Which place is cheaper, Salento or Liberia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Liberia or Salento?
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 Salento. 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 Salento?
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.
Salento
Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLiberia $112Salento $33
The average daily cost (per person) in Liberia is $112, while the average daily cost in Salento is $33. 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 Salento in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLiberia $60Salento $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLiberia $120Salento $22
Compare Hotels in Liberia and Salento
Looking for a hotel in Liberia or Salento? 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 Salento Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Liberia $43Salento $14
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:
- Costa Rica Private Airport Transfer : $6.00
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Papagayo Peninsula: $12
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Riu Hotel and Vice Versa: $15
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Riu Guanacaste: $17
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Riu Guanacaste: $18
- Private Transfer from Libera/Four Seasons Guanacaste Airport: $19
- Private or VIP Transfer: Liberia Airport to RIU Hotels & More: $19
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Tamarindo Beach: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Peñas Blancas Nicaragua: $26
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Grande - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
- Direct Transfer Liberia Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $35
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Peñas Blancas - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:
- Pereira Airport Private Transfer Service: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Liberia or Salento?
Prices for flights to both Salento 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 $21Salento $9.56
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salento.
- Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Liberia $25Salento $12
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 Salento
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salento are as follows:
- City tour + Nature: $25
- Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $28
- Santa Rita Waterfall and Salento Hike Tour: $49
- Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $62
- Private Colombian Coffee Farm Tour with Tastings in Armenia: $78
- Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
- Coffee Tour at Finca El Ocaso: $84
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
- Coffe Experience: Daily departure from Salento: $89
- Pereira: Cocora Valley and Salento Guided Hiking Tour: $89
- Private birding tour for beginners and intermediate: $90
- Coffee Tour and Salento Walking Tour with lunch: $94
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLiberia $13Salento $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Liberia and Salento, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is Salento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Liberia is in Central America and Salento 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 Salento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salento 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 Salento.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Liberia Expensive? and Is Salento Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Liberia or Salento?
Liberia has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Liberia and Salento, 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.