Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Negril?
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 Negril or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Negril and Quepos. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Negril or Quepos?
Negril
Negril is a town in western Jamaica known for its miles of white sand beaches and cliffs. It is certainly one of the more laid back towns on the island yet still attracts a lot of tourists. The hotels are as close to the water as you can get, and the sand gets whiter and whiter the further away from populated areas you get. The water is unbelievably clear and warm in Negril!
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 Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Negril Prices
Jamaica PricesQuepos Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNegril $153Quepos $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $153, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $153. 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 Negril and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNegril $104Quepos $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNegril $208Quepos $168
Compare Hotels in Negril and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Negril 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: Negril Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Negril $8.55Quepos $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Negril:
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Taxi From Airport$13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril
Also for Negril, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sandals South Coast Private Transfer (White House): $83
- Royalton Negril Resort Airport Transfer: $53
- Roundtrip Transfer To or From Jam West Adventure: $100
- Round-trip Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Resort & Spa: $68
- Round trip airport hotel transfer MBJ-Negril: $125
- Private, Round-Trip Negril Airport Transfer: $200
- Private Transfers: Montego Bay Airport ↔ Sandals Southcoast: $100
- Private Transfers-Negril and Runaway Bay hotels(Round Trip): $180
- Private Transfer to dunns river falls And Blue Hole: $83
- Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain Jamaica From Negril Hotels: $200
- Private Transfer from Sangster Intl Airport to Negril Jamaica: $60
- Private Transfer from MontegoBay Airport to Lucea/Grand Palladium: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $295
- Private transfer from Manuel Antonio Quepos to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $269
- Private Transfer from Quepos Port to Liberia Int Airport (LIR): $256
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to Liberia City Hotels: $256
- Private Airport Transfer to Manuel Antonio: $250
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to or from Manuel Antonio Quepos: $235
- Private Transfer FROM or TO Manuel Antonio - Sierpe: $209
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $205
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Arenal La Fortuna: $195
- Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO): $164
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos and Negril 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 dayNegril $39Quepos $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril
For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $80
- Local food tour and local fields: $164
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$16
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$22
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
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $96
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Negril $26Quepos $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril
For Negril, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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2 Hr Horseback Ride$43
Tours and Activities in Negril
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.
- 3 Hour Day Party Pass for Tourists at Jamaica Countryside Estate: $85
- ATV Adventure and Zipline with Rick's Cafe Sunset Tour in Negril: $42
- ATV's, Shopping, Seven Mile Beach,Catamaran Cruise to Ricks Cafe: $130
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour [Transportation services]: $125
- Appleton and Y.S Falls Tour from Negril Hotels: $261
- Bamboo Rafting and Rick Cafe Negril Private Tour: $161
- Bambuza ATV, Zipline and Horseback Adventure from Negril: $190
- Benta River Falls & Rick's Cafe Day Tour from Grand Palladium: $133
- Blue Hole Secret Falls and Dunns River Falls Adventure: $134
- Boat tour: $123
- Bob Marley's Nine Mile Day-Trip w/Admission & Guided Tour from Grand Palladium: $145
- Dune Buggies Experience and Mayfield falls: $276
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Hour Kayak Tour in Quepos: $85
- 2-Hour Kayak Tour in Quepos Mangroves – See Monkeys & Sloths: $65
- Adventure to Natural Wonders on the Pacific Coast: $130
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $86
- All Inclusive Zip line & Catamaran Eco Adventure: $170
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
- All-Inclusive Jungle Night Tour: $59
- Barista Experience Workshop: $120
- Barista Experience Workshop: $120
- Barista Experience Workshop: $120
- Birding at El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Private Birding Tour: $120
- Birdwatching Manuel Antonio/ El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Group Tour: $129
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNegril $9.93Quepos $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Negril
Also in Negril, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Negril One Love Bus Bar Crawl: $26
When comparing the travel costs between Negril and Quepos, we can see that Negril is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Quepos is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Negril Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Negril or Quepos?
Quepos has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril 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.
When is the best time to visit Negril or Quepos?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Negril or Quepos in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Negril and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Negril year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Quepos receives a lot of rain in the summer. Negril gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Negril usually receives around the same amount of rain as Quepos. Negril gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Negril, it's very sunny this time of the year. Negril usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during summer. Negril gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Negril is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the summer temperatures in Negril in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNegril 27°C (81°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Negril or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Negril as well as Quepos. Negril attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Also, December to April in Quepos is the dry season. Also, May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season. It's quite rainy in Quepos. Negril receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Negril usually gets less rain in October than Quepos. Negril gets 222 mm (8.7 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Negril this time of the year. In the autumn, Negril often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Negril gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun.
In October, Negril is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in Negril average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNegril 27°C (81°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Negril or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos and Negril are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Negril throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Negril usually receives more rain than Quepos. Negril gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Quepos. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Negril. Negril usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during winter. Negril gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
Negril is around the same temperature as Quepos in the winter. The daily temperature in Negril averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNegril 25°C (77°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Negril or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos and Negril during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Negril because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
December to April is the dry season in Quepos. Also, the hurricane season in Quepos is May to November. It rains a lot this time of the year in Negril. Negril usually gets more rain in April than Quepos. Negril gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Quepos, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Negril. In the spring, Negril often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Negril gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Negril is cooler than Quepos. Typically, the spring temperatures in Negril in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Quepos averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNegril 26°C (79°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Negril
| Negril | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 222 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 61 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.