Which place is cheaper, La Paz 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 La Paz?
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 La Paz. 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 La Paz?
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.
La Paz
La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.
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Liberia Prices
Costa Rica PricesLa Paz Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLiberia $128La Paz $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Liberia is $128, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $56. 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 La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLiberia $60La Paz $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLiberia $120La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Liberia and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Liberia or La Paz? 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 La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Liberia $43La Paz $9.45
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 from Playas del Coco to Liberia Airport (LIR): $90
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Palace Hotel in Guanacaste: $90
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Guanacaste Hotel in Guanacaste: $85
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Rio Perdido Resort: $210
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playas del Coco Guanacaste: $85
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Hermosa Guanacaste: $85
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort: $91
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa: $148
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Dreams Las Mareas Hotel: $149
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Andaz Papagayo Resort: $115
- Transfer from Dreams Las Mareas Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR): $148
- Transfer Liberia Airport to Planet Hollywood or Andaz Papagayo, ROUND TRIP.: $149
Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Station Transfer Out_night : $25
- Private Transfer La Paz Airport LPB to La Paz City by MiniVan/Bus: $28
- Private Transfer from El Alto Airport to La Paz, Bolivia Hotels: $28
- Private Departure Transfer: La Paz Hotels to El Alto International Airport: $37
- Airport Transfer In_night: $47
- Private Transfer From Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $52
- Private Transfer from your Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $54
- Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
- Private Transfer From Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $68
- Private Transfer From your Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $68
- Private Transfer From Bus Station to Hotel in La Paz City : $68
- Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Liberia or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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 $36La Paz $29
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 La Paz
For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Fruit$0.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- La Paz : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $77
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Liberia $25La Paz $16
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- Birdwatching Experience private tour : $300
- 2 Hour ATV Experience From Guanacaste: $189
- 2 Hour ATV Private Tour in Costa Rica: $81
- 2 Hour Coffee & Chocolate Tour in Playas del Coco: $40
- 3 Hour ATV Adventure Tour in El Jobo: $140
- 3 In 1 Volcano Hot Springs & Mud Baths And River Floating Tour: $235
- 4-Hour Private Guided ATV Tour in Costa Rica: $122
- 5 Tours in 1 – The Ultimate Volcano Adventure!: $159
- 7 Hour Private Tour in Palo Verde National Park with Pickup: $120
- 8 Essential Guanacaste Experiences: culture, nature & wellness : $78
- ATV Beach Tour: $125
- ATV Tour 2hrs - Dreams Las Mareas: $135
Tours and Activities in La Paz
For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- La Paz City Walking Tour Including Historical Streets: $5.00
- City Walking Tour in La Paz: $8.00
- City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
- La Paz Walking City tour plus Cable cars: $10
- Walking tour La Paz city: $14
- El Alto Tour: Andean Spirituality, the Chola, and Cable Car Views: $16
- Half Day Guided Tour in El Alto City: $19
- La Paz City Tour Essential: $23
- Cholet Tour - Andean Architecture and Culture - El Alto: $26
- La Paz Private Walking Tour with a Local: $30
- La Paz Guided Sightseeing Tour on Bus and Cable Car: $30
- Smells like La Paz spirit: Walking & artistic city tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLiberia $13La Paz $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Liberia and La Paz, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is La Paz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Liberia is in Central America and La Paz 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 La Paz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Paz 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 Paz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Liberia Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Liberia or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Liberia. When comparing the sizes of Liberia and La Paz, 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.