Which city is cheaper, Santa Elena or La Ceiba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Ceiba vs. Santa Elena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit La Ceiba or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Ceiba $53Santa Elena $55
The average daily cost (per person) in La Ceiba is $53, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $55. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for La Ceiba and Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Ceiba $19Santa Elena $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Ceiba $38Santa Elena $64
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Ceiba $26Santa Elena $6.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara: $262
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio: $265
Is it cheaper to fly into La Ceiba or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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 $15Santa Elena $14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Ceiba $18Santa Elena $18
Tours and Activities in La Ceiba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Ceiba are as follows:
- Romantic tour in La Ceiba: $496
- The best of La Ceiba walking tour: $496
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- The Original Canopy Tour Monteverde: $50
- Night Walk Tour: $53
- Coffee Tour 3 in 1 (Coffee Chocolate and sugar cane): $56
- 100% Adventure Park Combo: Zipline, Superman, and Mega Tarzan Tour in Monteverde: $58
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Canopy Tour: $77
- Horseback Riding Tour in Monteverde: $81
- Tikal Sunset Tour in Small Group from El Remate: $93
- Tikal Sunrise Tour from El Remate in Small Group: $96
- Ceibal Day Tour from Flores: $100
- Tikal Guided Sunrise Tour in Small Group from Flores: $103
- Night Walk Tour plus Coffee Tour 3 in 1(Coffee Chocolate and sugar cane): $110
- Canopy Tour Plus Night Walk: $111
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Ceiba $4.14Santa Elena $3.68
When comparing the travel costs between La Ceiba and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena 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.
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