Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Recife or Tamarindo?
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 Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo?
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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $166Tamarindo $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $121. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $88Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $176Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Recife and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Recife or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.47Tamarindo $69
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Hotel Riu Guanacaste: $15
- Private Transfer from Liberia/Tamarindo Guanacaste Airport: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Luna Llena Hotel Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Tamarindo Beach: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Selina Tamarindo: $21
- Private or VIP Transfer: Liberia Airport to Westin/Tamarindo: $22
- Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $31
- Flamingo/Tamarindo to Liberia Airport(LIR)- Departure Transfer: $38
- Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $55
- From Hotel Transfer to Liberia Guanacaste Airport: $62
- Monteverde: Transfer to Tamarindo: $65
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to RIU Guanacaste Hotel: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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 $70Tamarindo $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11Tamarindo $17
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: $7.65
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.82
- 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 Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Costa Rica: tour in electric car (only best view locations): $2.00
- Sea turtle watching tour near playa grande: $44
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $44
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Birdwatching Crocodiles and Monkey Tour: $50
- ATV Beach and Mountain Tour!: $62
- Tamarindo Estuary: Howler Monkey Mangrove Kayaking Tour: $65
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- ATV and UTV Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo and Conchal Beach: $67
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
- Zipline Canopy Tour from Guanacaste: $70
- Tamarindo Kayaking Tour with Snorkeling at Captain Island: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Tamarindo $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Tamarindo, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Tamarindo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife is in South America and Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Recife or Tamarindo?
Recife has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tamarindo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Recife or Tamarindo in the Summer?
Both Tamarindo and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Recife is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the summer. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually receives more sunshine than Tamarindo during summer. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. It's quite rainy in Recife. In January, Recife usually receives less rain than Tamarindoin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Tamarindo 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)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Recife or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
Both Tamarindo and Recife during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round.
In the autumn, Recife is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Recife in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
In the autumn, Recife often gets more sunshine than Tamarindoin October. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun.
Tamarindo 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 Tamarindoin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRecife 26°C (79°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Recife or Tamarindo in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Tamarindo. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Recife is generally cooler than Tamarindoin January. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 24°C (76°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tamarindo this time of the year. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo 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 Tamarindoin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Tamarindo 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)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Recife or Tamarindo in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Recife as well as Tamarindo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
Recife is cooler than Tamarindo in the spring. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. 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 Tamarindoin April. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun.
Recife usually gets more rain in October than Tamarindoin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRecife 25°C (77°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Recife
| Recife | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.