Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Playa del Carmen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Jaco? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $81, while the average daily cost in Jaco 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 Playa del Carmen and Jaco in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen or Jaco? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Jaco and Playa del Carmen 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Jaco, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America and Jaco 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 Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen 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 Jaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaco than you might in Playa del Carmen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Playa del Carmen Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen and Jaco, 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.
Playa del Carmen has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Jaco experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer brings many poeple to Playa del Carmen as well as Jaco. Many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Jaco in the summer. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Jaco fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In the summer, Playa del Carmen often gets more sunshine than Jaco. Playa del Carmen gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Jaco. Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Playa del Carmen usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Jaco. Playa del Carmen gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Jaco and Playa del Carmen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Jaco. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Playa del Carmen in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Jaco averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually receives more sunshine than Jaco during autumn. Playa del Carmen gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Jaco. It's quite rainy in Playa del Carmen. In October, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Jaco. Playa del Carmen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October in Playa del Carmen is the hurricane season.
Both Jaco and Playa del Carmen during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Playa del Carmen for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
In January, Playa del Carmen is generally cooler than Jaco. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 23°C (73°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. In the winter, Playa del Carmen often gets less sunshine than Jaco. Playa del Carmen gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 264 hours of full sun.
Playa del Carmen usually gets more rain in January than Jaco. Playa del Carmen gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa del Carmen and Jaco. The spring months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Jaco in the spring. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Jaco fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jaco this time of the year. In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa del Carmen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Jaco during spring. Playa del Carmen gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Jaco. Playa del Carmen gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October.
Playa del Carmen | Jaco | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
May | 28°C (82°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |