Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Mandeville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mandeville or Santa Elena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mandeville or Santa Elena? 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 Santa Elena?
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandeville $81Santa Elena $92
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $92. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandeville $38Santa Elena $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandeville $76Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or Santa Elena? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandeville $31Santa Elena $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $179
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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 $24Santa Elena $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandeville $8.31Santa Elena $30
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $70
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $50
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- 100% Adventure Park Combo: Zipline, Superman, and Mega Tarzan Tour in Monteverde: $57
- 3 hours of the Longest and Highest Extreme Zip line Experience in Monteverde: $80
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course : $69
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Bird Watching Experience in Monteverde: $90
- Bird-Watching private tour : $100
- Birdwatching Tour in Monteverde : $85
- Canopy Adventure From Monteverde: $72
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandeville $6.51Santa Elena $6.22
When comparing the travel costs between Mandeville and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena 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 Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Elena is in Central 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 Mandeville Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Mandeville or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Mandeville usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during summer. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Mandeville is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mandeville in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMandeville 29°C (83°F)Santa Elena 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Santa Elena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Santa Elena. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. Mandeville receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mandeville usually gets less rain in October than Santa Elena. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 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 autumn, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun.
In October, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 28°C (82°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMandeville 28°C (82°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Santa Elena in the Winter?
Both Santa Elena and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than Santa Elena during winter. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
Mandeville is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the winter. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMandeville 26°C (79°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Santa Elena in the Spring?
Both Santa Elena and Mandeville during the spring 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 Santa Elena year-round.
Mandeville usually gets more rain in April than Santa Elena. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the spring, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Mandeville is cooler than Santa Elena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mandeville in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMandeville 26°C (80°F)Santa Elena 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Mandeville
| Mandeville | Santa Elena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.