Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche or Liberia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Liberia or San Carlos de Bariloche?
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 San Carlos de Bariloche. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
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.
San Carlos de Bariloche
Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.
No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking 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 Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLiberia $112San Carlos de Bariloche $7.40
The average daily cost (per person) in Liberia is $112, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $7.40. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLiberia $60San Carlos de Bariloche $2.68
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLiberia $120San Carlos de Bariloche $5.36
Compare Hotels in Liberia and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Liberia or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Liberia $43San Carlos de Bariloche $2.28
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 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
- Private Transfer From Playas Del Coco To Nosara Guanacaste: $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Bariloche: 1-Way or Round-Trip BRC Airport Transfer: $9.00
- Private transfer Bariloche Airpot- Hotels: $13
- Transfers in Bariloche: $22
- Transfer from the Airport to Bariloche: $26
- Shared Transfer One Way - Bariloche Airport to Hotel or v.v.: $26
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $26
- Bariloche Airport (BRC) to Cerro Catedral - Arrival Transfer: $27
- Bariloche: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $35
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Tambo Viejo: $36
- Bariloche Airport Arrival Shuttle Transfer: $36
- Bariloche Airport Departure Shuttle Transfer: $36
- Private Transfer from Lago Moreno to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Liberia or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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 $21San Carlos de Bariloche $2.78
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
Typical Food Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
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Pastries$0.01
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Empanadas$0.03
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Liberia $25San Carlos de Bariloche $3.05
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
- Bird-Watching and Wildlife Tour: $43
- Night Tour in Nuevo Arenal: $43
- 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 at Diamante Eco Adventure Park: $56
- Horseback Riding Tour: $59
- Rincón de la Vieja Bird-Watching Tour: $62
- ATV Tour from Guanacaste: $65
- Ponderosa Adventure Park Admission Ticket: $65
Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
- Bariloche: 4-Hour Cerro Catedral Base Tour: $15
- Classic Bariloche: Half-Day Sightseeing Excursion: $26
- Bariloche: Half Day Small Circuit Tour - Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $28
- German Footprint & Nazi presence - Walking Tour in Bariloche: $29
- German Footprint Tour: $29
- Indigenous People of Patagonia History Tour: $29
- From Bariloche: Half-Day Circuito Chico Sightseeing Tour: $38
- Small Circuit Tour: Mt Campanario and Llao Llao Peninsula: $39
- Bariloche: Full-Day El Bolsón and Puelo Lake Tour: $42
- Half-Day Tour to Circuito Chico and Cerro Catedral with Transportation: $56
- President Peron in Bariloche - Historic Tour: $60
- Pablo Bernasconi's Art Gallery Guided Tour: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLiberia $13San Carlos de Bariloche $1.83
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Carlos de Bariloche
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in San Carlos de Bariloche from other travelers:
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Beer$0.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Liberia and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is San Carlos de Bariloche much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Liberia is in Central America and San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Liberia Expensive? and Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Liberia or San Carlos de Bariloche?
San Carlos de Bariloche has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Liberia. When comparing the sizes of Liberia and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.