Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Mandeville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mandeville or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mandeville or Quepos? 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 Quepos?
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.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandeville $81Quepos $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $117. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandeville $38Quepos $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandeville $76Quepos $154
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or Quepos? 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: Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandeville $31Quepos $9.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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
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Food Meals for one dayMandeville $24Quepos $30
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandeville $8.31Quepos $17
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 10 in 1 Tour! Zip Lines, Rappels, Tarzan Swing, Waterfalls & More: $130
- 2-Hour Boat Tour in Quepos: $55
- ATV Tour Half Day Trip From Manuel Antonio: $90
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $83
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Nauyaca Waterfall and Beach Town Tour: $142
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Birding at El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Private Birding Tour : $120
- Birdwatching Tour: $130
- Catamaran Adventure From Manuel Antonio: $116
- Chocolate Tour Manuel Antonio: $60
- Chocolate and Coffee Tour Manuel Antonio: $62
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandeville $6.51Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and Quepos, we can see that Quepos 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 Quepos 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos 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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Quepos?
Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and Quepos, 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 Quepos?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Mandeville or Quepos in the Summer?
Both Quepos and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. In July, Mandeville usually receives less rain than Quepos. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during summer. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Mandeville is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mandeville in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Quepos averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMandeville 29°C (83°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Quepos in the Autumn?
Both Quepos and Mandeville during the autumn 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 Quepos year-round.
Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually gets less rain in October than Quepos. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the autumn, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun.
In October, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 28°C (82°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMandeville 28°C (82°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Quepos in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Quepos. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Quepos this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during winter. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
Mandeville is around the same temperature as Quepos in the winter. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMandeville 26°C (79°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Quepos in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Quepos. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Mandeville usually gets more rain in April than Quepos. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the spring, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Mandeville is cooler than Quepos. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mandeville in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Quepos averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMandeville 26°C (80°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Mandeville
| Mandeville | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.