Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Roatan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Roatan or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Roatan and Tamarindo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Roatan or Tamarindo?
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
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 Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, 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 dayRoatan $38Tamarindo $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $38, 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 Roatan and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $11Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $22Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Roatan 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: Roatan Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roatan $19Tamarindo $69
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$4.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $15
- Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Round trip transfers from airport or ferry to hotel: $40
- Chocolate Factory, Rum Factory, Markets, Island Tour, Private Transfer: $50
- Roatan Private Sloths, Monkeys, Birds Encounters, City Tour and Transfer: $60
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $65
- West Bay Beach, Chocolate, & Rum Factory & Transfer: $67
- Mayan Eden Eco Wildlife Park, City Tour & Private Transfer: $67
- Ground transfers and ticket ferry to Utila or La Ceiba: $80
- Roatan Private Catamaran Shipwreck, Blue Channel and Starfish with Transfer: $90
- West Bay Aquarium Snorkeling, Chocolate & Rum Factory, City Tour plus Transfer: $91
- Extreme Zipline, City Tour, Chocolate, Rum Factory, Beach Break, Transfer: $91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Best Western Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Tamarindo Beach: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia/Tamarindo Guanacaste Airport: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Mar Rey Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Pastiempo Tamarindo: $20
- Private or VIP Transfer: Liberia Airport to Westin/Tamarindo: $22
- 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 Mangroove Hotel: $67
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to RIU Guanacaste Hotel: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Roatan 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 dayRoatan $9.43Tamarindo $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $200
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roatan $27Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Shore Excursion: Roatan VIP Customizable Island Tour: $35
- Roatan Private Snorkeling Experience with Pick Up: $35
- Roatan Fun Bus Group Sightseeing Island Private Tour: $37
- Eco-Walk Nature Tour: $41
- Shore Excursion: Private Half-Day Sightseen Tour and Beach: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
- Roatan Chocolate Factory Rum Factory and Beach Day Tour: $45
- Monkeys & sloth hangout,Chocolate Factory,Rum Factory, island tour/Beach : $49
- Monkeys and Sloth Hang Out with Island Tour in Roatan: $49
- Goodman's Island Style Roatan Highlights Tour: $50
- Roatan City Tour-Viewpoints, Landmarks, Chocolate and Rum Tasting: $50
- Good Samaritan Tour: $51
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $44
- Sea turtle watching tour near playa grande: $44
- Tour of the Mangroves and Wetlands of Tamarindo by Boat: $45
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Birdwatching Crocodiles and Monkey Tour: $50
- ATV Beach and Mountain Tour!: $62
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- UTV Side By Side Off Road Tour Tamarindo Beach & Flamingo Beach: $65
- Howler Monkey Mangrove Kayaking Tour: $65
- ATV and UTV Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo and Conchal Beach: $67
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
- Turtle Watching Tour: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $7.07Tamarindo $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Roatan and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo than you might in Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Roatan Expensive? and Is Tamarindo Expensive?.
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.