Which place is cheaper, Quepos or San Fernando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Fernando or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando 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: San Fernando or Quepos?
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.
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 Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Fernando $153Quepos $117
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $153, 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 San Fernando and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Fernando $74Quepos $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Fernando $148Quepos $154
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando 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: Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Fernando $50Quepos $9.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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 $48Quepos $30
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.San Fernando $28Quepos $17
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 10 in 1 Tour! Zip Lines, Rappels, Tarzan Swing, Waterfalls & More: $130
- 2-Hour Boat Tour in Quepos: $55
- ATV Tour Half Day Trip From Manuel Antonio: $90
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $83
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Nauyaca Waterfall and Beach Town Tour: $142
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Birding at El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Private Birding Tour : $120
- Birdwatching Tour: $130
- Catamaran Adventure From Manuel Antonio: $116
- Chocolate Tour Manuel Antonio: $60
- Chocolate and Coffee Tour Manuel Antonio: $62
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Fernando $22Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Quepos, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Quepos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands 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 Quepos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quepos 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 Quepos.
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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Quepos?
San Fernando has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando 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 San Fernando or Quepos?
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 Quepos in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Quepos 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 Quepos. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Quepos 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 Quepos during summer. San Fernando gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, San Fernando is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Fernando in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as Quepos. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. San Fernando receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Fernando usually gets less rain in October than Quepos. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Quepos 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 Quepos. San Fernando gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun.
In October, San Fernando is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos 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 Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Quepos. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Quepos. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during winter. San Fernando gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
San Fernando is around the same temperature as Quepos in the winter. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 26°C (78°F) in January, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Fernando 26°C (78°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos 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 Quepos year-round.
San Fernando usually gets more rain in April than Quepos. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Quepos, 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 Quepos. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun.
In the spring, San Fernando is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Fernando in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and San Fernando
| San Fernando | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.