Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Montevideo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Montevideo or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montevideo and Jaco can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Montevideo or Jaco?
Montevideo
As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Montevideo Prices
Uruguay PricesJaco Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontevideo $70Jaco $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $70, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $133. 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 Montevideo and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontevideo $38Jaco $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontevideo $76Jaco $150
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Montevideo or Jaco? 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: Montevideo Hotel Prices and Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montevideo $6.99Jaco -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Punta del Este from Montevideo O Punta to Montevideo: $98
- Transfer from the Hotel in Montevideo to Montevideo airport: $60
- Transfer from Carrasco International Aiport to Montevideo: $47
- Private transfer from Montevideo to Punta del Este: $328
- Private transfer from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento: $438
- Private Transfer from or to Carrasco Airport in Montevideo: $40
- Private Transfer from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento: $108
- Private Transfer from Montevideo city to Montevideo Cruise Port: $41
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $84
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $41
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Cruise Port to Montevideo city: $79
- Private Transfer from Montevideo Cruise Port to Montevideo city: $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Uvita: $249
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer: $198
- One-Way Private Transfer from Jaco to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $175
- Private Transfer between SJO Airport, Jaco Beach and Los Sueños: $145
- Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer SJO Airport to Jaco & Los Sueños – Safe Reliable: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Montevideo or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and Montevideo 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 dayMontevideo $22Jaco $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Best Montevideo Street Food Tour With 5 tastings: $64
- Private Uruguayan Cooking Class with Local Chef: $85
- Uruguayan Wine Pairing Dinner at City Winery Uruguay: $90
- Show + Dinner - El Milongon (No Transport): $93
- The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $98
- Dinner and Tango Show at Primuseum Restaurant: $100
- Dinner and Tango Show at the Historic Bar Fun Fun, Established in 1895: $100
- Traditional Dinner & Tango Show at Primuseum: $110
- Food Tour with Asado, Chivito, and Mate: $221
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch$4.40
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$20
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Taco Bar Dinner$10
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$7.03
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Ice Cream$6.59
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.73
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Fruit Plate$3.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk Tour and Jungle Dinner in Jaco: $89
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jaco: $99
- TICO Private Walking Food Tour: $107
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montevideo $20Jaco $67
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
- “Discovering Montevideo” – Shared Small-Group Tour for Cruise Passengers: $65
- Afternoon Tea Experience at Sofitel Montevideo Carrasco & Spa: $36
- Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
- Best Private Tour of Montevideo for Cruise Passengers: $450
- Bodega Santa Rosa: Passadore Family Tasting Tour with Lunch: $86
- City tour Montevideo: $27
- Club Atlético Peñarol Match Live Experience: $157
- Colonia del Sacramento - Regular Tour: $60
- Complete Tour of Uruguay: $1,455
- Cruise-Friendly Shared Tour: Explore Montevideo’s Best: $69
- Discover Top-Rated Shared Tour for Cruise Passengers: $69
- Enjoy Private Tour Montevideo Your Way: $78
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class$11
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Surf Lesson$55
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Bike Rental$11
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Tortuga Island Tour$109
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Massage$49
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 HRS Buggy Tour + Waterfalls in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos: $212
- 2 Hour ATV Jungle Adventure Jaco: $85
- 2 Hours Honda TALON 1000X4 Jungle Tour in Jacó: $299
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $105
- 4 hour ATV Adventure + Beach and Waterfalls near Los Suenos: $125
- 4x4 Happy Jungle Booze Cruise: $129
- 5 Hour Off-Road ATV+ Zipline+ Waterfall Rappelling+ Tractor Jungle Tour: $160
- 5 in 1 Rainforest Adventures in Jacó, Costa Rica – Full Day Pass: $116
- 8 Hour Experience in Corcovado National Park: $200
- ATV River, Beach, Jungle Adventure and Crocodiles Hotspot from San Jose: $78
- ATV Tour in Jaco: $90
- ATV adventure 2hrs and Waterfall in Jacó: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontevideo -Jaco $36
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
- Bodega Pizzorno wine tasting in Montevideo: $45
- Wine tasting of 4 wines from 4 wineries & empanadas in Montevideo: $50
- Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $125
- Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
- Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay: $205
- Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $220
- Wine Tasting Tour for Cruise Passengers: $450
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine$16
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Night at the Bar$30
Sample the Local Flavors in Jaco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Jaco:
- Bar Crawl in Downtown Jaco: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Jaco, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montevideo is in South America and Jaco 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 Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Jaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaco than you might in Montevideo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montevideo Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montevideo or Jaco?
Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 310 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Montevideo and Jaco, 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 Montevideo or Jaco?
Montevideo has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Jaco experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Montevideo or Jaco in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montevideo and Jaco. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Montevideo is cooler than Jaco in the summer. The daily temperature in Montevideo averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Jaco fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
In Montevideo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montevideo usually receives more sunshine than Jaco during summer. Montevideo gets 296 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
Jaco receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Montevideo usually receives less rain than Jacoin July. Montevideo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyMontevideo 24°C (75°F)Jaco 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Montevideo or Jaco in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Montevideo as well as Jaco. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
In the autumn, Montevideo is much colder than Jaco. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montevideo in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Jaco averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
In the autumn, Montevideo often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Jacoin October. Montevideo gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 169 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Jaco. Montevideo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montevideo usually gets less rain in April than Jacoin October. Montevideo gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to May in Jaco is the dry season. Also, the hurricane season in Jaco is June to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberMontevideo 17°C (63°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montevideo or Jaco in the Winter?
Both Jaco and Montevideo are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Montevideo is generally much colder than Jacoin January. Daily temperatures in Montevideo average around 11°C (52°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Jaco. Montevideo usually receives less sunshine than Jaco during winter. Montevideo gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Montevideo usually receives more rain than Jacoin January. Montevideo gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMontevideo 11°C (52°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montevideo or Jaco in the Spring?
Both Jaco and Montevideo during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
Montevideo is much colder than Jaco in the spring. The daily temperature in Montevideo averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Jaco fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in April.
In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montevideo. In the spring, Montevideo often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Jacoin April. Montevideo gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 255 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Montevideo. Montevideo usually gets more rain in October than Jacoin April. Montevideo gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year. November to May is the dry season in Jaco. Keep in mind that June to October is the hurricane season in Jaco.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilMontevideo 17°C (63°F)Jaco 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Jaco and Montevideo
| Montevideo | Jaco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 11°C (52°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 100 mm (3.9 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.