Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena 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.
Jump to 
Should you visit Nadi (Port Denarau) or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena, 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 Santa Elena?
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.
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 G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
-
Nadi (Port Denarau) Prices
Fiji PricesSanta Elena Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNadi (Port Denarau) $198Santa Elena $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $198, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $109. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNadi (Port Denarau) $106Santa Elena $55
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNadi (Port Denarau) $212Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Nadi (Port Denarau) and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Nadi (Port Denarau) 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: Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.81Santa Elena $11
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
- Private Transfer: Nadi Airport to Pacific Harbour - 1 to 4 Seat Vehicle: $130
- Treetops Zipline Tour with Drop off Transfer to Nadi Airport: $128
- Fiji Cultural Full Day Island Cruise With Lunch & Transfers : $112
- Shared transfer- Nadi Airport to Denarau island Fiji: $92
- CFC Approved Roundtrip Car Transfer - Nadi Airport to Outrigger & Bedarra Inn: $79
- Private Transfer-Nadi Airport to Nanuku /Pearl/Uprising Resort : $78
- CFC APPROVED Private Roundtrip Transfer -Nadi Airport to All Maui Bay Properties: $71
- Private Roundtrip Transfer - Nadi Airport to Fiji Marriott Momi Bay: $68
- Private Premium Departure Transfer : Hotel to Nadi Airport: $67
- Private Transfer: Intercontinental Resort and Spa to Nadi Airport: $66
- Private Roundtrip Transfer - Nadi Airport to Intercontinental & Yatule Resort: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $197
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Saint Helena Monte Verde: $210
- MiniVan Departure Transfer Monteverde to San Jose Airport SJO: $215
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $233
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to your Destination: $240
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
Is it cheaper to fly into Nadi (Port Denarau) or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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
-
Food Meals for one dayNadi (Port Denarau) $69Santa Elena $41
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:
- Monteverde Cooking Class: $60
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nadi (Port Denarau) $32Santa Elena $30
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
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Admission Ticket to Las Pumas Rescue Center : $20
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $22
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $22
- Night Walk Tour in Monteverde: $24
- Guided Butterfly Conservatory Tour in Costa Rica: $26
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour: $26
- Kinkajou Night Walk Tour: $27
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $27
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $28
- Adventure Day - Outdoor Fun for Family & Friends Package: $29
- Selvatura Park: Herpetarium Tour in Monteverde: $29
- Cloud Forest Small Group Tour: $30
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayNadi (Port Denarau) $11Santa Elena $6.21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nadi (Port Denarau) and Santa Elena, we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nadi (Port Denarau) is in Pacific 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.
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 Santa Elena Expensive?.
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.