Which place is cheaper, Liberia or San Juan del Sur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan del Sur or Liberia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for San Juan del Sur and Liberia. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: San Juan del Sur or Liberia?
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, 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 Juan del Sur $53Liberia $112
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan del Sur is $53, 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 Juan del Sur and Liberia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan del Sur $21Liberia $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan del Sur $42Liberia $120
Compare Hotels in San Juan del Sur and Liberia
Looking for a hotel in San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur Hotel Prices and Liberia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan del Sur $18Liberia $43
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:
- Airport Shuttle Transfer to Andaz Peninsula Papagayo: $90
- Airport Transfer to Azura Beach Resort, Round-Trip: $135
- Airport transfer Liberia from and to Tamarindo (One way) : $113
- Costa Rica Private Airport Transfer : $6.00
- Deluxe Transfer: Liberia International Airport to Hotels (1 - 4): $185
- Departure Private Transfer Arenal to San Jose Airport by Minivan: $177
- Direct Transfer Liberia Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $35
- GUANACASTE COSTA RICA Airport Transfers | Shuttle Service: $62
- Guanacaste Airport Transfer to Playa Tamarindo: $105
- Guanacaste Airport: Transfer to/from Papagayo Hyatt Hotel: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) Peñas Blancas - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Arenal La Fortuna - Round Trip Transfer: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan del Sur or Liberia?
Prices for flights to both Liberia and San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur $18Liberia $21
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.
- 2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara : $65
- Private Local Cooking Class in Nosara: $85
- Private Sunset Dinner at the Beach with Chef : $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan del Sur $15Liberia $25
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- La Leona Waterfall: Private tour in Rincon de la Vieja!: $43
- Bird-Watching and Wildlife Tour: $43
- Night Tour in Nuevo Arenal: $43
- 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
- Horseback Riding at Diamante Eco Adventure Park: $56
- Horseback Riding Tour: $59
- Rincón de la Vieja Bird-Watching Tour: $62
- Ponderosa Adventure Park Admission Ticket: $65
- Zipline at Skyline Canopy Tour Guanacaste Costa Rica: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan del Sur $13Liberia $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan del Sur and Liberia, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Juan del Sur Expensive? and Is Liberia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or Liberia?
Liberia has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur or Liberia in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan del Sur and Liberia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round. Liberia attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Liberia receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Juan del Sur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Liberia. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
San Juan del Sur usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Liberia during summer. San Juan del Sur gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Juan del Sur is generally around the same temperature as Liberia. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 27°C (81°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Liberia 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Liberia in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Juan del Sur as well as Liberia. San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in October than Liberia. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, San Juan del Sur often gets more sunshine than Liberia. San Juan del Sur gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 169 hours of full sun.
San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Liberia in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Liberia fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Liberia in the Winter?
Both Liberia and San Juan del Sur are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Liberia because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Liberia. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Liberia receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Liberia. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur usually receives less sunshine than Liberia during winter. San Juan del Sur gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while Liberia receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Liberia. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan del Sur in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Liberia averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)Liberia 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Liberia in the Spring?
Both Liberia and San Juan del Sur during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in April than Liberia. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 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 Juan del Sur. In the spring, San Juan del Sur often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Liberia. San Juan del Sur gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Liberia receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, San Juan del Sur is generally around the same temperature as Liberia. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 29°C (84°F), and Liberia fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)Liberia 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Liberia and San Juan del Sur
| San Juan del Sur | Liberia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.