Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit San Juan or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Juan or Tamarindo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: San Juan or Tamarindo?
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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San Juan Prices
Puerto Rico PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $218Tamarindo $159
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $159. 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 and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan $124Tamarindo $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Tamarindo $110
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Tamarindo? 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 Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan $14Tamarindo $76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer San Juan from or to SJU Airport, Hotel, Cruises: $16
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Arrival Private Transfer: $30
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU)- Departure Transfer: $30
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Premium Sedan, Select Zone: $59
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, Tesla 3 Luxury Sedan.: $63
- One-way transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port or Vice Versa: $65
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfer in San Juan: $75
- Private Transfer from San Juan Airport (SJU) to Ponce Cruise Port: $77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Westin Conchal Hotel: $295
- Minivan Departure Transfer Tamarindo to San Jose Airport SJO: $293
- Round Trip Shuttle Transfer From Liberia Airport To Four Seasons Papagayo: $265
- Private Round-Trip Transfer: Liberia Airport to Reserva Conchal with Free Drinks: $260
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Las Catalinas: $250
- Round Trip Transfer From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $250
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $235
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $235
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Andaz Papagayo Resort: $221
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $205
- Transfer To/From Liberia Airport To/ From JW Marriott Guanacaste: $195
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Margaritaville Costa Rica: $185
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and San Juan 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 $62Tamarindo $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- FlyDining: 4 Course Sunset & City Light Dinner Over Old San Juan: $159
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Tamarindo $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- The Ultimate Self-Guided Hidden Gems Tour in Puerto Rico: $5.00
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- Outdoor Salsa Class Experience in San Juan: $19
- Discover Superb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
- Old San Juan Tour in Spanish: $30
- Paddleboard Adventure: Explore Marine Life in Condado Lagoon: $32
- SJU Airport to San Juan Cruise Port or return: $33
- VIP Glow San Juan Salsa Night Experience at Luxury Condado Beach: $35
- San Juan Cruise Port: Puerto Rico Artisan Rum Tasting: $39
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- San Juan Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour and Complimentary Videos: $45
- Legacy Tour at Casa BACARDÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- "Rio Celeste Waterfall, Cacao & Cofee tour and Sloth Adventure: $250
- 1 Full Private Tour to Arenal Volcano + Baldi Hot Springs: $183
- 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $70
- 1,5 Hours Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $85
- 2 Hours ATV Off Road Tour in Guanacaste Costa Rica: $85
- 2 Hours Private Jet Ski Tour in Brasilito Flamingo or Conchal: $275
- 2 Hours Pura Vida ATV Adventure from Tamarindo to Playa Conchal: $180
- 2-Hour Guided Tour by ATV near Playa Conchal: $130
- 3 HOURS Coastal ATV Adventure from Tamarindo to Playa Negra: $270
- 3 Hour ATV Full Tour Off-Road Tour in Guanacaste, Costa Rica: $190
- 3 Hour ATV Secluded Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo, Conchal & Grande: $125
- 3 Hours Flamingo Beach ATV Tour: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Tamarindo $15
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Puerto Rico Tobacco Farm and Local Brewery Tour: $109
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Puro Vino - Tamarindo's Wine Tour Ride: $85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan and Tamarindo, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Tamarindo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tamarindo 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 Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan than you might in Tamarindo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Juan Expensive? and Is Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit San Juan or Tamarindo?
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 or Tamarindo in the Summer?
Both Tamarindo and San Juan during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round.
Tamarindo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Juan usually gets less rain in July than Tamarindo. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. In the summer, San Juan often gets more sunshine than Tamarindo. San Juan gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun.
In the summer, San Juan is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan 28°C (83°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Tamarindo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to May in Tamarindo is the dry season. June to November is the hurricane season in Tamarindo. Tamarindo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan usually receives less rain than Tamarindo. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan usually receives more sunshine than Tamarindo during autumn. San Juan gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, San Juan is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (82°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan 28°C (82°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Tamarindo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Tamarindo. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
San Juan usually gets more rain in January than Tamarindo. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In the winter, San Juan often gets less sunshine than Tamarindo. San Juan gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun.
San Juan is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan 25°C (77°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Juan or Tamarindo in the Spring?
Both Tamarindo and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Tamarindo is December to May. June to November in Tamarindo is the hurricane season. In April, San Juan usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Tamarindo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. San Juan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo during spring. San Juan gets 272 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, San Juan is cooler than Tamarindo. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan in April average around 26°C (79°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan 26°C (79°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and San Juan
| San Juan | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.