Which place is cheaper, Liberia or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Ignacio or Liberia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or Liberia, 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 Ignacio or Liberia?
San Ignacio
So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.
You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.
This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!
Liberia
Liberia is a town in northwestern Costa Rica. It is the capital of the Guanacaste province, which is about 140 miles away from Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The town has a population of about 56,000 and is one of the tourism centers of the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Ignacio $72Liberia $112
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $72, while the average daily cost in Liberia is $112. 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 Ignacio and Liberia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $19Liberia $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $38Liberia $120
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and Liberia
Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio or Liberia? 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: San Ignacio Hotel Prices and Liberia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $3.11Liberia $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
- San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Bike Rental$25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:
- Costa Rica Private Airport Transfer : $6.00
- Costa Rica Private transfer with driver By Red Eyed Tours : $62
- Direct Transfer Liberia Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $35
- Guanacaste Airport Transfer to Playa Tamarindo: $105
- Guanacaste Airport: Transfer to/from Papagayo Hyatt Hotel: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Arenal La Fortuna - Round Trip Transfer: $126
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Arenal, La Fortuna - Arrival Transfer: $63
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Flamingo/Tamarindo - Arrival Transfer: $38
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Flamingo/Tamarindo - Round-Trip Transfer: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Grande Round-Trip Private Transfer: $61
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Samara or Nosara - Raund-Trip Transfer: $126
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Samara/Nosara - Arrival Private Transfer: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or Liberia?
Prices for flights to both Liberia and San Ignacio 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 Ignacio $21Liberia $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150
Typical Food Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Snacks$1.97
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Lunch at The Shack (for 1)$4.95
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Lunch$11
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Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)$14
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Ginger Ale$1.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Liberia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Liberia.
- Private Sunset Dinner at the Beach with Chef : $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Ignacio $100Liberia $25
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $65
- Half-Day Cave Canoeing Adventure: $75
- From Xunantunich Mayan Tour & Optional Combos: $75
- Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $75
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
- Barton Creek Tour: $98
- Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $100
- Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $100
- Cave Tubing Adventure at Nohoch Che'en and Jaguar Paw : $115
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Group Tour) : $35
- La Leona Waterfall: Private tour in Rincon de la Vieja!: $43
- Bird-Watching and Wildlife Tour: $43
- Night Tour in Nuevo Arenal: $43
- La Leona waterfall adventure hike half day : $45
- Private La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike: $45
- La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Private Tour): $45
- Skip the Line: Diamante Eco Adventure Park: Animal Sanctuary Discovery Ticket: $49
- Zip-line Adventure: $53
- Rincón de la Vieja Bird-Watching Tour: $62
- From Tubing Adventure at Rio Negro: $65
- Ponderosa Adventure Park Admission Ticket: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $17Liberia $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and Liberia, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is San Ignacio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Ignacio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Ignacio 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 Liberia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Liberia than you might in San Ignacio.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Ignacio Expensive? and Is Liberia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or Liberia?
Liberia has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio and Liberia, 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 Ignacio or Liberia?
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 Ignacio or Liberia in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and Liberia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round. Liberia attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Liberia receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Liberia. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In San Ignacio, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Ignacio usually receives more sunshine than Liberia during summer. San Ignacio gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Ignacio is generally around the same temperature as Liberia. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 28°C (82°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Ignacio 28°C (82°F)Liberia 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Liberia in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as Liberia. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Liberia throughout the year.
Also, December to April in Liberia is the dry season. April to December in Liberia is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Liberia. San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Ignacio usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Liberia. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than Liberia. San Ignacio gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 169 hours of full sun.
San Ignacio is around the same temperature as Liberia in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 26°C (80°F) in October, and Liberia fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Ignacio 26°C (80°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Liberia in the Winter?
Both Liberia and San Ignacio are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Liberia because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. In January, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Liberia. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Liberia. San Ignacio usually receives less sunshine than Liberia during winter. San Ignacio gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, San Ignacio is cooler than Liberia. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Ignacio in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Liberia averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Ignacio 24°C (74°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Liberia in the Spring?
Both Liberia and San Ignacio during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Liberia year-round.
December to April is the dry season in Liberia. April to December is the rainy season in Liberia. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in April than Liberia. San Ignacio gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Liberia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Ignacio. In the spring, San Ignacio often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Liberia. San Ignacio gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, San Ignacio is generally around the same temperature as Liberia. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 27°C (80°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Ignacio 27°C (80°F)Liberia 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Liberia and San Ignacio
| San Ignacio | Liberia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 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.