Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Salvador?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Salvador or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salvador or Quepos, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Salvador or Quepos?
Salvador
Salvador de Bahia was the first capital of Brazil, founded by the Portuguese in 1549. Also known as "Brazil's capital of happiness," Salvador is famous for its plentiful and spirited street festivals. The third most populous city in Brazil, Salvador is also well-known for its Afro-Brazilian culture and Portuguese colonial architecture.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalvador $44Quepos $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Salvador is $44, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $117. 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 Salvador and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalvador $24Quepos $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalvador $48Quepos $154
Compare Hotels in Salvador and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Salvador or Quepos? 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: Salvador Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salvador $6.02Quepos $9.56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Salvador
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Salvador:
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Bus from Airport$1.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salvador
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salvador:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Salvador HTL-APT(SSA): $66
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Salvador APT-HTL(SSA): $66
- Transfers: Airport, Hotels, Maritime Terminals, Bus Station.: $23
- Transfers between Salvador and Barra Grande Maraú: $285
- Transfer: Salvador to/from Praia do Forte/Guarajuba: $61
- Transfer: Salvador to/from Boipeba Island: $128
- Transfer to Sauipe Iberostar Palladium and Galé: $47
- Transfer to Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte or Bahia: $43
- Transfer in Salvador: $140
- Transfer from Salvador Airport to North Coast of Bahia: $100
- Transfer between Salvador Airport and Costa do Sauipe: $94
- Transfer Vila Galé Marés (Guarajuba) - Private: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
Is it cheaper to fly into Salvador or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos and Salvador 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 daySalvador $13Quepos $30
Typical Food Prices in Salvador
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Salvador:
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Dinner for 2$1.37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salvador
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salvador.
- 7-Recipe Boozy Cooking Class in Salvador: $75
- 7-Recipe Boozy Cooking Class in Salvador: $75
- Private Cooking Experience with local in Salvador: $130
- Salvador by Night: Cultural Dinner and Show: $132
- Cultural Folkloric Show and Dinner in Salvador: $140
- Baiana Cooking Class with Market Visit & Lunch: $152
- Bahia By Night: Dinner and Folkloric show: $195
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salvador $5.67Quepos $17
Tours and Activities in Salvador
Here are a few actual costs in Salvador for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Afro-Brazilian Roots city Tour in Salvador with lunch at Favela: $150
- 3-Hour Private Tour of Salvador Capital Afro-Brazilian: $60
- Afro-Brazilian Roots Private City Tour in Salvador": $102
- Bahia 500 Years Historic Tour, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: $25
- Bike Rentals and Bike Tours: $142
- Cachoeira Countryside Flavor Private Tour from Salvador: $160
- Candomblé Cerimony Tour: $61
- Candomble Religion Mysteries Private Tour in Salvador: $80
- City Tour in Salvador Discover the first capital of Brazil - En: $140
- Cruise Ship Special Private Tour Salvador da Bahia Historic Old Town Bonfim and Barra: $152
- Culinary Traditions Tour: $180
- Easy Diving - Lord Beach Snorkeling - Leaving Forte Beach by Emytour: $33
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Manuel Antonio National Park tour : $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Group Guided Tour: $30
- Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park!: $35
- Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour with pick up included: $39
- Guided hiking Tour by the Mystic Ebano Rainforest in Costa Rica: $40
- Manuel Antonio: Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $45
- Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalvador $5.38Quepos $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Salvador
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Salvador:
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Beers for 2$1.37
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Drinks$2.74
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salvador and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Salvador much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Salvador is in South America and Quepos 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 Salvador would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salvador 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos than you might in Salvador.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salvador Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salvador or Quepos?
Salvador has a larger population, and is about 350 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Salvador and Quepos, 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 Salvador or Quepos?
Salvador has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Salvador or Quepos in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Salvador as well as Quepos. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Salvador is around the same temperature as Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Salvador averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Salvador this time of the year. In the summer, Salvador often gets more sunshine than Queposin July. Salvador gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. Salvador receives a lot of rain in the summer. Salvador usually gets less rain in January than Queposin July. Salvador gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySalvador 27°C (81°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Salvador or Quepos in the Autumn?
Both Quepos and Salvador are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Salvador is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Salvador in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
Salvador usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during autumn. Salvador gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. It's quite rainy in Salvador. In April, Salvador usually receives more rain than Queposin October. Salvador gets 310 mm (12.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSalvador 26°C (80°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Salvador or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos and Salvador during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
In July, Salvador is generally cooler than Queposin January. Daily temperatures in Salvador average around 24°C (75°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Quepos, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Salvador often gets less sunshine than Queposin January. Salvador gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Salvador. Salvador usually gets more rain in July than Queposin January. Salvador gets 175 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySalvador 24°C (75°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Salvador or Quepos in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Salvador and Quepos. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Salvador is cooler than Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Salvador averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Quepos this time of the year. In Salvador, it's very sunny this time of the year. Salvador usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during spring. Salvador gets 228 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Salvador gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Salvador usually receives more rain than Queposin April. Salvador gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSalvador 26°C (78°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Salvador
| Salvador | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 310 mm (12.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 360 mm (14.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 175 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (80°F) | 143 mm (5.6 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.