Which place is cheaper, Banos or Liberia?
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 Liberia or Banos?
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 Liberia and Banos. 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: Liberia or Banos?
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.
Banos
Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Liberia Prices
Costa Rica PricesBanos Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLiberia $128Banos $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Liberia is $128, while the average daily cost in Banos is $57. 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 Liberia and Banos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLiberia $60Banos $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLiberia $120Banos $32
Compare Hotels in Liberia and Banos
Looking for a hotel in Liberia or Banos? 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: Liberia Hotel Prices and Banos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Liberia $43Banos $10
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:
- ATO Liberia Private Transfer to Nosara: $115
- Airport transfer Liberia from and to Tamarindo (One way) : $107
- Costa Rica Private LIR Airport Arrival Transfer : $6.00
- GUANACASTE COSTA RICA Airport Transfers | Shuttle Service: $75
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Flamingo/Tamarindo - Arrival Transfer: $123
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Peñas Blancas - Arrival Private Transfer: $106
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Grande Round-Trip Private Transfer: $214
- Liberia Airport to Hotels One Way Private Transfer: $110
- Liberia Airport to Hotels Round Trip Private Transfers: $220
- Liberia Airport to La Fortuna Private VIP Transfer: $179
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $106
- Private Airport Shuttle Transfer Playa del Coco Hermosa Ocotal: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Liberia or Banos?
Prices for flights to both Banos and Liberia 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 dayLiberia $36Banos $26
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)$4.94
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Lunch$11
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Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)$14
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Ginger Ale$1.28
Typical Food Prices in Banos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:
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Dinner$13
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Ice cream$1.50
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Coffee$2.50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Liberia $25Banos $19
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- 2 Hour Coffee & Chocolate Tour in Playas del Coco: $40
- Rincón de la Vieja Rainforest Hot Springs Experience: $40
- La Leona waterfall adventure hike half day : $45
- Skip the Line: Diamante Eco Adventure Park: Animal Sanctuary Discovery Ticket: $55
- Cultural Experience Tour: $68
- Day pass to Ponderosa Adventure Park : $70
- Rincón de la Vieja Extreme Canopy Adventure: $74
- Vandará Nature Pass Thermal Springs & Cultural Tour in Costa Rica: $75
- Nature Wildlife Safari Float Tour from La Fortuna-Arenal: $76
- 8 Essential Guanacaste Experiences: culture, nature & wellness : $78
- Volcano Horseback Ride, Mud Bath & Costa Rican Lunch Adventure: $80
- 2 Hour ATV Private Tour in Costa Rica: $81
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banos
Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two Rented Bikes for the Day$10
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Cost to see Waterfall$2.00
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Day at the Spa$45
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2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)$10
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Entrance to Waterfall$2.00
Tours and Activities in Banos
Here are a few actual costs in Banos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Pailón del Diablo | Waterfall Route | Tour for 3 hours: $20
- The Hands of God | Tours | The highest viewpoint in the city: $22
- Adventure Circuit 4 activities in 1. All within an impressive cascade: $25
- Canopy Ziplining in Puntzan Adventure Park: $26
- 2 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Banos: $30
- Canyoning Adventure Tour in the Ravine: $30
- City Viewpoint Night Tours: $35
- 1 day jungle tour: $35
- Puyo Jungle Tour in 1 Day: $35
- One day tour in the jungle. all inclusive.: $35
- Adventure and Fun River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: $35
- Full Day Amazon Jungle Tour: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLiberia $13Banos $9.74
Typical Alcohol Prices in Banos
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:
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Beer$4.00
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Liberia and Banos, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is Banos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Liberia is in Central America and Banos 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 Banos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banos 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 Banos.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Liberia Expensive? and Is Banos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Liberia or Banos?
Liberia has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Banos. When comparing the sizes of Liberia and Banos, 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.