Which place is cheaper, Liberia or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Recife or Liberia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Liberia can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Recife or Liberia?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
Liberia
Liberia is a town in northwestern Costa Rica. It is the capital of the Guanacaste province, which is about 140 miles away from Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The town has a population of about 56,000 and is one of the tourism centers of the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $166Liberia $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, while the average daily cost in Liberia is $112. 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 Recife and Liberia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $88Liberia $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $176Liberia $120
Compare Hotels in Recife and Liberia
Looking for a hotel in Recife or Liberia? 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: Recife Hotel Prices and Liberia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.47Liberia $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Shared Transfer from Recife to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $33
- Instituto Ricardo Brennand with transfers from Recife: $41
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Olinda: $46
- Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
- Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
- Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Private Transfer from Recife to Serrambi Beach: $101
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $101
- Private Transfer from Recife to Carneiros Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Recife to Tamandare Beach: $114
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Bike Rental$25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:
- Costa Rica Private Airport Transfer : $6.00
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Papagayo Peninsula: $12
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Riu Hotel and Vice Versa: $15
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Riu Guanacaste: $17
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Riu Guanacaste: $18
- Private or VIP Transfer: Liberia Airport to RIU Hotels & More: $19
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Tamarindo Beach: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Peñas Blancas Nicaragua: $26
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Grande - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
- Direct Transfer Liberia Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $35
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Peñas Blancas - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer From Playas Del Coco To Nosara Guanacaste: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Liberia?
Prices for flights to both Liberia and Recife 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 dayRecife $70Liberia $21
Typical Food Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Snacks$1.97
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Lunch at The Shack (for 1)$4.95
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Lunch$11
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Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)$14
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Ginger Ale$1.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Liberia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Liberia.
- 2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara : $65
- Private Local Cooking Class in Nosara: $85
- Private Sunset Dinner at the Beach with Chef : $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11Liberia $25
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.68
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.86
- City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27
- Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $35
- Olinda City Tour and Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $94
- City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- La Leona Waterfall: Private tour in Rincon de la Vieja!: $43
- Night Tour in Nuevo Arenal: $43
- Bird-Watching and Wildlife Tour: $43
- Private La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike: $45
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Private Tour): $45
- Skip the Line: Diamante Eco Adventure Park: Animal Sanctuary Discovery Ticket: $49
- Zip-line Adventure: $53
- Horseback Riding at Diamante Eco Adventure Park: $56
- Horseback Riding Tour: $59
- Rincón de la Vieja Bird-Watching Tour: $62
- Ponderosa Adventure Park Admission Ticket: $65
- From Tubing Adventure at Rio Negro: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Liberia $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Liberia, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Liberia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife is in South America and Liberia is in Central 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 Liberia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Liberia 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife than you might in Liberia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Liberia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or Liberia?
Recife has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Liberia. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Liberia, 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 Recife or Liberia?
Recife has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Liberia experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Recife or Liberia in the Summer?
Both Liberia and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Liberia because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Liberiain July. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually receives more sunshine than Liberia during summer. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Liberia. It's quite rainy in Recife. In January, Recife usually receives less rain than Liberiain July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRecife 26°C (79°F)Liberia 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Recife or Liberia in the Autumn?
Both Liberia and Recife during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Liberia year-round.
Recife is around the same temperature as Liberia in the autumn. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Liberia fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
In the autumn, Recife often gets more sunshine than Liberiain October. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 169 hours of full sun.
Liberia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Liberiain October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in Liberia. April to December is the rainy season in Liberia.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRecife 26°C (79°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Recife or Liberia in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Liberia. Liberia attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the winter, Recife is cooler than Liberia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Recife in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Liberia averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Liberia this time of the year. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Liberia during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Liberiain January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRecife 24°C (76°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Recife or Liberia in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Recife as well as Liberia. The warm climate attracts visitors to Liberia throughout the year.
In October, Recife is generally cooler than Liberiain April. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 25°C (77°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Liberia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Recife this time of the year. In the spring, Recife often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Liberiain April. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 255 hours of full sun.
Recife usually gets more rain in October than Liberiain April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in Liberia is the dry season. April to December in Liberia is the rainy season.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRecife 25°C (77°F)Liberia 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Liberia and Recife
| Recife | Liberia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.