Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Mandeville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mandeville or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mandeville or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo?
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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandeville $81Tamarindo $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $121. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandeville $38Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandeville $76Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or Tamarindo? 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: Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandeville $31Tamarindo $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Transfer from Westin Conchal Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR): $140
- Transfer from Riu Guanacaste Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR): $85
- Transfer from JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa to Liberia Airport (LIR): $148
- Transfer from Four Seasons Resort to Liberia Airport (LIR): $120
- Transfer from Andaz Papagayo Resort to Liberia Airport (LIR): $115
- Transfer To/From Liberia Airport To/ From JW Marriott Guanacaste: $195
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport to Planet Hollywood Costa Rica: $115
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Westin Resort Costa Rica: $125
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Riu Palace and Riu Guanacaste: $105
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Riu Palace And Riu Guanacaste: $89
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Riu Palace & Riu Guanacaste Costa Rica: $90
- Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Riu Palace & Riu Guanacaste: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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 $24Tamarindo $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandeville $8.31Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- ATV adventure from Riu, Secrets and papagayo: $90
- Ecologic farming Sloth tour Hiking & Chocolate -Coffee tour: $260
- Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Adventure Combo Tour: $220
- Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano and Waterfall Hiking: $170
- Premium Tour:Sloths and Río Celeste y Cortez Waterfalls (Tenorio Volcano Park): $220
- Private ATV or Buggy Tour from Riu Hotels: $85
- Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park: $199
- 1,5 Hours Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $80
- 2-Hour Guided Tour by ATV near Playa Conchal: $130
- 3-in-1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park Nature Day Tour: $300
- 5-Hour Guided Sunset Boat Tour in Tamarindo Costa Rica: $95
- 5-in-1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park Adventure Day Tour: $300
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandeville $6.51Tamarindo $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl Experience: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Mandeville or Tamarindo?
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 Tamarindo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Tamarindo. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Tamarindo. Mandeville usually gets less rain in July than Tamarindo. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun.
Mandeville is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the summer. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMandeville 29°C (83°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
Both Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. It's quite rainy in Mandeville. In October, Mandeville usually receives less rain than Tamarindo. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo during autumn. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Mandeville is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mandeville in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMandeville 28°C (82°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Tamarindo in the Winter?
Both Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo year-round.
Mandeville usually gets more rain in January than Tamarindo. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Tamarindo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the winter, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than Tamarindo. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun.
In January, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 26°C (79°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMandeville 26°C (79°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Tamarindo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Tamarindo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tamarindo this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during spring. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Mandeville is cooler than Tamarindo in the spring. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMandeville 26°C (80°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Mandeville
| Mandeville | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.