Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Montevideo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montevideo or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?
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.
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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontevideo $63Santa Elena $92
The average daily cost (per person) in Montevideo is $63, 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 Montevideo and Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontevideo $39Santa Elena $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontevideo $78Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Montevideo and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Montevideo 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: Montevideo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montevideo $7.32Santa Elena $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from or to Carrasco Airport in Montevideo: $120
- Carrasco Airport MVD to Montevideo Hotels Round Trip Transfer: $98
- Carrasco International Airport (MVD) to Montevideo hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $98
- Private Transfer - Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Punta Del Este Port: $85
- TRANSFER FROM OR TO THE AIRPORT (4 to 12 paxs): $80
- Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport MVD to Punta Del Este Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport MVD: $72
- 1 - way - Transfer from Carrasco Interational Airport to Montevideo: $51
- Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo - Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- Transfer from Montevideo to Carrasco Airport: $45
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45
- Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers: $36
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 Montevideo or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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 $13Santa Elena $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $85
- El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango & Folklore in Montevideo: $98
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montevideo $21Santa Elena $30
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
- Colonia del Sacramento - Regular Tour: $65
- Private Tour to Tourist Places in Montevideo: $260
- Best Private & Personalized Tour of Montevideo: $200
- Best Private Montevideo Shore Excursion: City Tour. Optional WineTasting Tour.: $165
- Best Private Tour of Montevideo for Cruise Passengers: $250
- Best Shared Tour of Montevideo for Cruise Passengers: $110
- Best Shared Tour of Montevideo for Cruise Passengers : $110
- Best custom Montevideo Private Tour in Electric SUV! (BMW Option): $120
- City Tour of Montevideo: $40
- City Tour, the best option for small groups: $160
- Discover Mix of Sightseeing & City Attractions!: $140
- From Cabo Polonio - Full Day Private Tour: $950
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontevideo -Santa Elena $6.22
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
- Half Day Tour at Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $120
- Juanico Wine Tour Lunch: $132
- Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
- Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montevideo and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena 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 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 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 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 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 Santa Elena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Montevideo or Santa Elena?
Montevideo 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 Montevideo or Santa Elena in the Summer?
Both Santa Elena and Montevideo 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.
Montevideo is cooler than Santa Elena in the summer. The daily temperature in Montevideo averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montevideo. Montevideo usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during summer. Montevideo gets 296 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, Montevideo usually receives less rain than Santa Elenain July. Montevideo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Santa Elena 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)Santa Elena 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Montevideo or Santa Elena in the Autumn?
Both Santa Elena and Montevideo during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.
In the autumn, Montevideo is much colder than Santa Elena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Montevideo in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
In the autumn, Montevideo often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elenain October. Montevideo gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun.
Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Montevideo. Montevideo usually gets less rain in April than Santa Elenain October. Montevideo gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberMontevideo 17°C (63°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montevideo or Santa Elena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Montevideo and Santa Elena. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Montevideo is generally much colder than Santa Elenain January. Daily temperatures in Montevideo average around 11°C (52°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena this time of the year. Montevideo usually receives less sunshine than Santa Elena during winter. Montevideo gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Montevideo usually receives more rain than Santa Elenain January. Montevideo gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena 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)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montevideo or Santa Elena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Montevideo as well as Santa Elena. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
Montevideo is much colder than Santa Elena in the spring. The daily temperature in Montevideo averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montevideo this time of the year. In the spring, Montevideo often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elenain April. Montevideo gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun.
Montevideo receives a lot of rain in the spring. Montevideo usually gets more rain in October than Santa Elenain April. Montevideo gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilMontevideo 17°C (63°F)Santa Elena 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Montevideo
| Montevideo | Santa Elena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.