Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Eagle Beach?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eagle Beach or San Juan del Sur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Eagle Beach or San Juan del Sur, 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: Eagle Beach or San Juan del Sur?
Eagle Beach
Aruba, only fifteen miles north of Venezuela, is a top Caribbean tourist destination. It's a small island, only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the most popular and beautiful beaches on the island is Eagle Beach. It's a popular beach with the locals, and a common destination for many who are looking for a party. The beach is particularly crowded on Easter weekend. The sand is a sugary white and the waters are a stunning crystal blue color. The beach itself is quite flat and the ocean is so calm it's like swimming in a pool. There are a handful of palm trees if you're seeking shade, but otherwise it's the ideal place to soak up some rays. You'll find some shaded picnic areas as well if you're hoping to enjoy a casual lunch.
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEagle Beach $341San Juan del Sur $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Eagle Beach is $341, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $53. 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 Eagle Beach and San Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEagle Beach $227San Juan del Sur $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEagle Beach $454San Juan del Sur $42
Compare Hotels in Eagle Beach and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in Eagle Beach or San Juan del Sur? 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: San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eagle Beach $33San Juan del Sur $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eagle Beach:
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Round-trip Bus Ticket$2.22
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One Day Scooter Rental$40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eagle Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Eagle Beach:
- 2 Ways Private Transfers: $45
- Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport (AUA) - Departure Transfer: $39
- Aruba Island to Aruba Queen Airport(AUA) Departure Transfer: $39
- Aruba Private Airport Transfer: Personalized Arrival: $31
- Aruba Private Van Airport Transfer (Max 5): $55
- Aruba Queen Airport(AUA) to Aruba Island - Round-Trip Transfer: $79
- Aruba Queen Beatrix Airport(AUA) to Aruba Island-Arrival Transfer: $39
- Platinium Aruba Transport - All Around Luxury Private Transfers: $90
- Private Airport Transfers in Aruba: $58
- Private One-Way Transfer from Aruba To Reina Beatrix Airport: $32
- Private Transfer from Aruba Queen Airport (AUA) to Aruba Island: $75
- Private Transfer from Oranjestad Cruise Port to Oranjestad city: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Eagle Beach or San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur and Eagle Beach 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 dayEagle Beach $68San Juan del Sur $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eagle Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Eagle Beach.
- Noord, Aruba: Exclusive Private Dinner aboard the Aqua Donut: $90
- Aruba Caribbean Dinner Sail Experience: $92
- Sunset Sail Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $110
- Sunset Sail: Aruba Dinner Cruise with Open Bar by Catamaran: $119
- Caribbean Cooking Class in Aruba: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eagle Beach $121San Juan del Sur $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Eagle Beach
Here are a few typical costs in Eagle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Full Day Bike Rental$25
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Kayak & Snorkeling Tour$98
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Horseback Riding Tour$70
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4 Hr Snorkel Trip$74
Tours and Activities in Eagle Beach
Here are a few actual costs in Eagle Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Champagne and Diamond Shopping Experience in Aruba: $5.00
- Aruba Mangel Halto and Baby Beach Snorkeling Guided Tour: $37
- Scenic Aruba Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $40
- Aruba Downtown Historic and Cultural Walking Tour: $40
- Explore Aruba Party Bus Tour: $41
- Aruba Countryside Tour: $41
- The Whole Story Tour + A Ride: $45
- Half-Day Aruba Animal Sanctuary Guided Tour : $45
- Half-Day Aruba Island Tour from Oranjestad: $49
- Aruba Baby Beach Express Tour: $49
- Colorful Beach Bus Sightseeing Tour of Aruba: $54
- Aruba Jet Ski Rentals — Exciting Water Adventures Await: $58
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Maderas, San Juan del Sur also in Costa Rica: $90
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEagle Beach $31San Juan del Sur $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eagle Beach and San Juan del Sur, we can see that Eagle Beach is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eagle Beach is in Caribbean Islands and San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 Eagle Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eagle Beach than you might in San Juan del Sur.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eagle Beach Expensive? and Is San Juan del Sur 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.