Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Jaco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jaco or La Fortuna, 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.
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.
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaco is $104, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $104. 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 La Fortuna in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Jaco or La Fortuna? 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.
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna 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.
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
When comparing the travel costs between Jaco and La Fortuna, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaco Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Jaco has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Jaco and La Fortuna, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Jaco as well as La Fortuna. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in La Fortuna. Jaco receives a lot of rain in the summer. Jaco usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Jaco often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, Jaco is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 28°C (82°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Both La Fortuna and Jaco are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. It's quite rainy in Jaco. In October, Jaco usually receives around the same amount of rain as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Jaco usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna during autumn. Jaco gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Jaco is around the same temperature as La Fortuna in the autumn. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and La Fortuna fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Both La Fortuna 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round.
Jaco usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In La Fortuna, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Jaco. In the winter, Jaco often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Fortuna receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Jaco is around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Typically, the winter temperatures in Jaco in January average around 27°C (81°F), and La Fortuna averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Jaco and La Fortuna. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Jaco usually receives around the same amount of rain as La Fortuna. Jaco gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while La Fortuna receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Fortuna this time of the year. In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jaco usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Fortuna during spring. Jaco gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while La Fortuna receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Jaco is generally around the same temperature as La Fortuna. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 29°C (85°F), and La Fortuna fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Jaco | La Fortuna | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |