Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Nassau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nassau or Santa Elena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau 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: Nassau or Santa Elena?
Nassau
There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.
As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.
Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.
Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNassau $188Santa Elena $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Nassau is $188, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $90. 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 Nassau and Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNassau $108Santa Elena $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNassau $216Santa Elena $108
Compare Hotels in Nassau and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Nassau 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: Nassau Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nassau $32Santa Elena $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:
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Water Taxi$8.00
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Taxi to Cable Beach$25
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Taxi from Airport$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:
- Nassau Roundtrip Transfer by Limousine to Paradise Island: $360
- Private Airport Transfer: $305
- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $300
- Lynden Pindling Airport (NAS): Round-Trip Nassau Transfer: $280
- Round Trip Airport to/from Hotel Private Transfers: $258
- Private Roundtrip Minibus Transfer to Palm Cay: $200
- Private Roundtrip Luxury SUV Transfer: $190
- Airport Transfer: $190
- Atlantis Private Luxury Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $190
- Private Roundtrip Luxury SUV Transfer to Cable Beach: $190
- Private Roundtrip Luxury SUV Transfer to Downtown Nassau: $190
- Private Roundtrip Minibus Transfer to Paradise Island: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $184
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena and Nassau 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 dayNassau $52Santa Elena $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.
- Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau: $80
- Sail Catamaran Sunset Dinner Cruise: $103
- Nassau Sunset Dinner Cruise: $129
- Dinner and Dancing: $130
- Flavors of Nassau Food Tour: $135
- Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class: $135
- All Inclusive Sunset Dinner Cruise in Nassau Bahamas: $138
- Bahamian Cooking Class Lunch Experience by Tru Bahamian Food Tour: $140
- Island Food Tour: $140
- Self-Drive Scooter Food Tour: $180
- Experience Breakfast,Lunch or Dinner in the sky of Nassau Bahamas: $250
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nassau $37Santa Elena $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:
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Jet Ski$50
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4 Hr Kayak Tour$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Nassau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:
- Bahamas Adventure: Pigs, Reef, Turtles, and Beach with Lunch: $299
- Sail & Snorkel Adventure with 1 Hr. Open Bar: $109
- "Let's Get Piggy with It!" Swimming Pig Adventures: $200
- 3 Hour Eco-Glide Adventure in Nassau: $99
- 3 Islands Boat Adventure: Swimming Pigs, Snorkeling And Turtles: $175
- 3-Hour ATV Tour of New Providence (Inclusive of water & local deserts): $190
- 3-Hour Buggy Tour of New Providence (Inclusive of water & local deserts): $250
- 30 Minutes Jet Car Adventure in Bahamas: $260
- 30 Minutes Jet Car Adventure in Bahamas(Drone Photoshoot): $300
- ATV Half Day City Tour in Guided Tour With Free Samples: $250
- ATV Island Tour with Beach Break, Lunch, and Pick-up/Drop-off: $199
- All New Tour with Seafood Snack Português & Español : $7.00
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: $18
- Admission Ticket to Las Pumas Rescue Center : $20
- Selvatura Park: Herpetarium Tour in Monteverde: $22
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $23
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour: $23
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $26
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- The Quetzal Tour In Monteverde : $29
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $30
- Kinkajou Night Walk Tour: $30
- Monteverde Night Tour with Pickup and Drop-off Included: $35
- Natural History Tour - Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNassau $19Santa Elena $6.08
Typical Alcohol Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:
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Cocktail$6.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Nassau
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nassau:
- Rum Runners Pub Crawl: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nassau and Santa Elena, we can see that Nassau is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nassau is in Caribbean Islands 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 Nassau would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nassau 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 Nassau Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Nassau or Santa Elena?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Nassau or Santa Elena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Nassau as well as Santa Elena. Nassau attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. Nassau receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nassau usually gets less rain in July than Santa Elena. Nassau gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nassau this time of the year. In the summer, Nassau often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Nassau gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, Nassau is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Nassau average around 28°C (82°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNassau 28°C (82°F)Santa Elena 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Santa Elena in the Autumn?
Both Santa Elena and Nassau are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Nassau throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The hurricane season in Santa Elena is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. It's quite rainy in Nassau. In October, Nassau usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Nassau gets 184 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nassau. Nassau usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. Nassau gets 223 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Nassau is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nassau averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNassau 26°C (79°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Santa Elena in the Winter?
Both Santa Elena and Nassau during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Nassau because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.
February to May is the dry season in Santa Elena. Nassau usually gets more rain in January than Santa Elena. Nassau gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Nassau. In the winter, Nassau often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Nassau gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Nassau is cooler than Santa Elena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nassau in January average around 21°C (70°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNassau 21°C (70°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Santa Elena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nassau and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Nassau year-round. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season. June to October is the hurricane season in Santa Elena. In April, Nassau usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. Nassau gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena this time of the year. In Nassau, it's very sunny this time of the year. Nassau usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during spring. Nassau gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Nassau is generally cooler than Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Nassau average around 23°C (74°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNassau 23°C (74°F)Santa Elena 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Nassau
| Nassau | Santa Elena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (72°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (74°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (80°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (71°F) | 60 mm (2.4 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.