Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Mar del Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Mar del Plata or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Mar del Plata and Quepos can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Quepos?
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.
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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $8.78Quepos $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, 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 Mar del Plata and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.15Quepos $77
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.30Quepos $154
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.50Quepos $9.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- 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
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos and Mar del Plata 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 dayMar del Plata $3.81Quepos $30
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch$15
-
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mar del Plata $2.27Quepos $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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $1.78Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mar del Plata is in South America 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 Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Quepos?
Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata or Quepos?
Mar del Plata has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Quepos in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Quepos. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Mar del Plata is generally cooler than Queposin July. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 20°C (69°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Mar del Plata, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mar del Plata usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during summer. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
Quepos receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Queposin July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyMar del Plata 20°C (69°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Quepos. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Mar del Plata is much colder than Quepos in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in April than Queposin October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberMar del Plata 15°C (59°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Mar del Plata is much colder than Quepos. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mar del Plata in July average around 9°C (47°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.
In July, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Queposin January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMar del Plata 9°C (47°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos and Mar del Plata during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
In October, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Queposin April. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 13°C (56°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
In Quepos, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Mar del Plata often gets less sunshine than Queposin April. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun.
Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in October than Queposin April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilMar del Plata 13°C (56°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Mar del Plata
| Mar del Plata | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (69°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (47°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (49°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 88 mm (3.5 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.