Which place is cheaper, Liberia or La Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Plata or Liberia?
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 Plata and Liberia can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: La Plata or Liberia?
La Plata
Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.
Liberia
Liberia is a town in northwestern Costa Rica. It is the capital of the Guanacaste province, which is about 140 miles away from Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The town has a population of about 56,000 and is one of the tourism centers of the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Plata $8.62Liberia $112
The average daily cost (per person) in La Plata is $8.62, while the average daily cost in Liberia is $112. 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 Plata and Liberia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Plata $3.47Liberia $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Plata $6.94Liberia $120
Compare Hotels in La Plata and Liberia
Looking for a hotel in La Plata or Liberia? 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 Plata Hotel Prices and Liberia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Plata $2.47Liberia $43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Bike Rental$25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:
- Transfer Dreams Las Mareas from Airports ROUND TRIP: $300
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Santa Teresa: $300
- Punta Islita Hotel to/from Liberia Airport - Shuttle & Transfers Service: $279
- Liberia Airport (LIR)to Malpais / Montezuma - Raund-Trip Transfer: $272
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Nosara: $250
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Dreams Las Mareas: $245
- One-Way Private Transfer from Liberia Guanacaste Airport to La Fortuna (Arenal): $241
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Dreams Las Mareas, Costa Rica: $240
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Arenal / La Fortuna : $232
- Transfers Tamarindo Diria or Occidental Tamarindo, Round Trip.: $230
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Dreams Las Mareas - Costa Rica: $215
- Private Transfer Ato Lir - JW Marriott Standar: $210
Is it cheaper to fly into La Plata or Liberia?
Prices for flights to both Liberia and La Plata 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 Plata $3.37Liberia $21
Typical Food Prices in La Plata
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to La Plata:
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Ice Cream$0.01
Typical Food Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Snacks$1.97
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Lunch at The Shack (for 1)$4.95
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Lunch$11
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Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)$14
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Ginger Ale$1.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Liberia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Liberia.
- 2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara : $65
- Private Local Cooking Class in Nosara: $85
- Private Sunset Dinner at the Beach with Chef : $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Plata $2.16Liberia $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in La Plata
For La Plata, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sciencias Naturales Museum Entrance Fee$0.01
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- ATV Tour Guanacaste the Beach Excursion & Trail: $110
- Llanos de Cortez Safari and Waterfall Tour: $190
- Mega Combo Adventure: $195
- Nicaragua one day tour from Costa Rica, Discover it: $250
- (Private) La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike: $41
- 2 Hour ATV Private Tour in Costa Rica: $81
- 2 In 1 Jet Sky & Buggy Private Tour: $300
- 2-Hours UTV Tour: $110
- 3 Hour ATV Adventure Tour in El Jobo: $130
- 4 Tours in 1 Action Package - Playa del Coco area: $170
- 5 in 1 sloth, Rainforest, waterfalls, hanging bridges, volcanic activity tour.: $285
- 6 Hours Guanacaste Cultural and Local Farm Experience: $77
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Plata $1.20Liberia $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Plata and Liberia, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is La Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Plata is in South America and Liberia is in Central 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 La Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Plata 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 Liberia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Liberia than you might in La Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Plata Expensive? and Is Liberia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Plata or Liberia?
La Plata has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Liberia. When comparing the sizes of La Plata and Liberia, 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.
When is the best time to visit La Plata or Liberia?
La Plata has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Liberia experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit La Plata or Liberia in the Summer?
Both Liberia and La Plata during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Liberia year-round.
In January, La Plata is generally cooler than Liberiain July. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 25°C (77°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In the summer, La Plata often gets more sunshine than Liberiain July. La Plata gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 164 hours of full sun.
Liberia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Plata usually gets less rain in January than Liberiain July. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyLa Plata 25°C (77°F)Liberia 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Liberia in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and Liberia. Liberia attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
La Plata is much colder than Liberia in the autumn. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 18°C (65°F) in April, and Liberia fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
La Plata usually receives less sunshine than Liberia during autumn. La Plata gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Liberia receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, La Plata usually receives less rain than Liberiain October. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in Liberia is the dry season. Also, April to December is the rainy season in Liberia.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberLa Plata 18°C (65°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Liberia in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to La Plata as well as Liberia. The warm climate attracts visitors to Liberia throughout the year.
In the winter, La Plata is much colder than Liberia. Typically, the winter temperatures in La Plata in July average around 12°C (53°F), and Liberia averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Liberia. In the winter, La Plata often gets less sunshine than Liberiain January. La Plata gets 102 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 264 hours of full sun.
La Plata usually gets more rain in July than Liberiain January. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLa Plata 12°C (53°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit La Plata or Liberia in the Spring?
Both Liberia and La Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Liberia because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, La Plata is generally much colder than Liberiain April. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 18°C (64°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in Liberia. La Plata usually receives less sunshine than Liberia during spring. La Plata gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in La Plata. In October, La Plata usually receives more rain than Liberiain April. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Liberia is December to April. The rainy season in Liberia is April to December.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilLa Plata 18°C (64°F)Liberia 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Liberia and La Plata
| La Plata | Liberia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.