Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Port-of-Spain?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Port-of-Spain or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Port-of-Spain and Tamarindo can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Port-of-Spain or Tamarindo?
Port-of-Spain
Located on the northwest coast of Trinidad island, Port of Spain is the capital of the Caribbean island nation Trinidad & Tobago. It is a hub of activity, especially during the celebration of Carnival for which the island nation is famous.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPort-of-Spain $174Tamarindo $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Port-of-Spain is $174, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $121. 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 Port-of-Spain and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPort-of-Spain $80Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPort-of-Spain $160Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Port-of-Spain and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Port-of-Spain or Tamarindo? 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: Port-of-Spain Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Port-of-Spain $49Tamarindo $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Airport Transfer from Liberia Airport to Andaz Papagayo Hyatt (Round Trip): $163
- Airport Transfer from Liberia Airport to Secrets Papagayo Resort: $135
- Flamingo/Tamarindo to Liberia Airport(LIR)- Departure Transfer: $38
- From Hotel Transfer to Liberia Guanacaste Airport: $62
- Guanacaste Airport transfer to Jw Marriott Guanacaste: $130
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer To Gulf of Papagayo Costa Rica: $125
- Liberia Airport To Andaz Papagayo Resort, Private Transfer: $128
- Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $55
- Monteverde: Transfer to Tamarindo: $65
- Playa Conchal & Flamingo From Liberia Airport, Transfer Service: $168
- Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $31
- Private Airport Transfer from Liberia to Tamarindo beaches Areas & surrounding : $140
Is it cheaper to fly into Port-of-Spain or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Port-of-Spain 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 dayPort-of-Spain $54Tamarindo $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Port-of-Spain $59Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Sea turtle watching tour near playa grande: $44
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $44
- Tour of the Mangroves and Wetlands of Tamarindo by Boat: $45
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Birdwatching Crocodiles and Monkey Tour: $50
- ATV Beach and Mountain Tour!: $62
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- Howler Monkey Mangrove Kayaking Tour: $65
- UTV Side By Side Off Road Tour Tamarindo Beach & Flamingo Beach: $65
- ATV and UTV Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo and Conchal Beach: $67
- Turtle Watching Tour: $70
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPort-of-Spain $22Tamarindo $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl Experience: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Port-of-Spain and Tamarindo, we can see that Port-of-Spain is more expensive. And not only is Tamarindo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Port-of-Spain is in Caribbean Islands and Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tamarindo 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 Port-of-Spain would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Port-of-Spain than you might in Tamarindo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Port-of-Spain Expensive? and Is Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Port-of-Spain or Tamarindo?
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 Port-of-Spain or Tamarindo in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Port-of-Spain and Tamarindo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Port-of-Spain year-round. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tamarindo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Port-of-Spain gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Port-of-Spain usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. Port-of-Spain gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Port-of-Spain, it's very sunny this time of the year. Port-of-Spain usually receives more sunshine than Tamarindo during summer. Port-of-Spain gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Port-of-Spain is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Port-of-Spain average around 27°C (81°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPort-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Port-of-Spain or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Port-of-Spain as well as Tamarindo. Port-of-Spain attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Tamarindo. Port-of-Spain receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Port-of-Spain usually gets less rain in October than Tamarindo. Port-of-Spain gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Port-of-Spain this time of the year. In the autumn, Port-of-Spain often gets more sunshine than Tamarindo. Port-of-Spain gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun.
Port-of-Spain is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Port-of-Spain averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPort-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Port-of-Spain or Tamarindo in the Winter?
Both Tamarindo and Port-of-Spain are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Port-of-Spain throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Port-of-Spain usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. Port-of-Spain gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Tamarindo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Port-of-Spain. Port-of-Spain usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during winter. Port-of-Spain gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Port-of-Spain is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Port-of-Spain in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPort-of-Spain 26°C (78°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Port-of-Spain or Tamarindo in the Spring?
Both Tamarindo and Port-of-Spain during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Port-of-Spain because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round.
Port-of-Spain usually gets more rain in April than Tamarindo. Port-of-Spain gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Tamarindo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Port-of-Spain. In the spring, Port-of-Spain often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo. Port-of-Spain gets 238 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Port-of-Spain is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Port-of-Spain average around 27°C (81°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPort-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Port-of-Spain
| Port-of-Spain | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 252 mm (9.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 225 mm (8.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 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.