Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Ocho Rios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ocho Rios or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios 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: Ocho Rios or Quepos?
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $77Quepos $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $77, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $117. 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 Ocho Rios and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $52Quepos $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $104Quepos $154
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios 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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.60Quepos $9.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Runaway Bay: $24
- Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $50
- Riu Ocho Rios Private Airport Transfer: $80
- Riu Ocho Rios Jamaica Private Airport Transfer: $60
- Relaxing Montego Bay To Ducanon and Juwel Runaway Bay Transfer: $27
- Private Transfer to Yaaman Adventure Park from Ocho Rios: $60
- Private Transfer to White River Tubing Ocho Rios: $40
- Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain from Ocho Rios: $20
- Private Transfer to Konoko Falls Botanical Gardens: $27
- Private Transfer to Beach Horse Back Ride and Swim: $40
- Private Transfer from Ocho Rios to Sangster Airport MBJ: $60
- Private Transfer from MBJ Airport to Resorts in Ocho Rios : $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos and Ocho Rios 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 dayOcho Rios $17Quepos $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- From Flavors of Jamaica Guided Food Tour: $89
- Taste of Jamaica Farm & Food Tour: $98
- Ocho Ros: Hillside Cooking Class, Jamaican Style: $130
- Taste of Jamaica Food Tour: $140
- The Jamaica School of Cooking and Ocho Rios Highlights Tour: $141
- Ocho Rios Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Dinner: $218
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:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- 3 Hour 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15Quepos $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.47
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$18
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- Authentic Jamaican Bamboo Rafting Tour from Runaway Bay: $194
- Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour from Ocho Rios: $77
- Full-Day Tour to Blue Hole Falls with Horseback Ride from Montego Bay: $220
- Private Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios : $30
- Shopping Tour From Runaway Bay Hotels : $65
- ATV AdVENTURE FROM OCHO RIOS : $190
- ATV Adventure and Shopping from Falmouth (Minimum 4 persons): $165
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting and Horseback Riding Experience in Ocho Rios: $275
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting, Horseback Ride Guided Tour from Montego Bay: $135
- All day Tour of Ocho Rios : $200
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Runaway Bay: $206
- Bamboo Rafting in Ocho Rios Private Experience: $207
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: $130
- 2-Hour Boat Tour in Quepos: $55
- ATV Tour Half Day Trip From Manuel Antonio: $90
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $83
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Nauyaca Waterfall and Beach Town Tour: $142
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Birding at El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Private Birding Tour : $120
- Birdwatching Tour: $130
- Catamaran Adventure From Manuel Antonio: $116
- Chocolate Tour Manuel Antonio: $60
- Chocolate and Coffee Tour Manuel Antonio: $62
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.71Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Ocho Rios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocho Rios is in Caribbean Islands 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 Ocho Rios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocho Rios Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Quepos?
Ocho Rios has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios or Quepos in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocho Rios and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Quepos receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Ocho Rios usually receives less rain than Quepos. Ocho Rios gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Ocho Rios, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ocho Rios usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during summer. Ocho Rios gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
Ocho Rios is around the same temperature as Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyOcho Rios 29°C (83°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ocho Rios as well as Quepos. Ocho Rios attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. Ocho Rios receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in October than Quepos. Ocho Rios gets 167 mm (6.6 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 Ocho Rios this time of the year. In the autumn, Ocho Rios often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Ocho Rios gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Ocho Rios is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ocho Rios in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberOcho Rios 28°C (82°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos and Ocho Rios are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ocho Rios throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Ocho Rios usually receives more rain than Quepos. Ocho Rios gets 18 mm (0.7 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 Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos during winter. Ocho Rios gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Ocho Rios is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 26°C (79°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryOcho Rios 26°C (79°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos and Ocho Rios during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ocho Rios because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
Ocho Rios usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Quepos. Ocho Rios gets 27 mm (1.1 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 Ocho Rios. In the spring, Ocho Rios often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos. Ocho Rios gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun.
Ocho Rios is cooler than Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilOcho Rios 26°C (80°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Ocho Rios
| Ocho Rios | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.