Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Havana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Havana or Quepos?
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 Quepos can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Havana or Quepos?
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.
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 Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHavana $65Quepos $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Havana is $65, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $117. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHavana $40Quepos $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHavana $80Quepos $154
Compare Hotels in Havana and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Havana 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: Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Havana $19Quepos $9.56
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 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
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
Is it cheaper to fly into Havana or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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 $10Quepos $30
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 Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
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
- 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.Havana $11Quepos $17
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Manuel Antonio National Park tour : $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Group Guided Tour: $30
- Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park!: $35
- Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour with pick up included: $39
- Guided hiking Tour by the Mystic Ebano Rainforest in Costa Rica: $40
- Manuel Antonio: Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $45
- Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHavana $5.76Quepos $15
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 Quepos, we can see that Quepos 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 Quepos 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 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 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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Havana or Quepos?
Havana has a larger population, and is about 280 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Havana 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 Havana 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 Havana or Quepos in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Havana as well as Quepos. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. Havana usually gets less rain in July than Quepos. Havana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Havana is around the same temperature as Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Havana averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHavana 27°C (81°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Havana or Quepos in the Autumn?
Both Quepos and Havana are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. In October, Havana usually receives less rain than Quepos. Havana gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Havana is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Havana in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHavana 25°C (77°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Havana or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos and Havana during the winter 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 Quepos year-round.
Havana usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Havana gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Havana is generally cooler than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Havana average around 21°C (70°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHavana 21°C (70°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Havana or Quepos in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Havana and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Havana usually receives around the same amount of rain as Quepos. Havana gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Havana is cooler than Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Havana averages around 24°C (75°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHavana 24°C (75°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Havana
| Havana | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.