Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Grand Turk?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Grand Turk or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Grand Turk or Tamarindo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Grand Turk or Tamarindo?
Tamarindo
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 Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Grand Turk Prices
Turks and Caicos PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Turk $0.00Tamarindo $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Turk is $0.00, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $144. 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 Grand Turk and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Turk -Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Turk $0.00Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Grand Turk and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Grand Turk 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Turk -Tamarindo $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Airport Transfer from Liberia Airport to Andaz Papagayo Hyatt (Round Trip): $180
- Costa Rica Private LIR Airport Departure transfer : $6.00
- Guanacaste Airport transfer to Jw Marriott Guanacaste: $130
- JW Marriott/Riu Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Transfer: $105
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer To Gulf of Papagayo Costa Rica: $125
- Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $95
- Liberia: 1-Way Transfer from Guanacaste Airport to Tamarindo: $110
- Monteverde: Transfer to Tamarindo: $100
- Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $108
- Private Round-Trip Transfer: Liberia Airport to Reserva Conchal with Free Drinks: $240
- Private Transfer From LIR Airport to JW Marriott Guanacaste: $130
- Private Transfer From LIR Airport to Westin Playa Conchal Resort: $140
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Turk or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Grand Turk 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 dayGrand Turk -Tamarindo $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Tamarindo : Traditional Cooking Class: $95
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grand Turk -Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $30
- Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour: $40
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $45
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour with Naturalist Guide: $50
- Tamarindo Surf & Tours : Surf Lesson For All Levels: $50
- Morning Moka -Tamarindo's Morning Coffee Tour: $62
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- Tamarindo Estuary: Kayak Monkey Tour: $65
- Zipline Canopy Tour from Guanacaste: $70
- Turtle Watching Tour: $70
- Tamarindo Kayak Estuary Mangrove Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrand Turk -Tamarindo $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl Experience: $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grand Turk and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Grand Turk much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Turk is in Caribbean Islands and Tamarindo 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 Grand Turk would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Grand Turk 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 Grand Turk.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Grand Turk Expensive? and Is Tamarindo 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.