Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Punta Cana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Punta Cana or Santa Elena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana or Santa Elena? 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.
Where Should I go: Punta Cana or Santa Elena?
Punta Cana
Punta Cana, located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is renowned for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant culture. This Caribbean paradise offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to all types of travelers, whether you're on a tight budget, seeking thrilling activities, exploring local cuisine, or figuring out the best ways to get around.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSanta Elena Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $181Santa Elena $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $181, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $122. 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 Punta Cana and Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $101Santa Elena $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $202Santa Elena $122
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana or Santa Elena? 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: Punta Cana Hotel Prices and Santa Elena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.79Santa Elena $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- Private Transfer From Punta Cana and Bavaro to Las Americas Inter. Airport: $300
- Round Trip Transfer from Santo Domingo SDQ to Punta Cana: $295
- Private Round Trip Airport Transfer Uvero Alto Hotels 7-12 Pax: $295
- Best Deal Private Transfer Punta Cana to Santo Domingo Round Trip: $267
- private transfer standard and premium punta cana airport to puerto plata: $265
- Private car transfer from Punta Cana Airport to Santo Domingo: $250
- Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) to Santo Domingo - Round-Trip Transfer: $250
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Las Terrenas Arrival Private Transfer: $245
- 1 Hour Beach Photoshoot in Punta Cana with Round Trip Transfer: $240
- Private VIP SUV Transfer – PUJ Airport to/from Miches Hotels: $235
- Private Transfer Punta Cana Airport to Miches: $229
- Transfers From Las America Airport AILA SDQTo All Place at Punta Cana: $227
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $192
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara: $269
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $227
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to your Destination: $260
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Saint Helena Monte Verde: $45
- Shuttle Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena and Punta Cana 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 dayPunta Cana $68Santa Elena $46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $139
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride and Taino Party with Dinner: $139
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $145
- Dinner in the Sky Experience in Punta Cana: $149
- Night Buggy Tour with Cenote Swim & Dinner Combo: $190
- Punta Cana Buggy Ride, Dinner and Taino Party: $294
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $32Santa Elena $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Punta Cana
Here are a few typical costs in Punta Cana for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Dune Buggy Adventure$54
Tours and Activities in Punta Cana
Here are a few actual costs in Punta Cana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 ADVENTURES: Sailing Catamaran Cruise - Hooka Diving - Snorkeling: $105
- 3 Hour Punta Cana Outdoor Adventure: $65
- 3 Hours Half Day Tour Buggy Macao Beach cenote Hotel Pickup: $34
- 3 Hours Panoramic Tour in Punta Cana with Artisan Market: $35
- 3-Day Ultimate Dominican Adventure: Nature, Culture & History: $190
- 3-Hour Extreme Buggy Tour of Punta Cana: $45
- 4 Hour ATV and Horseback Adventure in Punta Cana: $125
- 4 Hour Buggys Adventure Tour in Punta Cana: $50
- 4 Hour Punta Cana Fishing Tour: $97
- 4 Hour Speed Experience in Punta Cana: $80
- 4 Hours Tour in Round Mountain and Macao Beach From Uvero Alto: $150
- 4-Hour ATV and Horseback Adventure from Bávaro: $100
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Monteverde Nocturnal Adventure: $25
- High Ropes "Day Pass Adventure" an activity for families and friends: $25
- Wildlife Refuge Monteverde Night Walking Tour: $26
- Shore Excursion Mix Adventure Zip Line Day for Families and Friends: $29
- Guided Butterfly Conservatory Tour in Costa Rica: $30
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Tour with Expert Naturalist: $30
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $32
- Birdwatching Tour in Curicancha Cloud Forest: $32
- Night Adventures in Monteverde: $35
- Guided walk Monteverde Biological Reserve-John's Nature Tours-: $35
- Three Wattled Bellbird Tour In Monteverde: $35
- Monteverde Night Tour Unique Experience: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $11Santa Elena $6.95
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Cana and Santa Elena, we can see that Punta Cana is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Cana is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Punta Cana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta Cana than you might in Santa Elena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta Cana Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.
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.