Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Florianopolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Florianopolis or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Florianopolis or Tamarindo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Florianopolis or Tamarindo?
Florianopolis
With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.
Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.
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 Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, 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 dayFlorianopolis $62Tamarindo $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $62, 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 Florianopolis and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlorianopolis $26Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlorianopolis $52Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Florianopolis $13Tamarindo $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
- Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $32
- Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $35
- Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $40
- One Way Transfer : Florianopolis Airport to or from Florianopolis: $64
- Transfer Florianópolis Airport / Costão do Santinho: $78
- Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $84
- Private Transfer Florianopolis Airport to Bal. Camboriu: $96
- Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $97
- Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $168
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Transfer from Westin Conchal Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR): $140
- Transfer from Riu Guanacaste Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR): $85
- Transfer from JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa to Liberia Airport (LIR): $148
- Transfer from Four Seasons Resort to Liberia Airport (LIR): $120
- Transfer from Andaz Papagayo Resort to Liberia Airport (LIR): $115
- Transfer To/From Liberia Airport To/ From JW Marriott Guanacaste: $195
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport to Planet Hollywood Costa Rica: $115
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Westin Resort Costa Rica: $125
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Riu Palace and Riu Guanacaste: $105
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Riu Palace And Riu Guanacaste: $89
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Riu Palace & Riu Guanacaste Costa Rica: $90
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Riu Palace & Riu Guanacaste: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Florianopolis 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 dayFlorianopolis $22Tamarindo $32
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Snack$0.44
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
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Florianopolis $26Tamarindo $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Internet$0.59
Tours and Activities in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historic Center Walking Tour in Florianopolis with Local Bar Hop: $14
- Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $22
- Shared Shuttle between Florianópolis Airport and Hotel with optional City Tour: $23
- Florianópolis Full Day City Tour: $25
- Rafting Adventure in Apuama - Rio Cubatão in Greater Florianópolis: $30
- Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $32
- Balneário Camboriú City Tour from Florianópolis: $35
- Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $37
- Tour Balneario Camboriu and Laranjeiras Beach TELEFERICO INCLUDED: $37
- Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $38
- Private Tour: The 7 Most Preserved Beaches on the South Island by Floripa Nativa: $39
- Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $42
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- ATV adventure from Riu, Secrets and papagayo: $90
- Ecologic farming Sloth tour Hiking & Chocolate -Coffee tour: $260
- Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Adventure Combo Tour: $220
- Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano and Waterfall Hiking: $170
- Premium Tour:Sloths and Río Celeste y Cortez Waterfalls (Tenorio Volcano Park): $220
- Private ATV or Buggy Tour from Riu Hotels: $85
- Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park: $199
- 1,5 Hours Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $80
- 2-Hour Guided Tour by ATV near Playa Conchal: $130
- 3-in-1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park Nature Day Tour: $300
- 5-Hour Guided Sunset Boat Tour in Tamarindo Costa Rica: $95
- 5-in-1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park Adventure Day Tour: $300
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlorianopolis $8.68Tamarindo $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
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Beer$0.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl Experience: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Florianopolis and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Florianopolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Florianopolis or Tamarindo?
Florianopolis has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tamarindo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Florianopolis or Tamarindo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Florianopolis as well as Tamarindo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
Florianopolis is cooler than Tamarindo in the summer. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 25°C (76°F) in January, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
In the summer, Florianopolis often gets more sunshine than Tamarindoin July. Florianopolis gets 198 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Tamarindo. Florianopolis receives a lot of rain in the summer. Florianopolis usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Tamarindoin July. Florianopolis gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyFlorianopolis 25°C (76°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
Both Tamarindo and Florianopolis are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Florianopolis is cooler than Tamarindo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Florianopolis in April average around 22°C (71°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
Florianopolis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo during autumn. Florianopolis gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. In April, Florianopolis usually receives less rain than Tamarindoin October. Florianopolis gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberFlorianopolis 22°C (71°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Tamarindo in the Winter?
Both Tamarindo and Florianopolis during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round.
In July, Florianopolis is generally much colder than Tamarindoin January. Daily temperatures in Florianopolis average around 17°C (62°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Tamarindo, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Florianopolis often gets less sunshine than Tamarindoin January. Florianopolis gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun.
Florianopolis usually gets more rain in July than Tamarindoin January. Florianopolis gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryFlorianopolis 17°C (62°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Tamarindo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Florianopolis and Tamarindo. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Florianopolis is cooler than Tamarindo in the spring. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tamarindo this time of the year. Florianopolis usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during spring. Florianopolis gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Florianopolis gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Florianopolis usually receives more rain than Tamarindoin April. Florianopolis gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilFlorianopolis 20°C (68°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Florianopolis
| Florianopolis | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (76°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 95 mm (3.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 22°C (71°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.