Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Roseau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Roseau 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 Roseau 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: Roseau or Tamarindo?
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 Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Roseau Prices
Dominica PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoseau $242Tamarindo $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Roseau is $242, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $144. 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 Roseau and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoseau $135Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoseau $270Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Roseau and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Roseau 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: Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roseau $14Tamarindo $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to Tamarindo.: $400
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Westin Conchal Hotel: $270
- Round Trip Shuttle Transfer From Liberia Airport To Four Seasons Papagayo: $265
- Round Trip Transfer From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $250
- Private Round-Trip Transfer: Liberia Airport to Reserva Conchal with Free Drinks: $240
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Las Catalinas: $240
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $235
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $225
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $205
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $205
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Las Catalinas, Costa Rica: $205
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Andaz Papagayo Resort: $201
Is it cheaper to fly into Roseau or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Roseau 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 dayRoseau $90Tamarindo $56
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
- Tamarindo : Traditional Cooking Class: $95
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roseau $42Tamarindo $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Roseau
For Roseau, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Half Day Taxi Tour of Island$100
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1/2 Day Kayak Rental$35
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- ATV Tour Top Adventure Through beaches & Towns: $96
- ATV adventure from Riu, Secrets and papagayo: $90
- Buggy - Side by Side Family Tour : $275
- Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Adventure Combo Tour: $220
- Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park: $199
- 1 Full Private Tour to Arenal Volcano + Baldi Hot Springs: $183
- 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $30
- 2 Hours ATV Off Road Tour in Guanacaste Costa Rica: $100
- 2 Hours Private Jet Ski Tour in Brasilito Flamingo or Conchal: $270
- 2 Hours Pura Vida ATV Adventure from Tamarindo to Playa Conchal: $180
- 2-Hour Guided Tour by ATV near Playa Conchal: $130
- 2h ATV Beach & Dirt Trails Adventure Tour: $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoseau $17Tamarindo $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl Experience: $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Roseau and Tamarindo, we can see that Roseau is more expensive. And not only is Tamarindo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Roseau is in Caribbean Islands 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 Roseau would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Roseau 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 Roseau 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.