Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Quepos?
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 Quepos or Saint Thomas?
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 Saint Thomas can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or Saint Thomas?
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.
Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Quepos Prices
Costa Rica PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $139Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $139, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $76Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $152Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Quepos and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Quepos or Saint Thomas? 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $9.55Saint Thomas $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $229
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $220
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $203
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Manuel Antonio (One Way): $99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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Taxi Ride$5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
- VI Top Taxi and Tours - St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $90
- Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $83
- St.Thomas to St.Thomas Airport (STT) - Departure Private Transfer: $115
- St.Thomas island to Cyril E. King Airport(STT)-Departure Transfer: $135
- St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to the Redhook Ferry: $144
- St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to The Ritz Carlton Resort: $144
- ST.Thomas Private Airport One-Way Transfers: $180
- Private Hotel and Resorts Transfers: $173
- Private Ground Transfers: $120
- Private Arrival Transfer from Cyril E King Airport to Redhook Bay: $175
- Private Airport Transfer in Luxury Vehicle- St. Thomas, USVI: $179
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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 $51Saint Thomas $94
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:
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Flavors: Cultural Cooking Class, St Thomas, USVI, USA : $81
- St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $119
- Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
- Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
- Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
- Pizza Pi Shuttle (Official) - Jet Ski Trip St Thomas: $148
- St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $149
- Christmas Cove and Pizza Pi Happy Hour Sail Tour: $185
- Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset trip: $295
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Quepos $17Saint Thomas $60
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: $158
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $28
- 2-Hour Kayak Tour in Quepos Mangroves – See Monkeys & Sloths: $65
- ATV Tour Half Day Trip From Manuel Antonio: $93
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $88
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
- All-Inclusive Full day Waterfall Adventure: $117
- All-Inclusive Jungle Night Tour: $59
- Canopy Tour From Manuel Antonio: $121
- Catamaran Adventure From Manuel Antonio: $121
- Catamaran Cruise from Manuel Antonio with Snorkeling: $98
- Chocolate Experience, Waterfall and Cultural Lunch in local home.: $135
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- Island Icons & Treasures Tour - St. Thomas USVI : $199
- Magens Bay Trail Hiking Tour: $60
- Two-Hour Sightseeing Excursion : $58
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours USVI-Coki Beach Snorkeling Tour : $68
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $169
- 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $159
- 1.5 Hour Private Mini Jeep Tour on St. Thomas: $220
- 3 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $139
- Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
- Best of Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Adventure with Picnic Lunch: $159
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuepos $15Saint Thomas $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Quepos and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Quepos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Quepos is in Central America and Saint Thomas is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Quepos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quepos 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 Saint Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas than you might in Quepos.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Quepos Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quepos or Saint Thomas?
Saint Thomas has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Quepos and Saint Thomas, 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 Saint Thomas?
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 Quepos or Saint Thomas in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Quepos and Saint Thomas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round. Saint Thomas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Quepos usually receives more rain than Saint Thomas. Quepos gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Thomas this time of the year. Quepos usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during summer. Quepos gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Quepos is around the same temperature as Saint Thomas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Quepos in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQuepos 28°C (82°F)Saint Thomas 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Saint Thomas in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Quepos as well as Saint Thomas. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Thomas throughout the year.
Also, December to April in Quepos is the dry season. Also, May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season. It's quite rainy in Saint Thomas. Quepos receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Quepos usually gets more rain in October than Saint Thomas. Quepos gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Thomas. In the autumn, Quepos often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomas. Quepos gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 235 hours of full sun.
In October, Quepos is generally around the same temperature as Saint Thomas. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQuepos 27°C (81°F)Saint Thomas 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Saint Thomas in the Winter?
Both Saint Thomas and Quepos are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Thomas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Quepos usually receives less rain than Saint Thomas. Quepos gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Saint Thomas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. Quepos usually receives more sunshine than Saint Thomas during winter. Quepos gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Quepos is around the same temperature as Saint Thomas in the winter. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQuepos 27°C (81°F)Saint Thomas 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Saint Thomas in the Spring?
Both Saint Thomas and Quepos during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Thomas year-round.
December to April is the dry season in Quepos. Also, the hurricane season in Quepos is May to November. Quepos usually gets less rain in April than Saint Thomas. Quepos gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Saint Thomas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Quepos. In the spring, Quepos often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Thomas. Quepos gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 272 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Quepos is around the same temperature as Saint Thomas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Quepos in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQuepos 29°C (85°F)Saint Thomas 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Thomas and Quepos
| Quepos | Saint Thomas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.