Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Moshi?
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 Moshi or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Moshi 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: Moshi or Quepos?
Moshi
Moshi is a town in northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. It’s known as a gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Trails run up the mountain's cloud-ringed, snow-capped dome, through alpine forests and meadows home to elephants and leopards. The noticeably clean capital of the densely populated Kilimanjaro region sits at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro and makes a good introduction to the splendors of the north. It's a low-key place with an appealing blend of African and Asian influences and a self-sufficient, prosperous feel, due in large part to its being the center of one of Tanzania's major coffee-growing regions. Virtually all visitors are here to climb Mt Kilimanjaro or to recover after having done so. Yet there’s much more to do, including cultural tours and hikes on the mountain’s lower slopes.
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 Wildlife Tours to Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Tanzania, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Moshi Prices
Tanzania PricesQuepos Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMoshi $89Quepos $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Moshi is $89, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $139. 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 Moshi and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMoshi $39Quepos $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMoshi $78Quepos $152
Compare Hotels in Moshi and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Moshi 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: Moshi Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Moshi $18Quepos $9.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moshi
Also for Moshi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi: $47
- Private Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to or from Tanzania: $55
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Transfer/Taxi Services: $53
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi/Arusha: $107
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer from/to Moshi : $49
- Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) Private Transfer to Mount Kilimanjaro: $78
- Airport transfer: $45
- Airport Transfer between Moshi and Kilimanjaro International Airport: $54
- Airport Transfer From Kilimanjaro International Airport 7 Seater: $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO): $166
- Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $135
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Puntarenas city to Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO)-Departure Private Transfer : $105
- Private transfer from Manuel Antonio Quepos to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $269
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Manuel Antonio (One Way): $99
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $203
- Private Transfer from Quepos Port to Liberia Int Airport (LIR): $260
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $208
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to Liberia City Hotels: $260
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Manuel Antonio: $79
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $220
Is it cheaper to fly into Moshi or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos and Moshi 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 dayMoshi $36Quepos $51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moshi
For Moshi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kili View Tanzanian Cooking Class: $26
- Private Market Tour and Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi: $86
- 3 Days Chaga Culture: Cooking, NGO Projects, Banana Beer, Hiking: $207
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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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:
- Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Moshi $20Quepos $17
Tours and Activities in Moshi
For Moshi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Materuni Village Tour | Materuni waterfalls | materuni coffee tour: $91
- #1 Best Tanzania Safari Tarangire Day tour Adventure : $200
- 1 Day Tour to Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour: $128
- 1 Full-Day Safari Adventure in Tarangire National Park: $250
- 1 day tour hike mount kilimanjaro through marangu route: $240
- 1-Day Moshi Villages bike tour: $50
- 1_Day Bike Tour to Chemka Hotspring: $80
- Best 1# day Kilimanjaro trek Machame with Kilinge Adventure : $100
- Best Kilimanjaro hiking day trip tour with Kilinge Adventures: $100
- Bodaboda Experience to Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Tour : $52
- Chemka Hot Spring Day Tour: $160
- Chemka Hot Springs Tour from Moshi: $59
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: $158
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $28
- 2-Hour Kayak Tour in Quepos: $85
- 2-Hour Kayak Tour in Quepos Mangroves – See Monkeys & Sloths: $65
- 4-Hour ATV Adventure in Naranjito: $80
- ATV Tour Half Day Trip From Manuel Antonio: $93
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $83
- All Inclusive Zip line & Catamaran Eco Adventure: $170
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
- All-Inclusive Full day Waterfall Adventure: $117
- All-Inclusive Jungle Night Tour: $59
- Barista Experience Workshop: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMoshi $3.59Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moshi and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Moshi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Moshi is in Africa 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 Moshi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Moshi 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 Moshi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Moshi Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Moshi or Quepos?
Moshi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Moshi 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.
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.