Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Quepos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Santa Elena can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Costa Rica, and The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $118, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $92. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Quepos or Santa Elena? 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.
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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.
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Quepos and Santa Elena, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Quepos Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Quepos and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the summer. Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Quepos usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santa Elena. Quepos gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Quepos usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena during summer. Quepos gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
Quepos is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the summer. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The autumn brings many poeple to Quepos as well as Santa Elena. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. Quepos receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Quepos usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Santa Elena. Quepos gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Quepos often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena. Quepos gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Quepos is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Quepos in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Both Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Quepos usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santa Elena. Quepos gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. Quepos usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena during winter. Quepos gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Quepos is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Both Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena year-round.
Quepos usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Santa Elena. Quepos gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Santa Elena, 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 Santa Elena. Quepos gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun.
Quepos is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the spring. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Quepos | Santa Elena | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |