Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Fort-de-France?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Fort-de-France or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fort-de-France and La Fortuna 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: Fort-de-France or La Fortuna?
Fort-de-France
As the largest city and capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France serves as the main entryway for visitors traveling to the island. It is a busy city with a significant population, which creates an atmosphere bustling with traffic amidst its historic and cultural sights.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see 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 dayFort-de-France €152La Fortuna €97
The average daily cost (per person) in Fort-de-France is €152, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is €97. 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 Fort-de-France and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFort-de-France €79La Fortuna €48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFort-de-France €158La Fortuna €96
Compare Hotels in Fort-de-France and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Fort-de-France or La Fortuna? 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: Fort-de-France Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fort-de-France €16La Fortuna €20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France
Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66
- Private Transfer from Martinique Airport to Fort de France Port: $71
- Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $71
- Private transfer Fort de France Airport to and from Les Trois Ilets: $102
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $400
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Puerto Viejo de Limon: $400
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Manuel Antonio or Quepos: $320
- Private One-Way Transfer to Manuel Antonio: $310
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Tamarindo: $307
- VIP Private Transfer from La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano) to Tamarindo Beach: $299
- Private Transfer From La Fortuna To Manuel Antonio From 1 to 6 passengers: $297
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- Private One-Way Transfer from/to La Fortuna to Papagayo Peninsula: $289
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna: $280
- From La Fortuna/La Palma: Private Transfer to Tamarindo: $280
- One-Way Transfer from/to Liberia Airport: $265
Is it cheaper to fly into Fort-de-France or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Fort-de-France 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 dayFort-de-France €58La Fortuna €26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort-de-France
For Fort-de-France, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food tour in the rainforest and St Pierre - Pile et Face: $104
- Private Food Tour of Martinique in Fort-de-France: $198
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $45
- Cooking Class and Sugar Cane Experience: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica Cooking, El Fogon de Chela: $50
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $60
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $65
- 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $68
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Combo Cooking Class and Salsa Dance Lesson: $80
- Costa Rican Cooking Class+Dinner+Night Frog Tour: $81
- Cooking with a Costa Rican familiy: $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Fort-de-France €31La Fortuna €41
Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.
- Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
- Admission Ticket Balata's Garden: $18
- Small train tour of a banana farm in Martinique: $22
- Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
- Mangrove Guided Tour: $43
- Martinique: Coral and Turtle Coves Cruise with Snacks: $64
- Martinique: Half-Day Dolphin and Volcano Cruise: $64
- Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $64
- Karaib Tour: $66
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Unmissable Martinique North tour: $75
- Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
- Martinique Shore Excursion - Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- La Fortuna's 3 Essentials Private Tour: $280
- 12 cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over Waterfalls!: $101
- 2-Hour Chachagua Rainforest - Birdwatching Tour: $60
- 2-in-1 Arenal Volcano Combo Tour: La Fortuna Waterfall and Volcano Hike: $170
- 7 Nights Costa Rica Fully Guided Adventure: $2,000
- 7 cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over La Fortuna Waterfall!: $80
- ATV Double Adventure + Horseback riding through the Volcano: $207
- ATV Double Volcano Tour: $92
- ATV Guided Experience in La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano.: $91
- ATV Single Volcano Tour: $131
- ATV TOUR: $165
- ATV tour in La Fortuna Costa Rica: $149
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFort-de-France €10La Fortuna €10
Sample the Local Flavors in Fort-de-France
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort-de-France:
- Small-Group Tour: Unmissable Martinique with Rum Distillery, Ruins, and More: $75
- North Tour: rainforest, rum distillery, black sand beach etc: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fort-de-France and La Fortuna, we can see that Fort-de-France is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fort-de-France is in Caribbean Islands and La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Fortuna 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 Fort-de-France would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fort-de-France than you might in La Fortuna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fort-de-France Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fort-de-France or La Fortuna?
Fort-de-France has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Fort-de-France and La Fortuna, 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.
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.