Which place is cheaper, Jaco or San Fernando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Fernando or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or Jaco, 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: San Fernando or Jaco?
San Fernando
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Fernando $153Jaco $104
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $153, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $104. 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 San Fernando and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Fernando $74Jaco $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Fernando $148Jaco $134
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando or Jaco? 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: Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Fernando $50Jaco -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Private From Jaco to San José or Airport up to 5 passengers (one way) : $245
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $200
- Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
- Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70
Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and San Fernando 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 daySan Fernando $48Jaco $21
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch$3.94
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
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Taco Bar Dinner$9.01
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.31
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Ice Cream$5.92
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
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Fruit Plate$2.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jacó: $87
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Fernando $28Jaco $60
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class$9.82
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Surf Lesson$49
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Bike Rental$9.82
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Tortuga Island Tour$98
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Massage$44
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle & River ATV Adventure, 2 hours / Jacó: $95
- Ocean views Zip Line Canopy Tour in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $71
- "Miro Jaco" & Jaco Beach Horseback Tour: $59
- 2 Hour ATV Jungle Adventure Jaco: $75
- 2 Hour Private Ranch Experience in Quebrada Amarilla: $120
- 2 Hours Private Guided Hiking Experience to El Miro in Jaco: $50
- 2 hour ATV Tour & Waterfalls + Chocolate Experience : $110
- 2 hour Double ATV Tour + Waterfalls in Jaco Beach : $99
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $110
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $95
- 4×4 Waterfalls and Jungle Experience: $80
- 4x4 Happy Jungle Booze Cruise: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Fernando $22Jaco $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine$15
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Night at the Bar$27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Jaco, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Jaco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands and Jaco 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 Jaco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaco 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando than you might in Jaco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Fernando Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Jaco?
San Fernando has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando and Jaco, 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 San Fernando or Jaco?
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.
Should I visit San Fernando or Jaco in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and Jaco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Jaco receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Jaco. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Fernando usually receives more sunshine than Jaco during summer. San Fernando gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, San Fernando is around the same temperature as Jaco. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Fernando in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Jaco averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Jaco 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Jaco in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as Jaco. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Jaco. San Fernando receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Fernando usually gets less rain in October than Jaco. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. In the autumn, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than Jaco. San Fernando gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 169 hours of full sun.
In October, San Fernando is generally around the same temperature as Jaco. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Jaco in the Winter?
Both Jaco and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Jaco. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Jaco. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually receives less sunshine than Jaco during winter. San Fernando gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
San Fernando is around the same temperature as Jaco in the winter. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 26°C (78°F) in January, and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Fernando 26°C (78°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Jaco in the Spring?
Both Jaco and San Fernando during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
San Fernando usually gets more rain in April than Jaco. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Fernando. In the spring, San Fernando often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Jaco. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 255 hours of full sun.
In the spring, San Fernando is around the same temperature as Jaco. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Fernando in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Jaco averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Jaco 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Jaco and San Fernando
| San Fernando | Jaco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 252 mm (9.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 225 mm (8.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 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.