A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Pedro La Laguna vs. Liberia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Liberia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Liberia? 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 Pedro La Laguna or Liberia?

San Pedro La Laguna

Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.

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.

Which city is cheaper, Liberia or San Pedro La Laguna?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $29, while the average daily cost in Liberia is $84. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Pedro La Laguna and Liberia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Pedro La Laguna $6.58
    Liberia $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Pedro La Laguna $13
    Liberia $88
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Liberia

Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna 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.

Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna


Hotels in Liberia


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 Pedro La Laguna Hotel Prices and Liberia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $11
    Liberia $32

Typical Local Transportation prices in Liberia

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:


  • Bike Rental
    $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:

  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Westin Conchal Hotel: $131
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Palace Hotel in Guanacaste: $65
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Guanacaste Hotel in Guanacaste: $85
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playas del Coco Guanacaste: $67
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Hermosa Guanacaste: $85
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort: $76
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Nosara Beach Guanacaste: $183
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa: $131
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Four Seasons Resort: $117
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to El Mangroove Hotel: $85
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Dreams Las Mareas Hotel: $128
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Bosque del Mar Hotel: $85

Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or Liberia?

Prices for flights to both Liberia and San Pedro La Laguna 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.76
    Liberia $16
Typical Food prices in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lemonade
    $2.06
  • Cake
    $1.29
  • Ice cream
    $0.39
  • Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
    $2.96

Typical Food prices in Liberia

Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:


  • Snacks
    $1.83
  • Lunch at The Shack (for 1)
    $4.60
  • Lunch
    $11
  • Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)
    $13
  • Ginger Ale
    $1.19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $17
    Liberia $19
Typical Entertainment prices in San Pedro La Laguna

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Canopy Tour (for 2)
    $39
  • Kayaking (for 2)
    $1.93
  • Coffee Tour (for 2)
    $6.95

Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51
  • Indian Nose Hiking Adventure (custom and private tour): $51
  • Horseback Riding Tour: $51
  • Chichicastenango Market Day Tour: $60
  • Camping, Short hike & Watch the sunrise on the top of Indian Nose (Private tour): $85
  • Lake Atitlan Village Tour - from Panajachel: $205

Tours and Activities in Liberia

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:

  • 3 Days Small-Group Tour in Arenal Volcano from Liberia All Inclusive: $590
  • Beach-mountain & Sloth Refuge Buggy Tour: $256
  • Blue Volcanic River Waterfalls and Hot Springs Mud Bath Adventure in Rincon de la Vieja from Liberia: $128
  • Blue Volcanic River Waterfalls and Hot Springs Mud Bath Adventure in Rincon de la Vieja from Playa Del Coco: $128
  • Canyon Canopy Tour: $60
  • Dino Park and Blue River Resort Adventure in Rincon de la Vieja from Liberia: $128
  • Dino Park and Blue River Resort Adventure in Rincon de la Vieja from Playa Del Coco: $128
  • Eco-Adventure Park Day Pass: $82
  • Full Day Volcano and Hot Springs Tour from Guanacaste: $200
  • Full-Day Adventure Tour in Guanacaste with Lunch: $174
  • Guachipelin Adventure Volcano Zipline Horseback River Tubing Combo: $113
  • Guanacaste: Arenal Volcano Nature and Hot Springs Tour: $172

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Pedro La Laguna $4.46
    Liberia $9.33


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro La Laguna and Liberia, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Pedro La Laguna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro La Laguna 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 Pedro La Laguna.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.

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San Pedro La Laguna vs. Liberia Travel Comparison

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