Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Jaco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jaco or La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jaco or La Serena, 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 La Serena?
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.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJaco $104La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaco is $104, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaco $67La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaco $134La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Jaco and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Jaco or La Serena? 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 La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaco -La Serena $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
- Transfer Private From Jaco to San José or Airport up to 5 passengers (one way) : $245
- Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $200
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
- Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaco or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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 $21La Serena $27
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 $60La Serena $24
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 & River ATV Adventure, 2 hours / Jacó: $95
- Ocean views Zip Line Canopy Tour in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $71
- "Miro Jaco" & Jaco Beach Horseback Tour: $59
- 2 Hour ATV Jungle Adventure Jaco: $75
- 2 Hour Private Ranch Experience in Quebrada Amarilla: $120
- 2 Hours Private Guided Hiking Experience to El Miro in Jaco: $50
- 2 hour ATV Tour & Waterfalls + Chocolate Experience : $110
- 2 hour Double ATV Tour + Waterfalls in Jaco Beach : $99
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $110
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $95
- 4×4 Waterfalls and Jungle Experience: $80
- 4x4 Happy Jungle Booze Cruise: $115
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaco $32La Serena $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 La Serena, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is La Serena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jaco is in Central America and La Serena 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 La Serena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Serena 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 La Serena.
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 Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jaco or La Serena?
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Jaco and La Serena, 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 Jaco or La Serena?
La Serena 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 La Serena in the Summer?
Both La Serena and Jaco are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
In the summer, Jaco is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Jaco in July average around 28°C (82°F), and La Serena averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in La Serena. Jaco usually receives less sunshine than La Serena during summer. Jaco gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Jaco. In July, Jaco usually receives more rain than La Serenain January. Jaco gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryJaco 28°C (82°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Jaco or La Serena in the Autumn?
Both La Serena and Jaco during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Jaco is generally much warmer than La Serenain April. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In the autumn, Jaco often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Serenain April. Jaco gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Jaco. Jaco usually gets more rain in October than La Serenain April. Jaco gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilJaco 27°C (81°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Jaco or La Serena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Jaco and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
Jaco is much warmer than La Serena in the winter. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in July.
In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jaco usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during winter. Jaco gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Jaco usually receives more rain than La Serenain July. Jaco gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyJaco 27°C (81°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Jaco or La Serena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Jaco as well as La Serena. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Jaco is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Jaco in April average around 29°C (85°F), and La Serena averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jaco this time of the year. In the spring, Jaco often gets more sunshine than La Serenain October. Jaco gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.
Jaco usually gets more rain in April than La Serenain October. Jaco gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberJaco 29°C (85°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Jaco
| Jaco | La Serena | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.