Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Jaco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jaco or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jaco or El Chalten, 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: Jaco or El Chalten?
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.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJaco $104El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaco is $104, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 Jaco and El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaco $67El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaco $134El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Jaco and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Jaco or El Chalten? 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: Jaco Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaco -El Chalten $2.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
- From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
- Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $200
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Transfer Private From Jaco to San José or Airport up to 5 passengers (one way) : $245
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaco or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Jaco 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 dayJaco $21El Chalten $3.66
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$3.94
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
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Taco Bar Dinner$9.01
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.31
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Ice Cream$5.92
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
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Fruit Plate$2.96
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
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jacó: $87
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jaco $60El Chalten $2.66
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$9.82
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Surf Lesson$49
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Bike Rental$9.82
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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:
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching Tour: $35
- Crocodile Man Tour THE ORIGINAL: $40
- Jason Crocodile Tours: $40
- Jaco Beach: 2-Hour Chocolate Experience Tour: $43
- Horseback Riding Pacific Experience in Tarcoles Garabito: $47
- 2 Hours Private Guided Hiking Experience to El Miro in Jaco: $50
- From Canopy Tour in Hacienda Nosavar: $50
- Guided visit to Carara National Park (Ticket included): $50
- "Miro Jaco" & Jaco Beach Horseback Tour: $59
- Jaco Horse Tours: $60
- Chocolate Experience: $62
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $64
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaco $32El Chalten $1.22
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 Jaco and El Chalten, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jaco is in Central America and El Chalten is in South 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 El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 El Chalten.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaco Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Jaco or El Chalten?
El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Jaco experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Jaco or El Chalten in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Jaco as well as El Chalten. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Jaco is around the same temperature as El Chalten. Typically, the summer temperatures in Jaco in July average around 28°C (82°F), and El Chalten averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Jaco receives a lot of rain in the summer. Jaco usually gets more rain in July than El Chaltenin January. Jaco gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryJaco 28°C (82°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Jaco or El Chalten in the Autumn?
Both El Chalten and Jaco are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
In October, Jaco is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin April. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. It's quite rainy in Jaco. In October, Jaco usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin April. Jaco gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilJaco 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Jaco or El Chalten in the Winter?
Both El Chalten and Jaco during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Jaco is much warmer than El Chalten in the winter. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in July.
Jaco usually gets less rain in January than El Chaltenin July. Jaco gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyJaco 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Jaco or El Chalten in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Jaco and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
In the spring, Jaco is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the spring temperatures in Jaco in April average around 29°C (85°F), and El Chalten averages at about 22°C (72°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in El Chalten this time of the year. In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jaco usually receives more sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Jaco gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Jaco usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin October. Jaco gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberJaco 29°C (85°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Jaco
| Jaco | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 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.