Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Mar del Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Mar del Plata or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Santa Elena?
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.
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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMar del Plata $8.78Santa Elena $92
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, 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 Mar del Plata and Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.15Santa Elena $55
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.30Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata 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.
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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.50Santa Elena $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara : $269
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $180
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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 $3.81Santa 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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mar del Plata $2.27Santa 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: $45
- 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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $1.78Santa Elena $6.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Mar del Plata or Santa Elena?
Mar del Plata has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Santa Elena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Santa Elena in the Summer?
Both Santa Elena and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Mar del Plata is generally cooler than Santa Elenain July. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 20°C (69°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mar del Plata. Mar del Plata usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during summer. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. In January, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Santa Elenain July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena 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)Santa Elena 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Santa Elena in the Autumn?
Both Santa Elena and Mar del Plata during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.
Mar del Plata is much colder than Santa Elena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in April than Santa Elenain October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberMar del Plata 15°C (59°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Santa Elena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Santa Elena. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the winter, Mar del Plata is much colder than Santa Elena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mar del Plata in July average around 9°C (47°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.
In July, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Santa Elenain January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Santa Elena 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)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Santa Elena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Santa Elena. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
In October, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Santa Elenain April. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 13°C (56°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. In the spring, Mar del Plata often gets less sunshine than Santa Elenain April. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun.
Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in October than Santa Elenain April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Santa Elena 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)Santa Elena 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Mar del Plata
| Mar del Plata | Santa Elena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.