Which place is cheaper, Pereira or Jaco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Jaco or Pereira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jaco or Pereira, 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 Pereira?
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.
Pereira
Situated in a small valley in the western Andes, Pereira is the capital city of Risaralda, Colombia. The city is surrounded by coffee producing agriculture and sits in the middle of a triangle of cities including Bogota, Medillin and Cali, each of which is about a three to five hour drive away.
The city itself is very much student oriented, as there are many universities around town and at least one quarter of the population is made up of students. There is also a very European vibe to the city and you will find the area beautiful with many parks and museums.
Pereira's economy is based on government, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, trade, commerce, and tourism. Agricultural products include sugarcane, cacao, rubber, cereals, coffee, and livestock. Apparel is the main manufacturing product, along with aluminium goods, motorcycles and telecommunications technology.
Pereira is found in a warm moorland area with an average temperature of around 72 degrees. The temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year with highs in the high 70s Fahrenheit to low 80s Fahrenheit. Low temperatures are usually in the low 60s Fahrenheit. Rain is heaviest during the months of April and May as well as October and November.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.
-
Jaco Prices
Costa Rica PricesPereira Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJaco $119Pereira $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaco is $119, while the average daily cost in Pereira is $81. 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 Pereira in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaco $67Pereira $26
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaco $134Pereira $52
Compare Hotels in Jaco and Pereira
Looking for a hotel in Jaco or Pereira? 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 Pereira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaco -Pereira $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer: $144
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $204
- One-Way Private Transfer from Jaco to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $175
- Private Direct SJO ↔ Jaco Beach/Los Sueños Transfer Service: $70
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Jaco Beach Puntarenas: $66
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Playa Jaco Puntarenas: $63
- Shuttle & transfer rides to SJO Airport Costa Rica: $55
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $235
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Pereira are as follows:
-
Short Taxi Ride$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:
- PEREIRA/ARMENIA: FULLDAY TRANSFER SALENTO+ FILANDIA + COCORA VALLEY: $144
- One way transfer Pereira to Santa Rosa Hot Springs: $88
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
- Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
- Arrival or Departure Transfer Matecaña International Airport: $11
- Arrival or Departure Transfer El Éden International Airport: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaco or Pereira?
Prices for flights to both Pereira 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
-
Food Meals for one dayJaco $36Pereira $40
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Hermosa BeachLlunch$3.94
-
Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
-
Taco Bar Dinner$9.00
-
Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.30
-
Ice Cream$5.91
-
Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
-
Fruit Plate$2.95
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
- Traditional Costa Rican cooking class and meal with a modern twist: $139
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Typical Food Prices in Pereira
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pereira:
-
Hamburger$1.66
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jaco $60Pereira $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Dance Class$9.81
-
Surf Lesson$49
-
Bike Rental$9.81
-
Tortuga Island Tour$98
-
Massage$44
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cold Plunge Experience in Jaco: $35
- Crocodile Man Tour THE ORIGINAL: $35
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching tour/Tarcoles River CR: $40
- Chocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $45
- 10 WATERFALLS and NATURAL POOLS HIKING EXPERIENCE 4x4 TRUCK RIDE: $60
- Party Safari Tractor Tour with Visit the waterfall: $60
- Jaco Beach Horseback Riding Tour: $60
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $61
- Horseback Riding in Tarcoles Garabito, a Life Experience.: $62
- Birdwatching tour in Carara National Park: $65
- Mountain View Zip-line Tour: $67
- Jacó beach horseback riding experience : $67
Tours and Activities in Pereira
Here are a few actual costs in Pereira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cocora Valley: Salento & Private Horseback Riding Tour: $162
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $89
- Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $149
- Eco-Park Recinto del Pensamiento Tour: $84
- Explore Colombia’s Magic Destination on this 10-Day Tour: $2,700
- Full-Day Private Coffee Tour in Cocora Valley and Salento: $219
- Manizales City Tour with Cable Car and Chipre Viewpoint : $87
- PRIVATE TOUR OF MAIN SQUARES, HISTORICAL SITES + LOOKOUT POINT: $56
- Private Tour to Salento and Cocora Valley from Pereira or Armenia: $131
- Private Tour to the Coffee Park from Pereira or Armenia: $115
- Salento and Cócora Tour plus Coffee Farm from Pereira or Armenia: $158
- Salento, Cócora and Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $202
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaco $32Pereira $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
-
Wine$15
-
Night at the Bar$27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaco and Pereira, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is Pereira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jaco is in Central America and Pereira 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 Pereira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pereira 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 Pereira.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaco Expensive? and Is Pereira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jaco or Pereira?
Pereira has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Jaco and Pereira, 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.
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.