Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or La Fortuna?
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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and La Fortuna. 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: Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or La Fortuna?
Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
An island of the Caribbean Netherlands, St. Eustatius, sometimes called Statia, is a small, relatively unknown destination to the greater tourist areas of the Caribbean. As a result, however, it is its own treasure consisting of a dormant volcano known as the Quill and featuring a lush rainforest, narrow volcanic beaches, many dive sites, and a quaint harbor town.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $188La Fortuna $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is $188, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $104. 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $92La Fortuna $51
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $184La Fortuna $102
Compare Hotels in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or La Fortuna? 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: La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $70La Fortuna $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius):
- Beach Transfer Frigate Bay Beach: $26
- Shared or Private St Kitts Airport Roundtrip Transfer : $32
- Private Airport Transfers to Park Hyatt & water taxi: $45
- St. Kitts & Nevis Airport Hotel & Boat Shared/Private Transfers: $45
- Late Night & Early Morning Transfers (Reconfirm 48hrs): $53
- Private Transfer from St. Kitts Airport to Park Hyatt: $55
- International Airport/Private Jet Terminal Transfers: $67
- St. Kitts Hotel Transfers: $80
- Catamaran Party Cruise to Nevis from St Kitts with Transfer from Frigate Bay: $150
- ST Kitts private Luxury Air Port Transfer: $300
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $42
- Arenal La Fortuna to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $63
- Arenal lake boat transfer from to Monteverde from La Fortuna: $60
- Direct Transfer From La Fortuna to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $152
- From La Fortuna/La Palma: Private Transfer to Tamarindo: $280
- From Lake Arenal Kayaking Trip with Transfer: $90
- From San Jose Airport To Arenal - La Fortuna - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $295
- La Fortuna Private Transfer to San Jose Airport : $231
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Guapiles: $213
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Liberia or LIR Airport: $70
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Liberia or LIR Airport: $187
- La Fortuna de Arenal: Transfer to Manuel Antonio or Quepos: $320
Is it cheaper to fly into Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) 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 dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $51La Fortuna $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Organic Farm Visit & Farm-to-Table Cooking Class: $45
- Cooking Class and Sugar Cane Experience: $45
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rica Cooking, El Fogon de Chela: $50
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $60
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $65
- 3-Hour Costa Rican Cooking Class with Dinner: $68
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Combo Cooking Class and Salsa Dance Lesson: $80
- Costa Rican Cooking Class+Dinner+Night Frog Tour: $81
- Cooking with a Costa Rican familiy: $90
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $37La Fortuna $44
Tours and Activities in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Here are a few actual costs in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Panoramic Shore Tour And Beach: $27
- St. Kitts Beach Adventure: $30
- City Tour: $30
- Capital and Beach Tour of St. Kitts and Nevis: $37
- Historical Basseterre and Beach Experience : $40
- Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of St Kitts: $40
- Half-Island Tour of St Kitts: $46
- Capital City Tour and Beach Splash: $49
- Basseterre Plantation Private Half Day Tour: $60
- Full Island Private Tour: $60
- Rainforest Tours in St. Kitts: $62
- The Grand Tour of St. Kitts: $65
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Rainforest Chocolate Tour: $30
- arenal fortuna city tour: $30
- Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges Admission Ticket: $32
- Wildlife Rescue Center Tour in Costa Rica: $35
- Los Lagos Hot Springs Admission Ticket : $36
- Sloth Tour in Arenal Volcano Park & Local Snack: $39
- La Fortuna Eden Chocolate Tour: $40
- Chocolate and Farm Tour with local Tico family: $40
- Sloths Watching Tour through Sloth's Territory: $40
- Mistico Hanging Bridges Admission Ticket: $41
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $26La Fortuna $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and La Fortuna, we can see that Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is in Caribbean Islands and La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Fortuna 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) than you might in La Fortuna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or La Fortuna?
La Fortuna has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius). When comparing the sizes of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and La Fortuna, 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.