Which place is cheaper, Jaco or La Ceiba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Ceiba or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between La Ceiba and Jaco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: La Ceiba or Jaco?
La Ceiba
La Ceiba is the third largest city in Honduras, situated on the north Caribbean coast. The city has a population of about a quarter million people. Many people who visit this city do so before heading into Pico Bonito National Park. It hasn't had the best infrastructure for tourists in the past but is developing fast. It is about 200 kilometers from San Pedro Sula, another large city in Honduras.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Ceiba $65Jaco $101
The average daily cost (per person) in La Ceiba is $65, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $101. 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 La Ceiba and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Ceiba $23Jaco $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Ceiba $46Jaco $132
Compare Hotels in La Ceiba and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in La Ceiba or Jaco? 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: La Ceiba Hotel Prices and Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Ceiba $32Jaco -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Ceiba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Ceiba:
- Private Transfer from La Ceiba hotels to Banana Coast Cruise Port: $80
- Private Transfer from Goloson Airport (LCE) to Banana Coast Port: $80
- Ferry Transfer between La Ceiba and Roatán Island: $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle & transfer rides to SJO Airport Costa Rica: $55
- Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer: $69
- Private Direct SJO ↔ Jaco Beach/Los Sueños Transfer Service: $70
- Arrival Transfer Barcelo Tambor to Juan Santamaria Airport SJO : $84
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $91
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Uvita: $140
- Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
Is it cheaper to fly into La Ceiba or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and La Ceiba 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 dayLa Ceiba $18Jaco $21
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$3.85
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$17
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Taco Bar Dinner$8.81
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.17
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Ice Cream$5.78
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.27
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Fruit Plate$2.89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traveling Spoon Ceviche Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- TICO Private Walking Food Tour: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Ceiba $22Jaco $59
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$9.60
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Surf Lesson$48
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Bike Rental$9.60
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Tortuga Island Tour$95
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Massage$43
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Guided Walking Street Art & Graffiti Tour in Jaco Costa Rica : $27
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching Tour: $35
- Jaco Beach: 2-Hour Chocolate Experience Tour: $43
- Guided tour in Carara National Park: $44
- Chocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $45
- 1 hour 45 minutes Crocodile Adventure Tour in Tarcoles River: $45
- Private Bird Watching Experience in Los Chocuacos: $45
- Bird watching tour in Carara National Park: $45
- Guided visit to Carara National Park (Ticket included): $45
- Personalized Beach Adventure Near Jaco: $48
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $58
- Horseback Riding in Tarcoles Garabito, a Life Experience.: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Ceiba $5.11Jaco $31
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$14
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Night at the Bar$26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Ceiba and Jaco, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is La Ceiba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Ceiba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Ceiba 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 Ceiba.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Ceiba Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Ceiba or Jaco?
La Ceiba has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of La Ceiba and Jaco, 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.