Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Quepos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Quepos or San Juan?
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 San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or San Juan?
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.
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $117San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $117, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $192. 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 San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $77San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $154San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Quepos and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Quepos or San Juan? 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 San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $9.56San Juan $14
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 San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Old San Juan Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Transfer: $99
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port: Transfer to San Juan hotel: $270
- San Juan Airport (SJU): Private Transfer to San Juan Port: $270
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $77
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla S Lux Sedan, Select Zone: $79
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Mercedes ECO Van, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $30San Juan $36
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 San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- City Lights Sky High Dinner Experience: $165
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Quepos $17San Juan $49
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- Rum Craft Cocktail Tour in San Juan: $65
- 1 or 2 Hour Puerto Rico Horseback Ride Experience!: $210
- Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan: $110
- Carolina: ATV Adventure at Campo Rico Ranch with Guide: $136
- Cave Day Tour From San Juan: $109
- Cruise Ship Travelers: Hike to a Hidden Puerto Rican Waterfall: $85
- Culebra Beach Day Tour with Snorkeling from San Juan by Ferry: $200
- Culebra Snorkeling Tour by Catamaran from Fajardo: $175
- Discover El Yunque: Half-Day Rainforest Tour: $115
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- El Yunque National RainForest: Tour with Nature walk: $75
- El Yunque Rainforest Guided Day Tour from San Juan: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuepos $15San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Pinones Pub crawl in Puerto Rico: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Quepos and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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 San Juan 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 San Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quepos or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Quepos and San Juan, 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 San Juan?
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 San Juan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Quepos and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round. San Juan 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 San Juan. Quepos gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Quepos usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during summer. Quepos gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Quepos is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Quepos in July average around 28°C (82°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQuepos 28°C (82°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Quepos or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Quepos as well as San Juan. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Juan. Quepos receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Quepos usually gets more rain in October than San Juan. Quepos gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the autumn, Quepos often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Quepos gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun.
In October, Quepos is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQuepos 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Quepos or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan 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 San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Quepos usually receives less rain than San Juan. Quepos gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. Quepos usually receives more sunshine than San Juan during winter. Quepos gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Quepos is around the same temperature as San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQuepos 27°C (81°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Quepos or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan 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 San Juan year-round.
Quepos usually gets less rain in April than San Juan. Quepos gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, 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 San Juan. Quepos gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Quepos is a little warmer than San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Quepos in April average around 29°C (85°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQuepos 29°C (85°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Quepos
| Quepos | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.