A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mandeville vs. Liberia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mandeville or Liberia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Mandeville or Liberia? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mandeville or Liberia?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, Liberia or Mandeville?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, while the average daily cost in Liberia is $112. 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 Mandeville and Liberia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandeville $38
    Liberia $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandeville $76
    Liberia $120
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Liberia

Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or Liberia? 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.

Hotels in Mandeville


Hotels in Liberia


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandeville $31
    Liberia $43

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:


  • Bike Rental
    $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:

  • Transfers from Liberia Airport: $60
  • Transfers Tamarindo Diria or Occidental Tamarindo, Round Trip.: $230
  • Transfer from Playas del Coco to Liberia Airport (LIR): $90
  • Transfer from Playa Hermosa to Liberia Airport (LIR): $85
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Guanacaste Hotel in Guanacaste: $85
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort: $91
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to El Mangroove Hotel: $85
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Dreams Las Mareas Hotel: $149
  • Transfer from El Mangroove Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR): $94
  • Transfer from Bosque del Mar Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR): $85
  • Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Dreams Las Mareas, Costa Rica: $240
  • Transfer Riu Palace and Guanacaste Round-Trip: $160

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Liberia?

Prices for flights to both Liberia and Mandeville 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mandeville $24
    Liberia $21

Typical Food Prices in Liberia

Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:


  • Snacks
    $1.97
  • Lunch at The Shack (for 1)
    $4.95
  • Lunch
    $11
  • Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)
    $14
  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandeville $8.31
    Liberia $25

Tours and Activities in Liberia

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:

  • ATV Tour Guanacaste the Beach Excursion & Trail: $110
  • Llanos de Cortez Safari and Waterfall Tour: $190
  • Nicaragua one day tour from Costa Rica, Discover it: $250
  • 2 Hour ATV Experience From Guanacaste: $180
  • 2 Hour ATV Private Tour in Costa Rica: $81
  • 2-Hour ATV Tour: $110
  • 2-Hours UTV Tour: $110
  • 3 Hour ATV Adventure Tour in El Jobo: $120
  • 4 Tours in 1 Action Package - Playa del Coco area: $170
  • 5 in 1 sloth, Rainforest, waterfalls, hanging bridges, volcanic activity tour.: $285
  • 6 Hours Guanacaste Cultural and Local Farm Experience: $77
  • 7 Hour Private Tour in Palo Verde National Park with Pickup: $120

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandeville $6.51
    Liberia $13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and Liberia, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is Mandeville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and Liberia is in Central 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 Mandeville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandeville 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 Mandeville.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandeville Expensive? and Is Liberia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Liberia?

Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Liberia. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and Liberia, 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 Mandeville or Liberia?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Mandeville or Liberia in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Liberia. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Liberia throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Liberia. Mandeville usually gets less rain in July than Liberia. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the summer, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than Liberia. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 164 hours of full sun.

In July, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as Liberia. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 29°C (83°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Mandeville 29°C (83°F) 
    Liberia 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Mandeville or Liberia in the Autumn?

Both Liberia and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Liberia because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Liberia is December to April. The rainy season in Liberia is April to December. It rains a lot this time of the year in Liberia. It's quite rainy in Mandeville. In October, Mandeville usually receives less rain than Liberia. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than Liberia during autumn. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Mandeville is around the same temperature as Liberia in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Liberia fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Mandeville 28°C (82°F) 
    Liberia 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Mandeville or Liberia in the Winter?

Both Liberia and Mandeville during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Liberia year-round.

Mandeville usually gets more rain in January than Liberia. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Liberia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the winter, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than Liberia. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 264 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Mandeville is around the same temperature as Liberia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mandeville in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Liberia averages at about 27°C (81°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Mandeville 26°C (79°F) 
    Liberia 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Mandeville or Liberia in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Liberia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. Liberia attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

December to April in Liberia is the dry season. Also, April to December is the rainy season in Liberia. In April, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Liberia. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Liberia this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than Liberia during spring. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Mandeville is generally cooler than Liberia. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 26°C (80°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Mandeville 26°C (80°F) 
    Liberia 29°C (85°F)

Typical Weather for Liberia and Mandeville

Mandeville Liberia
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 8 mm (0.3 in)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 28°C (83°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 29°C (84°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 29°C (85°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
May 28°C (82°F) 101 mm (4 in) 29°C (83°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 26°C (79°F) 289 mm (11.4 in)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 328 mm (12.9 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 160 mm (6.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 254 mm (10 in)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)