Which place is cheaper, Pucon or Quepos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Quepos or Pucon?
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 Pucon can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or Pucon?
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.
Pucon
A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.
Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, and The Best Budget Tours to Chile.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $117Pucon $100
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $117, while the average daily cost in Pucon is $100. 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 Pucon in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $77Pucon $43
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $154Pucon $86
Compare Hotels in Quepos and Pucon
Looking for a hotel in Quepos or Pucon? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $9.56Pucon $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 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
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:
- Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $114
- Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or Pucon?
Prices for flights to both Pucon 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 dayQuepos $30Pucon $38
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 $17Pucon $37
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 Pucon
Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
- Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
- Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
- Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
- Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
- Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
- Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
- Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuepos $15Pucon $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Quepos and Pucon, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Pucon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Quepos is in Central America and Pucon is in South 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 Pucon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pucon 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 Pucon.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Quepos Expensive? and Is Pucon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quepos or Pucon?
Pucon has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Quepos and Pucon, 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 Pucon?
Pucon 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 Pucon in the Summer?
Both Pucon and Quepos during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Quepos is much warmer than Pucon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Quepos in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Pucon averages at about 16°C (61°F)in January.
In Pucon, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Quepos often gets less sunshine than Puconin January. Quepos gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 296 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. Quepos usually gets more rain in July than Puconin January. Quepos gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryQuepos 28°C (82°F)Pucon 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Pucon in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Quepos and Pucon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
In October, Quepos is generally much warmer than Puconin April. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 27°C (81°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Quepos usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during autumn. Quepos gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 132 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Pucon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Quepos usually receives more rain than Puconin April. Quepos gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilQuepos 27°C (81°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Pucon in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Quepos as well as Pucon. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Quepos is much warmer than Pucon in the winter. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Pucon fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Quepos this time of the year. In the winter, Quepos often gets more sunshine than Puconin July. Quepos gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 66 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Pucon. Quepos usually gets less rain in January than Puconin July. Quepos gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyQuepos 27°C (81°F)Pucon 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Pucon in the Spring?
Both Pucon and Quepos are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
In the spring, Quepos is much warmer than Pucon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Quepos in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Pucon averages at about 11°C (52°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. Quepos usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during spring. Quepos gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pucon. In April, Quepos usually receives less rain than Puconin October. Quepos gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberQuepos 29°C (85°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Pucon and Quepos
| Quepos | Pucon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 297 mm (11.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.