A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Quepos vs. Guadalajara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Quepos or Guadalajara?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Quepos and Guadalajara can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Quepos or Guadalajara?

Quepos

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.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or Quepos?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $117, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara 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 Quepos and Guadalajara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Quepos $77
    Guadalajara $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Quepos $154
    Guadalajara $84
Compare Hotels in Quepos and Guadalajara

Looking for a hotel in Quepos or Guadalajara? 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.

Hotels in Quepos


Hotels in Guadalajara


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: Quepos Hotel Prices and Guadalajara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Quepos $9.56
    Guadalajara $39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos

Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
  • Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
  • Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
  • Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
  • Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
  • Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
  • Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
  • Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara

Also for Guadalajara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Tequila to Guadalajara Airport (GDL): Departure Private Transfer: $38
  • Tequila to Guadalajara - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Hotels to Guadalajara Airport: $26
  • Private transfer: Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara: $73
  • Private transfer from Guadalajara to Sayulita: $240
  • Private Transfer from Guadalajara city hotels to Manzanillo Port: $76
  • Airport to City Transfer: $151
  • Guadalajara to Tequila - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
  • Guadalajara hotels to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
  • Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
  • Guadalajara Airport (GDL): Transfer to Guadalajara hotels: $174
  • Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Tequila - Arrival Private Transfer: $38

Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or Guadalajara?

Prices for flights to both Guadalajara and Quepos 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 day
    Quepos $30
    Guadalajara $48
Typical Food Prices in Quepos

For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch
    $15
  • Seafood Dinner (for 1)
    $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos

For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
  • 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
  • Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
  • Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Quepos $17
    Guadalajara $28

Tours and Activities in Quepos

For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 10 in 1 Tour! Zip Lines, Rappels, Tarzan Swing, Waterfalls & More: $130
  • 2-Hour Boat Tour in Quepos: $55
  • ATV Tour Half Day Trip From Manuel Antonio: $90
  • All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $83
  • All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
  • All-Inclusive Full-Day Nauyaca Waterfall and Beach Town Tour: $142
  • Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
  • Birding at El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Private Birding Tour : $120
  • Birdwatching Tour: $130
  • Catamaran Adventure From Manuel Antonio: $116
  • Chocolate Tour Manuel Antonio: $60
  • Chocolate and Coffee Tour Manuel Antonio: $62

Tours and Activities in Guadalajara

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Guadalajara.

  • 10-Day Audio Guide Tour of Guadalajara: $12
  • 6 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!: $144
  • Air Adventure Paraglide over Incredible Landscapes: $156
  • Canopy Experience Panoramic Flight in Zip Lines: $43
  • Chapala Ajijic Area Tour from Guadalajara: $40
  • Chapala and Ajijic Private Tour: $120
  • Charreria heritage tour be a charro for a day: $50
  • City tour in Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque: $94
  • Complete Tour on the Tequila Route from Guadalajara: $58
  • Downtown Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque Tour: $73
  • Enjoy an exclusive Tequila Tour with a Tequila Master: $149
  • From Chapala Lake & Ajijic Tour: $83

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Quepos $15
    Guadalajara $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:

  • Guadalajara Arquitecture and Brewery Tour: $56
  • Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town: $77
  • Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery: $173
  • Sip & Savor Tequila Experience Distillery w/ Lunch fr Guadalajara: $180
  • Private Tour La Fortaleza Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery: $209
  • Private Tour to Tequila Ocho Distillery and the Town of Arandas: $209
  • Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery in One Day: $264


When comparing the travel costs between Quepos and Guadalajara, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Quepos is in Central America and Guadalajara is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Quepos Expensive? and Is Guadalajara Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Quepos or Guadalajara?

Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 210 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Quepos and Guadalajara, 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.