Which place is cheaper, Pucon or Liberia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Liberia or Pucon?
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 Pucon. 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 Pucon?
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.
Pucon
A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.
Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLiberia $112Pucon $100
The average daily cost (per person) in Liberia is $112, while the average daily cost in Pucon is $100. 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 Pucon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLiberia $60Pucon $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLiberia $120Pucon $86
Compare Hotels in Liberia and Pucon
Looking for a hotel in Liberia or Pucon? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Liberia $43Pucon $19
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:
- Airport transfer Liberia from and to Tamarindo (One way) : $113
- Costa Rica Private Airport Transfer : $6.00
- Departure Private Transfer Arenal to San Jose Airport by Minivan: $177
- Direct Transfer Liberia Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $35
- GUANACASTE COSTA RICA Airport Transfers | Shuttle Service: $62
- Guanacaste Airport Transfer to Playa Tamarindo: $105
- Guanacaste Airport: Transfer to/from Papagayo Hyatt Hotel: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) Peñas Blancas - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Flamingo/Tamarindo - Round-Trip Transfer: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Jaco / Monteverde - Round-Trip Transfer : $179
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Jaco/Monteverde Arrival Private Transfer: $89
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Peñas Blancas - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:
- Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $49
- Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $114
- Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Liberia or Pucon?
Prices for flights to both Pucon 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 $21Pucon $38
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.Liberia $25Pucon $37
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- (Private) La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike: $41
- La Leona Waterfall: Private tour in Rincon de la Vieja!: $43
- Night Tour in Nuevo Arenal: $43
- Bird-Watching and Wildlife Tour: $43
- La Leona waterfall adventure hike half day : $45
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Private Tour): $45
- Skip the Line: Diamante Eco Adventure Park: Animal Sanctuary Discovery Ticket: $49
- Zip-line Adventure: $53
- Horseback Riding Tour: $59
- Rincón de la Vieja Bird-Watching Tour: $62
- Zipline at Skyline Canopy Tour Guanacaste Costa Rica: $65
- From Tubing Adventure at Rio Negro: $65
Tours and Activities in Pucon
Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
- Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
- Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93
- Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
- Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
- Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
- Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
- Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLiberia $13Pucon $27
When comparing the travel costs between Liberia and Pucon, we can see that Liberia 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. Even though Liberia is in Central America and Pucon is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Liberia Expensive? and Is Pucon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Liberia or Pucon?
Liberia has a larger population, and is about 68% larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Liberia and Pucon, 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 Liberia or Pucon?
Pucon 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 Liberia or Pucon in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Liberia and Pucon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Liberia year-round.
Liberia is much warmer than Pucon in the summer. The daily temperature in Liberia averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Pucon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pucon this time of the year. Liberia usually receives less sunshine than Pucon during summer. Liberia gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.
Liberia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Liberia usually receives more rain than Puconin January. Liberia gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLiberia 28°C (82°F)Pucon 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Liberia or Pucon in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Liberia as well as Pucon. Liberia attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Liberia is much warmer than Pucon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Liberia in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Pucon averages at about 11°C (52°F)in April.
In the autumn, Liberia often gets more sunshine than Puconin April. Liberia gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 132 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Pucon. Liberia receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Liberia usually gets more rain in October than Puconin April. Liberia gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in Liberia is the dry season. April to December in Liberia is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLiberia 27°C (81°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Liberia or Pucon in the Winter?
Both Pucon and Liberia are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Liberia throughout the year.
In January, Liberia is generally much warmer than Puconin July. Daily temperatures in Liberia average around 27°C (81°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Liberia. Liberia usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during winter. Liberia gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 66 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pucon. In January, Liberia usually receives less rain than Puconin July. Liberia gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLiberia 27°C (81°F)Pucon 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Liberia or Pucon in the Spring?
Both Pucon and Liberia during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Liberia because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Liberia is much warmer than Pucon in the spring. The daily temperature in Liberia averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Liberia. In the spring, Liberia often gets more sunshine than Puconin October. Liberia gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 198 hours of full sun.
Pucon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Liberia usually gets less rain in April than Puconin October. Liberia gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in Liberia. April to December is the rainy season in Liberia.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLiberia 29°C (85°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Pucon and Liberia
| Liberia | Pucon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 297 mm (11.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.