Which place is cheaper, Liberia or Havana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Havana or Liberia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Havana and Liberia can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Havana or Liberia?
Havana
The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US).
This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step off the plane, prepare to step back in time. A trip to Havana is meant for those with truly open minds - and when they arrive they'll be swept away.
Liberia
Liberia is a town in northwestern Costa Rica. It is the capital of the Guanacaste province, which is about 140 miles away from Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The town has a population of about 56,000 and is one of the tourism centers of the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHavana $65Liberia $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Havana is $65, while the average daily cost in Liberia is $112. 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 Havana and Liberia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHavana $40Liberia $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHavana $80Liberia $120
Compare Hotels in Havana and Liberia
Looking for a hotel in Havana or Liberia? 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: Liberia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Havana $19Liberia $43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.68
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Bike Rental$25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:
- Airport transfer Liberia from and to Tamarindo (One way) : $113
- Costa Rica Private Airport Transfer : $6.00
- Departure Private Transfer Arenal to San Jose Airport by Minivan: $177
- Direct Transfer Liberia Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $35
- GUANACASTE COSTA RICA Airport Transfers | Shuttle Service: $62
- Guanacaste Airport Transfer to Playa Tamarindo: $105
- Guanacaste Airport: Transfer to/from Papagayo Hyatt Hotel: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) Peñas Blancas - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Flamingo/Tamarindo - Round-Trip Transfer: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Jaco / Monteverde - Round-Trip Transfer : $179
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Jaco/Monteverde Arrival Private Transfer: $89
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Peñas Blancas - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Havana or Liberia?
Prices for flights to both Liberia and Havana 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 dayHavana $10Liberia $21
Typical Food Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Havana:
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Pizza$0.03
Typical Food Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Snacks$1.97
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Lunch at The Shack (for 1)$4.95
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Lunch$11
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Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)$14
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Ginger Ale$1.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Liberia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Liberia.
- 2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara : $65
- Private Local Cooking Class in Nosara: $85
- Private Sunset Dinner at the Beach with Chef : $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Havana $11Liberia $25
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- La Leona Waterfall: Private tour in Rincon de la Vieja!: $43
- Night Tour in Nuevo Arenal: $43
- Bird-Watching and Wildlife Tour: $43
- Private La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike: $45
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Private Tour): $45
- Skip the Line: Diamante Eco Adventure Park: Animal Sanctuary Discovery Ticket: $49
- Zip-line Adventure: $53
- Horseback Riding at Diamante Eco Adventure Park: $56
- Horseback Riding Tour: $59
- Rincón de la Vieja Bird-Watching Tour: $62
- Ponderosa Adventure Park Admission Ticket: $65
- From Tubing Adventure at Rio Negro: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHavana $5.76Liberia $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:
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Mojito$0.15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Havana and Liberia, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is Havana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Havana is in Caribbean Islands and Liberia 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 Havana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Havana 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 Liberia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Liberia than you might in Havana.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Havana Expensive? and Is Liberia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Havana or Liberia?
Havana has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Liberia. When comparing the sizes of Havana and Liberia, 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 Havana or Liberia?
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.
Should I visit Havana or Liberia in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Havana and Liberia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round. Liberia attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Liberia receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Havana usually receives less rain than Liberia. Havana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Havana is around the same temperature as Liberia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Havana in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Liberia averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHavana 27°C (81°F)Liberia 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Havana or Liberia in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Havana as well as Liberia. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Liberia throughout the year.
Also, December to April in Liberia is the dry season. April to December in Liberia is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Liberia. Havana usually gets less rain in October than Liberia. Havana gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Havana is generally around the same temperature as Liberia. Daily temperatures in Havana average around 25°C (77°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHavana 25°C (77°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Havana or Liberia in the Winter?
Both Liberia and Havana are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Liberia because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Havana usually receives more rain than Liberia. Havana gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Havana is cooler than Liberia in the winter. The daily temperature in Havana averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and Liberia fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHavana 21°C (70°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Havana or Liberia in the Spring?
Both Liberia and Havana during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Havana because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Liberia year-round.
December to April is the dry season in Liberia. April to December is the rainy season in Liberia. Havana usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Liberia. Havana gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Havana is cooler than Liberia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Havana in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Liberia averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHavana 24°C (75°F)Liberia 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Liberia and Havana
| Havana | Liberia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.