Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena. 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 Santa Elena?
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan del Sur $53Santa Elena $92
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan del Sur is $53, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $92. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan del Sur $21Santa Elena $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan del Sur $42Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in San Juan del Sur and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in San Juan del Sur or Santa Elena? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan del Sur $18Santa Elena $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $179
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan del Sur or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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 $18Santa Elena $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan del Sur $15Santa Elena $30
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:
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $26
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Night Adventures in Monteverde: $30
- Kinkajou Night Walk Tour: $30
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $30
- CuriCancha Reserve Admission Ticket: $33
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $34
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Regular Guided tour Monteverde Reserve: $38
- Moteverde Night Hike -Experience the Nocturnal Life of the Cloud Forest: $39
- Finca El Paraiso Farm Cheese Tour in Monteverde: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan del Sur $13Santa Elena $6.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan del Sur and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit San Juan del Sur or Santa Elena?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Santa Elena in the Summer?
Both Santa Elena and San Juan del Sur during the summer 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 Santa Elena year-round.
Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in July than Santa Elena. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, San Juan del Sur often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena. San Juan del Sur gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.
In the summer, San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan del Sur in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Santa Elena 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Santa Elena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan del Sur and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan del Sur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
San Juan del Sur usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. San Juan del Sur gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, San Juan del Sur is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Santa Elena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Juan del Sur as well as Santa Elena. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in January than Santa Elena. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan del Sur this time of the year. In the winter, San Juan del Sur often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. San Juan del Sur gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.
San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Santa Elena in the Spring?
Both Santa Elena and San Juan del Sur are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena during spring. San Juan del Sur gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan del Sur in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)Santa Elena 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Santa Elena and San Juan del Sur
| San Juan del Sur | Santa Elena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.