Which place is cheaper, Valdivia or Quepos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Quepos or Valdivia?
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 Valdivia can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or Valdivia?
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.
Valdivia
Valdivia is a vibrant university city situated in southern Chile. It sits at the meeting point of three rivers in the aptly named Region de Los Rios (The Rivers Region) and is approximately 200 kilometers from both Temuco and Puerto Montt. Due to a large student population, Valdivia boasts a youthful and energetic vibe that is visible in its many bars, cafes and restaurants. The city is also known for having one of Chile's best craft beer cultures, which had its early beginnings when German settlers arrived in the 1840s. The rivers, nearby Pacific coastline and wetlands offer plenty for lovers of the outdoors, too.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $117Valdivia $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $117, while the average daily cost in Valdivia is $69. 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 Valdivia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $77Valdivia $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $154Valdivia $80
Compare Hotels in Quepos and Valdivia
Looking for a hotel in Quepos or Valdivia? 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 Valdivia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $9.56Valdivia $8.08
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 Valdivia
Also for Valdivia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Valdivia Airport Private Transfer: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or Valdivia?
Prices for flights to both Valdivia 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 $30Valdivia $21
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Quepos $17Valdivia $13
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
Tours and Activities in Valdivia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Valdivia.
- Sightseeing Tour in Valdivia : $76
- Valdivia SUP Cruises for 6 People with Transportation Included: $35
- Private City Tour: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuepos $15Valdivia $4.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Quepos and Valdivia, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Valdivia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Quepos is in Central America and Valdivia 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 Valdivia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valdivia 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 Valdivia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Quepos Expensive? and Is Valdivia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quepos or Valdivia?
Valdivia has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Quepos and Valdivia, 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 Valdivia?
Valdivia 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 Valdivia in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Quepos and Valdivia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
In the summer, Quepos is much warmer than Valdivia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Quepos in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Valdivia averages at about 16°C (61°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Valdivia this time of the year. Quepos usually receives less sunshine than Valdivia during summer. Quepos gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Valdivia receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.
Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Quepos usually receives more rain than Valdiviain January. Quepos gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryQuepos 28°C (82°F)Valdivia 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Valdivia in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Quepos as well as Valdivia. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Quepos is generally much warmer than Valdiviain April. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 27°C (81°F), and Valdivia fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
In the autumn, Quepos often gets more sunshine than Valdiviain April. Quepos gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valdivia receives 132 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Valdivia. Quepos receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Quepos usually gets more rain in October than Valdiviain April. Quepos gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilQuepos 27°C (81°F)Valdivia 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Valdivia in the Winter?
Both Valdivia and Quepos are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Quepos is much warmer than Valdivia in the winter. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Valdivia fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. Quepos usually receives more sunshine than Valdivia during winter. Quepos gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Valdivia receives 66 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Valdivia. In January, Quepos usually receives less rain than Valdiviain July. Quepos gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyQuepos 27°C (81°F)Valdivia 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Valdivia in the Spring?
Both Valdivia 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.
In the spring, Quepos is much warmer than Valdivia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Quepos in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Valdivia averages at about 11°C (52°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Quepos. In the spring, Quepos often gets more sunshine than Valdiviain October. Quepos gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valdivia receives 198 hours of full sun.
Valdivia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Quepos usually gets less rain in April than Valdiviain October. Quepos gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberQuepos 29°C (85°F)Valdivia 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Valdivia and Quepos
| Quepos | Valdivia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.