Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Playa del Carmen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Quepos? 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.
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 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in 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 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 Playa del Carmen and Quepos in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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 Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Quepos, 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:
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and Quepos, we can see that Quepos 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 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 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 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 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 Quepos Expensive?.
Playa del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen 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.
Playa del Carmen has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer brings many poeple to Playa del Carmen as well as Quepos. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Playa del Carmen this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Quepos 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 Quepos. Playa del Carmen gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. 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 Quepos. Playa del Carmen gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Quepos and Playa del Carmen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Playa del Carmen in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Quepos 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 Quepos during autumn. Playa del Carmen gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. It's quite rainy in Playa del Carmen. In October, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Quepos. Playa del Carmen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October in Playa del Carmen is the hurricane season.
Both Quepos and Playa del Carmen during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Playa del Carmen in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
In January, Playa del Carmen is generally cooler than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 23°C (73°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Quepos, 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 Quepos. Playa del Carmen gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.
Playa del Carmen usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Playa del Carmen gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Quepos 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 Quepos. Most visitors come to Playa del Carmen for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Quepos 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 Quepos during spring. Playa del Carmen gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Quepos. Playa del Carmen gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Quepos 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 | Quepos | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
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) |