Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Fort-de-France?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Fort-de-France or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFort-de-France €152Santa Elena €86
The average daily cost (per person) in Fort-de-France is €152, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is €86. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFort-de-France €79Santa Elena €51
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFort-de-France €158Santa Elena €102
Compare Hotels in Fort-de-France and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Fort-de-France or Santa Elena? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fort-de-France €16Santa Elena €10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France
Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer Fort de France Airport to and from Les Trois Ilets: $102
- Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $71
- Private Transfer from Martinique Airport to Fort de France Port: $71
- Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $211
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $179
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Fort-de-France or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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
-
Food Meals for one dayFort-de-France €58Santa Elena €22
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 Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Fort-de-France €31Santa Elena €28
Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.
- Admission Ticket Balata's Garden: $18
- Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
- Beachcombing in Paradise South Caribbean V.I.P Tour: $293
- Diving and Snorkeling Catamaran Private Tour in Martinique: $261
- Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $64
- Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
- Full Day Private Historic Tour of Rum Production in Martinique: $118
- Full Day Tour of Martinique's Diverse Produce Industries: $107
- Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
- Half Day Private Custom Tour of Martinique: $179
- Half Day Private Tour of Southern Martinique: $164
- Half-Day Nature and Panorama Tour in Martinique: $108
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $70
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $50
- Day & Night Nature Tour in Monteverde Combo tour : $190
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- 100% Adventure Park Combo: Zipline, Superman, and Mega Tarzan Tour in Monteverde: $57
- 3 hours of the Longest and Highest Extreme Zip line Experience in Monteverde: $80
- 5-in-1 Monteverde Cloud Forest Experience with Ziplining and Hanging Bridges: $232
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course : $69
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Bird Watching Experience in Monteverde: $90
- Bird-Watching private tour : $100
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayFort-de-France €10Santa Elena €5.82
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 Santa Elena, we can see that Fort-de-France is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fort-de-France is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.
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 Santa Elena 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.