Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or La Fortuna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit La Fortuna or Saint Croix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for La Fortuna and Saint Croix. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: La Fortuna or Saint Croix?
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
Saint Croix
Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.
The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.
This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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La Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica PricesSaint Croix Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Fortuna $123Saint Croix $277
The average daily cost (per person) in La Fortuna is $123, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $277. 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 Fortuna and Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Fortuna $51Saint Croix $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Fortuna $102Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in La Fortuna and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in La Fortuna or Saint Croix? 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 Fortuna Hotel Prices and Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Fortuna $21Saint Croix $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Tabacón Arenal: $39
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To La Fortuna: $40
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Arenal La Fortuna: $42
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $42
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $49
- One-Way Transfer from La Fortuna to Monteverde through Arenal Lake: $57
- From San Jose: One way shared transfer to La Fortuna: $74
- Guided Tour to Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges with Transfer: $79
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $110
- One Way Private Transfer - La Fortuna to your Selected Location: $128
- Transfer from Arenal or Fortuna to Papagayo: $170
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 7to10: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $84
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $87
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Port to St. Croix Airport (STX): $87
- St. Croix to St. Croix Airport (STX) - Departure Private Transfer: $91
- St.Croix Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Arrival Private Transfer: $91
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $167
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $175
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $175
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $180
Is it cheaper to fly into La Fortuna or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix and La Fortuna 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 Fortuna $47Saint Croix $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Farm to Table Cooking Class : $43
- Skip the Line: Mineral Hot Springs Full Day Ticket w/ Optional Lunch or Dinner: $47
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $54
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience : $55
- Costa Rican Cooking Class: $57
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $71
- Horseback Riding and Cooking Class with Lunch : $72
- Cooking and Salsa Dance Lesson Combo : $74
- Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna: $75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Croix
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.
- A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- A Morning Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $131
- Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Fortuna $44Saint Croix $58
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Petting Zoo Interactive Farm Experience: $20
- Three hours walking tour around the deep Tropical Rain Forest: $20
- Café Experience in Bijagua : $25
- Frog Sanctuary Tour at Night : $29
- Birdwatching Tour in La Fortuna: $29
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Excellent Wildlife Tour in Bijagua de Upala: $30
- Guaranteed Red eyed Tree Frog & Amphibians Tour: $30
- Guaranteed Sloth Watching Tour: $30
- Sloth and Monkey Wild Life Tour : $30
Tours and Activities in Saint Croix
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:
- Christiansted's Artisan Shopping Tour: $33
- St. Croix Ghost Tour of Historic Christiansted: $45
- Frederiksted Moke Tour: $75
- The Frederiksted St. Croix Sea Turtles Snorkeling Tour: $89
- Guided Kayak Tour of Salt River Bay Ecology and History: $115
- St Croix Island Tour: $118
- Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
- Horseback Riding Experience: $160
- Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Fortuna $11Saint Croix $27
Sample the Local Flavors in La Fortuna
Also in La Fortuna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting Experience : $135
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Croix
Also in Saint Croix, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Farm to Bottle Tour at Prosperity Farm Distillery: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Fortuna and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Fortuna is in Central America and Saint Croix is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Fortuna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Fortuna 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 Saint Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix than you might in La Fortuna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Fortuna Expensive? and Is Saint Croix Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit La Fortuna or Saint Croix?
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 La Fortuna or Saint Croix in the Summer?
Both Saint Croix and La Fortuna are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to La Fortuna throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in La Fortuna. In July, La Fortuna usually receives more rain than Saint Croix. La Fortuna gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
La Fortuna is around the same temperature as Saint Croix in the summer. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLa Fortuna 28°C (82°F)Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Saint Croix in the Autumn?
Both Saint Croix and La Fortuna during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to La Fortuna because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.
December to April is the dry season in La Fortuna. Also, the hurricane season in La Fortuna is May to November. Saint Croix gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in La Fortuna. La Fortuna usually gets more rain in October than Saint Croix. La Fortuna gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, La Fortuna is around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Fortuna in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Saint Croix in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both La Fortuna and Saint Croix. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to La Fortuna year-round. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, La Fortuna usually receives less rain than Saint Croix. La Fortuna gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, La Fortuna is generally around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in La Fortuna average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLa Fortuna 27°C (81°F)Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit La Fortuna or Saint Croix in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to La Fortuna as well as Saint Croix. La Fortuna attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.
Also, December to April in La Fortuna is the dry season. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in La Fortuna. La Fortuna usually gets less rain in April than Saint Croix. La Fortuna gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
La Fortuna is around the same temperature as Saint Croix in the spring. The daily temperature in La Fortuna averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLa Fortuna 29°C (85°F)Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Croix and La Fortuna
| La Fortuna | Saint Croix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.