Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Granada?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Granada or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Granada and Quepos. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Granada or Quepos?
Granada
Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGranada $40Quepos $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Granada is $40, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $115. 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 Granada and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGranada $17Quepos $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGranada $34Quepos $150
Compare Hotels in Granada and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Granada or Quepos? 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: Granada Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Granada $8.55Quepos $9.35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:
- San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
- One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $80
- Leon: One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
- From San Jorge: One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
- From One way shared transfer to Rivas: $39
- From One way shared transfer to Leon: $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $105
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Manuel Antonio (One Way): $113
- Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $135
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
Is it cheaper to fly into Granada or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos and Granada 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 dayGranada $14Quepos $29
Typical Food Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
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Pizza$2.28
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$14
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Granada $10Quepos $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
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Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour$8.15
Tours and Activities in Granada
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:
- 3 tours in one- Full day in Granada+lake+catarina+masaya: $90
- Bird Watching Tour: $90
- Boat Tour and Granada City Tour: $130
- Charming Granada Outdoor "Private Tour" : $92
- City Tour Granada, Nicaragua.: $40
- Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65
- Fabulous Night Tour in Masaya Volcano from Granada: $162
- From Full-Day Tour to 6 Attractions with Lunch incl: $125
- Full Day Tour Isletas + Pueblos Blancos + Laguna from Granada: $120
- Full Day Tour in Granada with Volcano Visit: $229
- Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
- Granada Colonial City Tour and Masaya Volcano: $130
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $29
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio with Mauro / Tickets not Included! : $30
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park: Guided tour to see animals: $30
- Manuel Antonio: the best tour to see sloths in Manuel Antonio Park: $35
- Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park!: $35
- Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour with pick up included: $39
- Manuel Antonio: Mangrove boat tour to see animals: $40
- Guided hiking Tour by the Mystic Ebano Rainforest in Costa Rica: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGranada $7.49Quepos $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
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Tequila$1.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Granada and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos than you might in Granada.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Granada Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Granada or Quepos?
Granada has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Granada and Quepos, 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 Granada or Quepos?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Granada or Quepos in the Summer?
Both Quepos and Granada during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Granada. Granada usually gets less rain in July than Quepos. Granada gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Granada often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos. Granada gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.
Granada is around the same temperature as Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Granada averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGranada 27°C (81°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Granada or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Granada and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in Quepos is the dry season. May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season. Quepos receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Granada gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Granada usually receives less rain than Quepos. Granada gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Granada usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during autumn. Granada gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Granada is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Granada in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGranada 27°C (81°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Granada or Quepos in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Granada as well as Quepos. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Granada usually gets less rain in January than Quepos. Granada gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Granada this time of the year. In the winter, Granada often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Granada gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.
In January, Granada is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 26°C (79°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGranada 26°C (79°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Granada or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos and Granada are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Quepos is December to April. The hurricane season in Quepos is May to November. In April, Granada usually receives less rain than Quepos. Granada gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Quepos. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Granada. Granada usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos during spring. Granada gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Granada is around the same temperature as Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Granada averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGranada 29°C (84°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Granada
| Granada | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.