Which place is cheaper, Montanita or Jaco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jaco or Montanita?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jaco or Montanita, 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 Montanita?
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.
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
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 Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJaco $104Montanita $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaco is $104, while the average daily cost in Montanita is $96. 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 Montanita in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaco $67Montanita $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaco $134Montanita $82
Compare Hotels in Jaco and Montanita
Looking for a hotel in Jaco or Montanita? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaco -Montanita $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 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
- 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 or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
- Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaco or Montanita?
Prices for flights to both Montanita 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 $21Montanita $28
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 $60Montanita $31
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaco $32Montanita $7.86
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 comparing the travel costs between Jaco and Montanita, 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. Even though Jaco is in Central America and Montanita is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaco Expensive? and Is Montanita Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Jaco or Montanita?
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 Jaco or Montanita in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Jaco and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Jaco gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Jaco usually receives more rain than Montanita. Jaco gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Jaco usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during summer. Jaco gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun in the summer.
Jaco is around the same temperature as Montanita in the summer. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Montanita fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyJaco 28°C (82°F)Montanita 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Jaco or Montanita in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Jaco as well as Montanita. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.
Jaco receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Jaco usually gets more rain in October than Montanita. Jaco gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Jaco often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Jaco gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Jaco is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Jaco in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberJaco 27°C (81°F)Montanita 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Jaco or Montanita in the Winter?
Both Montanita and Jaco are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Jaco usually receives less rain than Montanita. Jaco gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Jaco. Jaco usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during winter. Jaco gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Jaco is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryJaco 27°C (81°F)Montanita 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Jaco or Montanita in the Spring?
Both Montanita and Jaco during the spring 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 Montanita year-round.
Jaco usually gets less rain in April than Montanita. Jaco gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Jaco. In the spring, Jaco often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Jaco gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun.
Jaco is around the same temperature as Montanita in the spring. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilJaco 29°C (85°F)Montanita 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Montanita and Jaco
| Jaco | Montanita | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.