Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Quepos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Quepos or La Paz?
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 La Paz can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or La Paz?
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.
La Paz
La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $117La Paz $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $117, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $118. 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 La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $77La Paz $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $154La Paz $104
Compare Hotels in Quepos and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Quepos or La Paz? 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: Quepos Hotel Prices and La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $9.56La Paz $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:
- Private Transfer from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas: $240
- Roundtrip Transfer to La Paz International Airport: $73
- La Paz Int. Airport (LAP): Private Transfer to La Paz hotels: $174
- La Paz Airport: Private Roundtrip Transfer to La Ventan: $259
- La Paz Airport to Costa Baja Private Roundtrip Transfer: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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
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Food Meals for one dayQuepos $30La Paz $38
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Paz.
- 4 Hours of Guided La Paz Street Food Tour: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Quepos $17La Paz $13
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Manuel Antonio National Park tour : $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Group Guided Tour: $30
- Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park!: $35
- Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour with pick up included: $39
- Guided hiking Tour by the Mystic Ebano Rainforest in Costa Rica: $40
- Manuel Antonio: Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $45
- Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $45
Tours and Activities in La Paz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:
- 1 Day Espiritu Santo Island Wonders, Sea Lions and Paddleboard Adventure : $249
- 3 Hour La Paz Whale Shark Snorkeling Experience: $244
- Adventure to Espiritu Santo Island: Snorkel with Sea Lions and Beach: $131
- Balandra & San Rafaelito: Sightseeing & Snorkelling: $135
- Balandra Beach and City Tour: $128
- Balandra Snorkel & Sea Lion Adventure: $135
- Can-Am X3 Turbo Adventure: Cabo Desert Trails & Beach Ride: $291
- City Tour & Beaches from La Paz: $91
- Cruise Date Delight! Swim with Sea Lions! Apr-02: $186
- Espíritu Santo Island snorkel and sightseeing tour on Small Group: $167
- Espiritu Santo Island Day Tour: $170
- Espiritu Santo Island Snorkel & Sea Lion Adventure: $145
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuepos $15La Paz $12
When comparing the travel costs between Quepos and La Paz, we can see that La Paz 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 La Paz 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 La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quepos or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Quepos and La Paz, 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.
When is the best time to visit Quepos or La Paz?
La Paz has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Quepos or La Paz in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Quepos as well as La Paz. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to La Paz in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Quepos is generally around the same temperature as La Paz. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 28°C (82°F), and La Paz fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Paz. In the summer, Quepos often gets less sunshine than La Paz. Quepos gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Paz receives 287 hours of full sun.
Quepos receives a lot of rain in the summer. Quepos usually gets more rain in July than La Paz. Quepos gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQuepos 28°C (82°F)La Paz 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Quepos or La Paz in the Autumn?
Both La Paz and Quepos are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to La Paz for the shopping scene during these months.
Quepos is around the same temperature as La Paz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and La Paz fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
It's quite sunny in La Paz. Quepos usually receives less sunshine than La Paz during autumn. Quepos gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while La Paz receives 272 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. In October, Quepos usually receives more rain than La Paz. Quepos gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQuepos 27°C (81°F)La Paz 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Quepos or La Paz in the Winter?
Both La Paz and Quepos during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to La Paz because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Quepos is much warmer than La Paz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Quepos in January average around 27°C (81°F), and La Paz averages at about 18°C (65°F).
In La Paz, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Quepos. In the winter, Quepos often gets more sunshine than La Paz. Quepos gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Paz receives 200 hours of full sun.
Quepos usually gets less rain in January than La Paz. Quepos gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQuepos 27°C (81°F)La Paz 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Quepos or La Paz in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Quepos and La Paz. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round. Furthermore, the beaches are the main draw to La Paz this time of year.
In April, Quepos is generally a little warmer than La Paz. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 29°C (85°F), and La Paz fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Paz this time of the year. In Quepos, it's very sunny this time of the year. Quepos usually receives less sunshine than La Paz during spring. Quepos gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while La Paz receives 292 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Quepos usually receives more rain than La Paz. Quepos gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while La Paz receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQuepos 29°C (85°F)La Paz 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for La Paz and Quepos
| Quepos | La Paz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 30°C (87°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 21 mm (0.8 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.