Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Saint Croix?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Saint Croix or Tamarindo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.
The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.
This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.
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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Croix is $236, 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 Saint Croix and Tamarindo in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Saint Croix 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Saint Croix 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Croix and Tamarindo, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Tamarindo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix Expensive? and Is Tamarindo Expensive?.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Both Tamarindo and Saint Croix are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. In July, Saint Croix usually receives less rain than Tamarindo. Saint Croix gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Saint Croix is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Croix averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Both Tamarindo and Saint Croix during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round.
Tamarindo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint Croix. Saint Croix usually gets less rain in October than Tamarindo. Saint Croix gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Saint Croix is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Croix in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Croix and Tamarindo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Saint Croix usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. Saint Croix gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Saint Croix is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Saint Croix average around 26°C (78°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The spring brings many poeple to Saint Croix as well as Tamarindo. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
Saint Croix usually gets more rain in April than Tamarindo. Saint Croix gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Saint Croix is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Croix averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Saint Croix | Tamarindo | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
May | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |