Which place is cheaper, Jaco or San Pedro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Pedro or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Pedro or Jaco, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Pedro or Jaco?
San Pedro
San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro $135Jaco $104
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro is $135, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $104. 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 Pedro and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro $66Jaco $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro $132Jaco $134
Compare Hotels in San Pedro and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro or Jaco? 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: Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro $34Jaco -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure (Boat Transfer): $205
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
- From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
- Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $200
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Transfer Private From Jaco to San José or Airport up to 5 passengers (one way) : $245
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and San Pedro 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 Pedro $40Jaco $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Pedro.
- Belizean Sunset and Cultural Dinner Cruise: $120
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch$3.94
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
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Taco Bar Dinner$9.01
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.31
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Ice Cream$5.92
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
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Fruit Plate$2.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jacó: $87
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro $33Jaco $60
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- The best of San Pedro Town walking tour: $202
- 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $54
- 5-Hour Guided Jetboat Tour to Secret Beach, San Pedro, Belize.: $200
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Hol Chan Snorkeling Tour : $120
- Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from San Pedro Ambergris Caye: $250
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $75
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $93
- Cave Tubing and Zip line Adventure from San pedro Ambergris caye: $250
- Double Activity Limo Tour: Xunantunich Ruins & Cave Tubing Adventure: $220
- Exclusive All-in-1 Full Day Shared Guided Tour: $139
- Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour: $95
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $89
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class$9.82
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Surf Lesson$49
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Bike Rental$9.82
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Tortuga Island Tour$98
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Massage$44
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching Tour: $35
- Crocodile Man Tour THE ORIGINAL: $40
- Jason Crocodile Tours: $40
- Jaco Beach: 2-Hour Chocolate Experience Tour: $43
- Horseback Riding Pacific Experience in Tarcoles Garabito: $47
- 2 Hours Private Guided Hiking Experience to El Miro in Jaco: $50
- From Canopy Tour in Hacienda Nosavar: $50
- Guided visit to Carara National Park (Ticket included): $50
- "Miro Jaco" & Jaco Beach Horseback Tour: $59
- Jaco Horse Tours: $60
- Chocolate Experience: $62
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro $16Jaco $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine$15
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Night at the Bar$27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro and Jaco, we can see that San Pedro is more expensive. And not only is Jaco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jaco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaco 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 Pedro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro than you might in Jaco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Pedro Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro or Jaco?
San Pedro has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro and Jaco, 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 Pedro or Jaco?
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 Pedro or Jaco in the Summer?
Both Jaco and San Pedro during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Pedro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
Jaco gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Pedro. San Pedro usually gets more rain in July than Jaco. San Pedro gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in San Pedro. In the summer, San Pedro often gets more sunshine than Jaco. San Pedro gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 164 hours of full sun.
In the summer, San Pedro is around the same temperature as Jaco. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Pedro in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Jaco averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Pedro 28°C (82°F)Jaco 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Jaco in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Pedro and Jaco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Pedro year-round. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Jaco receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Pedro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Pedro usually receives around the same amount of rain as Jaco. San Pedro gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
San Pedro usually receives more sunshine than Jaco during autumn. San Pedro gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, San Pedro is generally around the same temperature as Jaco. Daily temperatures in San Pedro average around 26°C (80°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Pedro 26°C (80°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Jaco in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Pedro as well as Jaco. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
San Pedro receives a lot of rain in the winter. San Pedro usually gets more rain in January than Jaco. San Pedro gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Jaco 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 Jaco. In the winter, San Pedro often gets less sunshine than Jaco. San Pedro gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 264 hours of full sun.
San Pedro is cooler than Jaco in the winter. The daily temperature in San Pedro averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Pedro 24°C (74°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Jaco in the Spring?
Both Jaco and San Pedro are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, San Pedro usually receives more rain than Jaco. San Pedro gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Jaco. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Pedro. San Pedro usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Jaco during spring. San Pedro gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, San Pedro is around the same temperature as Jaco. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Pedro in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Jaco averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Pedro 27°C (80°F)Jaco 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Jaco and San Pedro
| San Pedro | Jaco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 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.