Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
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 Nadi (Port Denarau) or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nadi (Port Denarau) or Jaco, 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: Nadi (Port Denarau) or Jaco?
Nadi (Port Denarau)
Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.
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 Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Nadi (Port Denarau) Prices
Fiji PricesJaco Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNadi (Port Denarau) $198Jaco $119
The average daily cost (per person) in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $198, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $119. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNadi (Port Denarau) $106Jaco $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNadi (Port Denarau) $212Jaco $134
Compare Hotels in Nadi (Port Denarau) and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Nadi (Port Denarau) 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: Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices and Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.81Jaco -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):
- Zip line Fiji ex Fiji Marriot w/private transfer dropoff Nadi Airport or resort : $168
- Treetops Zipline Tour with Drop off Transfer to Nadi Airport: $128
- Shuttle transfer to Nadi Airport : $49
- Shared transfer- Nadi Airport to Denarau island Fiji: $92
- Shared Transfer from Nadi Airport Fiji to Nadi area hotels: $9.15
- Shared Departure Transfer : Hotel to Airport: $18
- Roundtrip Transfer Nadi Int Airport -Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay(CFC APPROVED): $53
- Roundtrip Transfer :Nadi Airport to Crowne Plaza Hotel Nadi bay: $27
- Roundtrip Nadi Airport -Sofitel Resort & Spa(Private Transfer]: $30
- Round trip Transfer Airport to Coral Coast /Denarau Hotels : $55
- Round Trip Private Transfer From Nadi Airport To Your Resort : $23
- Private Transfers Nadi Airport Fiji to Intercontinental Resort / Yatule Resort: $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle & transfer rides to SJO Airport Costa Rica: $55
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Playa Jaco Puntarenas: $63
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Jaco Beach Puntarenas: $66
- Private Direct SJO ↔ Jaco Beach/Los Sueños Transfer Service: $70
- Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer: $144
- One-Way Private Transfer from Jaco to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $175
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $204
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $235
Is it cheaper to fly into Nadi (Port Denarau) or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 dayNadi (Port Denarau) $69Jaco $36
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$3.94
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
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Taco Bar Dinner$9.00
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.30
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Ice Cream$5.91
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
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Fruit Plate$2.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Traditional Costa Rican cooking class and meal with a modern twist: $139
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nadi (Port Denarau) $32Jaco $60
Tours and Activities in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:
- "Coral Coast Adventure: Pottery, Kava, Meke, Dunes & Temple'': $118
- 16 Lines Zipline, Cave and Mud Spa Combo Tour with Lunch in Fiji: $164
- Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $83
- Best Sightseeing Tour : $132
- Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $100
- CFC Hot Spring Mud Pool,Garden Of Sleeping Giant And Village Visit Half Day Tour: $105
- Coral Coast Heritage Tour : $99
- Coral Coast Sightseeing & Pottery Village Tour: $80
- Cultural Night Tour: $80
- Discover Coral Coast & Natadola Beach Tour: $114
- Fiji Adventure: Biausevu Waterfall & Dunes hiking Combo Tour!: $135
- Fiji Island Cultural Experience with Lunch : $184
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$9.81
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Surf Lesson$49
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Bike Rental$9.81
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Tortuga Island Tour$98
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Massage$44
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Crocodile Man Tour THE ORIGINAL: $35
- Cold Plunge Experience in Jaco: $35
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching tour/Tarcoles River CR: $40
- Chocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $45
- 10 WATERFALLS and NATURAL POOLS HIKING EXPERIENCE 4x4 TRUCK RIDE: $60
- Party Safari Tractor Tour with Visit the waterfall: $60
- Jaco Beach Horseback Riding Tour: $60
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $61
- Horseback Riding in Tarcoles Garabito, a Life Experience.: $62
- Birdwatching tour in Carara National Park: $65
- Mountain View Zip-line Tour: $67
- Jacó beach horseback riding experience : $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNadi (Port Denarau) $11Jaco $32
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$15
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Night at the Bar$27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nadi (Port Denarau) and Jaco, we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) is more expensive. And not only is Jaco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nadi (Port Denarau) is in Pacific 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 Jaco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaco 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) than you might in Jaco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nadi (Port Denarau) or Jaco?
Nadi (Port Denarau) has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Nadi (Port Denarau) 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.
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.