Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Mar del Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mar del Plata or Tamarindo?
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 Tamarindo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Tamarindo?
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.
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 Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, 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 dayMar del Plata $8.78Tamarindo $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Mar del Plata is $8.78, 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 Mar del Plata and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMar del Plata $3.15Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMar del Plata $6.30Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Mar del Plata and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Mar del Plata 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: Mar del Plata Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mar del Plata $2.50Tamarindo $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $307
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to JW Marriott Guanacaste: $280
- Round Trip Transfer From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $250
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Andaz Papagayo Resort: $201
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Four Seasons Resort: $200
- Private Liberia airport transfer: $200
- Transfer To/From Liberia Airport To/ From JW Marriott Guanacaste: $195
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $185
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Guanacaste Hotel: $181
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hacienda Pinilla Guanacaste: $175
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort: $171
- Private Transfer from Intl Liberia (LIR) Airport to Papagayo beaches areas: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Mar del Plata or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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
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Food Meals for one dayMar del Plata $3.81Tamarindo $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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mar del Plata $2.27Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- 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
- Sloth Farm Watching Tour & Amazimg Waterfall: $185
- 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 Hour ATV Secluded Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo, Conchal & Grande: $125
- 3-in-1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park Nature Day Tour: $300
- 5-Hour Guided Sunset Boat Tour in Tamarindo Costa Rica: $95
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMar del Plata $1.78Tamarindo $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo 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 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 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 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 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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Mar del Plata or Tamarindo?
Mar del Plata has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tamarindo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Tamarindo in the Summer?
Both Tamarindo and Mar del Plata during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round.
In the summer, Mar del Plata is cooler than Tamarindo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mar del Plata in January average around 20°C (69°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Mar del Plata. In the summer, Mar del Plata often gets more sunshine than Tamarindoin July. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun.
Tamarindo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in January than Tamarindoin July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyMar del Plata 20°C (69°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Tamarindo. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Tamarindoin October. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 15°C (59°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Tamarindo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Tamarindoin October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberMar del Plata 15°C (59°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Tamarindo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Tamarindo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
Mar del Plata is much colder than Tamarindo in the winter. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 9°C (47°F) in July, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in July than Tamarindoin January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMar del Plata 9°C (47°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mar del Plata or Tamarindo in the Spring?
Both Tamarindo and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Mar del Plata is much colder than Tamarindo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mar del Plata in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 29°C (85°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Tamarindo. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Tamarindoin April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilMar del Plata 13°C (56°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Mar del Plata
| Mar del Plata | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.