Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Fortaleza?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Fortaleza or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fortaleza and Jaco 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: Fortaleza or Jaco?
Fortaleza
A major city on Brazil's northeastern coast and the capital city of Ceara state, Fortaleza is best characterized by its city landscape lined with beaches and palm trees. It also features some great seafood as well as long-standing folk traditions in culture and dance.
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFortaleza $69Jaco $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $69, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $104. 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 Fortaleza and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFortaleza $30Jaco $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFortaleza $60Jaco $134
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza or Jaco? 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: Fortaleza Hotel Prices and Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fortaleza $21Jaco -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza
Also for Fortaleza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Beach Park: $12
- Transfer leaving from the Fortaleza waterfront to Beach Park: $8.97
- Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $29
- Transfer Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $300
- Transfer Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $153
- Transfer 4x4 Regular Service Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $75
- Transfer 4 X 4 Fortaleza to Jericoacoara or Jericoacoara to Fortaleza: $240
- Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $104
- Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Cumbuco: $49
- Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Aquiraz: $88
- Shared Airport Transfer to Fortaleza Hotels: $9.58
- Roundtrip transfer from Pinto Martins Airport to Hotels in Fortaleza: $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Private From Jaco to San José or Airport up to 5 passengers (one way) : $245
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $200
- Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
- Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and Fortaleza 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 dayFortaleza $24Jaco $21
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch$3.94
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
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Taco Bar Dinner$9.01
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.31
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Ice Cream$5.92
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
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Fruit Plate$2.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jacó: $87
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Fortaleza $15Jaco $60
Tours and Activities in Fortaleza
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fortaleza.
- Águas Belas Tour: $15
- 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $13
- Beach Park Full-Day Trip Including Brief Tour of Fortaleza: $35
- Canoa Quebrada Beach Tour with Nettour: $20
- Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $19
- City Tour Fortaleza - Full Day Cumbuco Beach Tour by Nettour: $26
- City-Tour and Fortaleza (central market, cathedral, Fort, Theaters, encetur, P.ferreira: $56
- Cumbuco Beach Tour: $12
- Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza: $16
- Fortaleza City Tour : $26
- Fortaleza Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $31
- 4-Hour City Car Tour: $266
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class$9.82
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Surf Lesson$49
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Bike Rental$9.82
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Tortuga Island Tour$98
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Massage$44
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle & River ATV Adventure, 2 hours / Jacó: $95
- Ocean views Zip Line Canopy Tour in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $71
- "Miro Jaco" & Jaco Beach Horseback Tour: $59
- 2 Hour ATV Jungle Adventure Jaco: $75
- 2 Hour Private Ranch Experience in Quebrada Amarilla: $120
- 2 Hours Private Guided Hiking Experience to El Miro in Jaco: $50
- 2 hour ATV Tour & Waterfalls + Chocolate Experience : $110
- 2 hour Double ATV Tour + Waterfalls in Jaco Beach : $99
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $110
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $95
- 4×4 Waterfalls and Jungle Experience: $80
- 4x4 Happy Jungle Booze Cruise: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFortaleza $9.97Jaco $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine$15
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Night at the Bar$27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fortaleza and Jaco, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is Fortaleza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fortaleza is in South America and Jaco 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 Fortaleza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fortaleza 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 Jaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaco than you might in Fortaleza.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fortaleza Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or Jaco?
Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 590 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza and Jaco, 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 Fortaleza or Jaco?
Fortaleza has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Jaco experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Fortaleza or Jaco in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Fortaleza and Jaco. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Fortaleza is around the same temperature as Jaco. Typically, the summer temperatures in Fortaleza in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Jaco averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
In Fortaleza, it's very sunny this time of the year. Fortaleza usually receives more sunshine than Jaco during summer. Fortaleza gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
Jaco receives a lot of rain in the summer. Fortaleza gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Fortaleza usually receives less rain than Jacoin July. Fortaleza gets 119 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyFortaleza 28°C (82°F)Jaco 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or Jaco in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Fortaleza as well as Jaco. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
In April, Fortaleza is generally around the same temperature as Jacoin October. Daily temperatures in Fortaleza average around 27°C (80°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Fortaleza often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Jacoin October. Fortaleza gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 169 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Jaco. Fortaleza receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Fortaleza usually gets more rain in April than Jacoin October. Fortaleza gets 356 mm (14 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberFortaleza 27°C (80°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or Jaco in the Winter?
Both Jaco and Fortaleza are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Fortaleza is around the same temperature as Jaco in the winter. The daily temperature in Fortaleza averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Jaco. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Fortaleza. Fortaleza usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Jaco during winter. Fortaleza gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Fortaleza usually receives more rain than Jacoin January. Fortaleza gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryFortaleza 26°C (79°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or Jaco in the Spring?
Both Jaco and Fortaleza during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
In the spring, Fortaleza is around the same temperature as Jaco. Typically, the spring temperatures in Fortaleza in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Jaco averages at about 29°C (85°F)in April.
In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Fortaleza. In the spring, Fortaleza often gets more sunshine than Jacoin April. Fortaleza gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 255 hours of full sun.
Fortaleza usually gets less rain in October than Jacoin April. Fortaleza gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilFortaleza 28°C (82°F)Jaco 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Jaco and Fortaleza
| Fortaleza | Jaco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 356 mm (14 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (80°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.