Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or San Juan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan $192Tamarindo $121
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $192, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $121. 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 $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan $248Tamarindo $100
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 $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- Private Transportation in Puerto Rico From or To San Juan Airport(SJU) Transfers: $33
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $77
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla S Lux Sedan, Select Zone: $79
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $307
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to JW Marriott Guanacaste: $280
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Westin Conchal Hotel: $270
- Private Round Trip Transfer: From Liberia Airport To Reserva Conchal: $270
- Round Trip Shuttle Transfer From Liberia Airport To Four Seasons Papagayo: $265
- Round Trip Transfer From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $250
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Andaz Papagayo Resort: $201
- Private Liberia airport transfer: $200
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Four Seasons Resort: $200
- Transfer To/From Liberia Airport To/ From JW Marriott Guanacaste: $195
- Private Round Trip Transfer: From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $188
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $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 $36Tamarindo $32
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:
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- City Lights Sky High Dinner Experience: $165
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
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
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan $49Tamarindo $17
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.
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historic Buildings: $5.99
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Old Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $25
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Walking tour of Oaxaca City: $48
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- ATV adventure from Riu, Secrets and papagayo: $90
- Ecologic farming Sloth tour Hiking & Chocolate -Coffee tour: $260
- Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Adventure Combo Tour: $220
- Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano and Waterfall Hiking: $170
- Premium Tour:Sloths and Río Celeste y Cortez Waterfalls (Tenorio Volcano Park): $220
- Private ATV or Buggy Tour from Riu Hotels: $85
- Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park: $199
- 1,5 Hours Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $80
- 2-Hour Guided Tour by ATV near Playa Conchal: $130
- 3-in-1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park Nature Day Tour: $300
- 5-Hour Guided Sunset Boat Tour in Tamarindo Costa Rica: $95
- 5-in-1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park Adventure Day Tour: $300
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan $12Tamarindo $14
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Pinones Pub crawl in Puerto Rico: $50
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl Experience: $25
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.
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.
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.