Which place is cheaper, Quepos or San Pedro?
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 Pedro or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Pedro or Quepos, 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 Quepos?
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.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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San Pedro Prices
Belize PricesQuepos Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro $163Quepos $139
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro is $163, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $139. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro $66Quepos $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro $132Quepos $152
Compare Hotels in San Pedro and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro or Quepos? 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: Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro $34Quepos $9.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure (Boat Transfer): $210
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Manuel Antonio (One Way): $99
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $203
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $220
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $229
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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 $69Quepos $51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Pedro.
- Maya Sunset Dinner Feast: $49
- The Maya Dinner Experience: Season 2: $111
- The Garifuna Dinner Experience: Season I: $111
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro $33Quepos $17
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- Caye Caulker Private Camping Adventure: $100
- 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $59
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Hol Chan Snorkeling Tour : $125
- Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from San Pedro Ambergris Caye: $300
- Ambergris Caye Food and History Tour: $75
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $85
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $113
- Belizean Food Experience: $87
- Double Activity Limo Tour - Altun Ha Ruins & ATV Jungle Adventure: $260
- Double Activity Limo Tour - Altun Ha Ruins & Zip Lining Adventure: $210
- Double Activity Limo Tour - Cave Tubing & Zip Lining: $205
- Double Activity Limo Tour - Zip Lining & ATV Jungle Adventure: $280
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $25
- Quepos Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $26
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $27
- Manuel Antonio Park: Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $27
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $29
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour : $29
- Guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park: $29
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio with Mauro / Tickets not Included! : $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park: Guided Tour with Beach Time: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro $16Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro and Quepos, we can see that San Pedro is more expensive. And not only is Quepos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Quepos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quepos 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 Quepos.
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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro or Quepos?
San Pedro has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro and Quepos, 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 Quepos?
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 Quepos in the Summer?
Both Quepos 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 Quepos year-round.
Quepos 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 Quepos. San Pedro gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Quepos 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 Quepos. San Pedro gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.
In the summer, San Pedro is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Pedro in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Quepos averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Pedro 28°C (82°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Pedro and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Pedro year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in Quepos is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in Quepos. Quepos 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 Quepos. San Pedro gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
San Pedro usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during autumn. San Pedro gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, San Pedro is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in San Pedro average around 26°C (80°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Pedro 26°C (80°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Quepos in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Pedro as well as Quepos. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
San Pedro receives a lot of rain in the winter. San Pedro usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. San Pedro gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Quepos 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 Quepos. In the winter, San Pedro often gets less sunshine than Quepos. San Pedro gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.
San Pedro is cooler than Quepos in the winter. The daily temperature in San Pedro averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Pedro 24°C (74°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos 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 Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Quepos is December to April. May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season. In April, San Pedro usually receives more rain than Quepos. San Pedro gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Quepos. 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 Quepos during spring. San Pedro gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, San Pedro is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Pedro in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Quepos averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Pedro 27°C (80°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and San Pedro
| San Pedro | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.