colonia del Sacramento 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 Liberia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Liberia than you might in Colonia del Sacramento.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Colonia del Sacramento Expensive? and Is Liberia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Colonia del Sacramento or Liberia?
Liberia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Colonia del Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Colonia del Sacramento and Liberia, 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 Colonia del Sacramento or Liberia?
Colonia del Sacramento has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Liberia experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Liberia in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Colonia del Sacramento as well as Liberia. The warm climate attracts visitors to Liberia throughout the year.
Colonia del Sacramento is cooler than Liberia in the summer. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Liberia fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Colonia del Sacramento this time of the year. In the summer, Colonia del Sacramento often gets more sunshine than Liberiain July. Colonia del Sacramento gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Liberia. Colonia del Sacramento usually gets less rain in January than Liberiain July. Colonia del Sacramento gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyColonia del Sacramento 25°C (77°F)Liberia 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Liberia in the Autumn?
Both Liberia and Colonia del Sacramento are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Liberia because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Colonia del Sacramento is much colder than Liberia. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento in April average around 18°C (65°F), and Liberia averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more sunshine than Liberia during autumn. Colonia del Sacramento gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Liberia. It's quite rainy in Colonia del Sacramento. In April, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives less rain than Liberiain October. Colonia del Sacramento gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Liberia is December to April. The rainy season in Liberia is April to December.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberColonia del Sacramento 18°C (65°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Liberia in the Winter?
Both Liberia and Colonia del Sacramento during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Liberia year-round.
In July, Colonia del Sacramento is generally much colder than Liberiain January. Daily temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento average around 12°C (53°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Liberia, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Colonia del Sacramento often gets less sunshine than Liberiain January. Colonia del Sacramento gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 264 hours of full sun.
Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in July than Liberiain January. Colonia del Sacramento gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryColonia del Sacramento 12°C (53°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Liberia in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Colonia del Sacramento and Liberia. Liberia attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Colonia del Sacramento is much colder than Liberia in the spring. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Liberia fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Liberia this time of the year. In Colonia del Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. Colonia del Sacramento usually receives less sunshine than Liberia during spring. Colonia del Sacramento gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Colonia del Sacramento gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more rain than Liberiain April. Colonia del Sacramento gets 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. December to April in Liberia is the dry season. Also, April to December is the rainy season in Liberia.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilColonia del Sacramento 18°C (64°F)Liberia 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Liberia and Colonia del Sacramento
| Colonia del Sacramento | Liberia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 89 mm (3.5 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.