Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Merida?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Merida or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Quepos, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Merida or Quepos?
Merida
Merida is the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It is also the capital of the state of Yucatan as a whole. There is a population of 750,000 and is very rich in diversity and culture.
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 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerida $88Quepos $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $88, 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 Merida and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerida $44Quepos $77
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerida $88Quepos $154
Compare Hotels in Merida and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Merida 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: Merida Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merida $18Quepos $9.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Merida One Way: $47
- Private Transfer From Uxmal to Merida, English Speaking Driver: $73
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida hotels to Merida airport: $41
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida airport to central Merida: $41
- One-way Airport Transfers to Merida Hotels: $120
- Merida hotels to Mérida International Airport (MID) - Private Departure Transfer: $33
- Merida Rejon Airport (MID) to Tulum hotels - Round Trip Transfer: $227
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos and Merida 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 dayMerida $29Quepos $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merida
For Merida, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Merida Walking Food Tour. Authentic & Local Cuisine: $62
- Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit: $89
- Private Yucatecan Cooking Lesson in a Local Merida Home: $90
- Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Merida with Transfers: $126
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.Merida $16Quepos $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Merida
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Merida's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Train at the Zoo$0.12
-
Uxmal Entrance (for 2)$20
-
Mayan Village Entrance (for 2)$6.01
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Mérida Tour Plus: Chichen Itza Ruins and Cenote Ik-kil: $195
- Romantic tour in Izamal: $159
- 2-hour Temazcal experience in the Mayan world: $179
- 3 Hour Tour in The Sotuta de Peón Live Museum: $60
- 3 Hours Private Tour in Merida, you choose!: $125
- 4 Cenotes Full Day Tour from Merida: $110
- 4x1 Tour Chichen Itza Magic Towns Valladolid & Izamal from Merida: $95
- Ancestral Mayan Private Culinary Experience in Merida: $138
- Beach Tour in Yucalpetén from Mérida: $95
- Celestun Biosphere Reserve Tour from Merida: $208
- Cenotes Santa Barbara, Eknakan Church & Acanceh Ruins Tour: $110
- Chichen Itza Adventure! Cenote and Izamal from Merida: $104
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 dayMerida $16Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Merida much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merida is in North 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 Merida would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merida 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 Merida.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Merida or Quepos?
Merida has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Merida 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 Merida or Quepos?
Merida 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 Merida or Quepos in the Summer?
Both Quepos and Merida are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Merida for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Merida is cooler than Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during summer. Merida gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. In July, Merida usually receives less rain than Quepos. Merida gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyMerida 21°C (70°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Merida or Quepos in the Autumn?
Both Quepos and Merida during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Merida because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
In the autumn, Merida is cooler than Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Merida in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Merida. In the autumn, Merida often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Merida gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun.
Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually gets less rain in October than Quepos. Merida gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMerida 21°C (70°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Merida or Quepos in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Merida and Quepos. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Merida this time of year. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Merida is generally cooler than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Merida average around 20°C (68°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Quepos this time of the year. In Merida, it's very sunny this time of the year. Merida usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during winter. Merida gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Merida usually receives more rain than Quepos. Merida gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMerida 20°C (68°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Merida or Quepos in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Merida as well as Quepos. Many travelers come to Merida for the activities around the city. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Merida is cooler than Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 21°C (70°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Merida this time of the year. In the spring, Merida often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos. Merida gets 260 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun.
Merida receives a lot of rain in the spring. Merida usually gets more rain in April than Quepos. Merida gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilMerida 21°C (70°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Merida
| Merida | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (70°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 60 mm (2.4 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.