Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Granada?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Granada and Tamarindo. 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.
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.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Granada is $40, 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 Granada and Tamarindo in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Granada 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Granada and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo 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 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 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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Both Tamarindo and Granada are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. It's quite rainy in Granada. In July, Granada usually receives less rain than Tamarindo. Granada gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Granada usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo during summer. Granada gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Granada is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 27°C (81°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Both Tamarindo and Granada during the autumn 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 Tamarindo year-round.
Tamarindo 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 October than Tamarindo. Granada gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Granada often gets more sunshine than Tamarindo. Granada gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun.
Granada is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Granada averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Granada and Tamarindo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Granada usually receives less rain than Tamarindo. Granada gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tamarindo this time of the year. In Granada, it's very sunny this time of the year. Granada usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during winter. Granada gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Granada is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Granada in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The spring brings many poeple to Granada as well as Tamarindo. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
Granada usually gets less rain in April than Tamarindo. Granada gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Granada this time of the year. In the spring, Granada often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo. Granada gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Granada is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 29°C (84°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Granada | Tamarindo | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
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) |