Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Guatemala City?
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 Guatemala City or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or Jaco? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Guatemala City or Jaco?
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Guatemala City Prices
Guatemala PricesJaco Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $56Jaco $119
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $119. 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 Guatemala City and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24Jaco $68
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48Jaco $136
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.25Jaco -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $90
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
- San Salvadorz: Convenient bus transfer from/to Guatemala: $41
- Private transfer service from La Aurora Airport to ANTIGUA GUATE : $65
- Private transfer from La Aurora Airport to Panajachel: $65
- Private transfer from Airport to Panajachel: $65
- Private transfer Guatemala airport to Antigua.: $60
- Private transfer - San Pedro la Laguna to Guatemala City: $200
- Private Transfers from Guatemala city to Panajachel: $200
- Private Transfer: Guatemala City ⇄ Antigua - One-Way: $33
- Private Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Antigua: $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle & transfer rides to SJO Airport Costa Rica: $55
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Playa Jaco Puntarenas: $63
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Jaco Beach Puntarenas: $66
- Private Direct SJO ↔ Jaco Beach/Los Sueños Transfer Service: $70
- Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer: $144
- One-Way Private Transfer from Jaco to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $175
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $204
- Jacó: Private Transfer to San Jose Airport: $205
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $235
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and Guatemala City 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 dayGuatemala City $27Jaco $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- PRIVATE MAYAN COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF EN Guatemala City: $65
- Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $90
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $175
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
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$3.96
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
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Taco Bar Dinner$9.04
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.33
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Ice Cream$5.93
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.35
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Fruit Plate$2.97
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
- Traditional Costa Rican cooking class and meal with a modern twist: $139
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.22Jaco $60
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $195
- 3 Days Tour in Acatenango Volcano: $240
- 3-Day Antigua Guatemala and Pacaya Volcano Adventure: $256
- 3-Hour Bike Tour Guatemala City: $60
- 4-Hour Bike Tour Guatemala City: $70
- Antigua + Guatemala City Full Day Tour - History Lovers Favorite: $245
- Antigua Guatemala & Guatemala City Tour: $65
- Antigua Guatemala , Full-Day Shared Tour from Guatemala City: $75
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $65
- Antigua Guatemala Half Day Tour: $100
- Antigua Guatemala Stopover Tour: $75
- Antigua walking tour from Guatemala City : $90
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$9.85
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Surf Lesson$49
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Bike Rental$9.85
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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:
- Cold Plunge Experience in Jaco: $35
- Crocodile Man Tour THE ORIGINAL: $35
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching tour/Tarcoles River CR: $40
- Jaco Beach: 2-Hour Chocolate Experience Tour: $43
- Chocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $45
- Jaco Beach: Pacific Aerial Tram at Rainforest Adventures: $57
- 10 WATERFALLS and NATURAL POOLS HIKING EXPERIENCE 4x4 TRUCK RIDE: $60
- Jaco Beach Horseback Riding Tour: $60
- Party Safari Tractor Tour with Visit the waterfall: $60
- Jaco Horse Tours: $60
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $61
- Horseback Riding in Tarcoles Garabito, a Life Experience.: $62
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.93Jaco $32
Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City
Also in Guatemala City, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105
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 Guatemala City and Jaco, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guatemala City Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Jaco?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 240 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City 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.
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.