Which city is cheaper, Tamarindo or San Pedro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Pedro vs. Tamarindo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
Jump to 
Should you visit San Pedro or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Pedro or Tamarindo, 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 Tamarindo?
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.
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro $135Tamarindo $115
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro is $135, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $115. 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 and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro $66Tamarindo $47
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro $132Tamarindo $94
Compare Hotels in San Pedro and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro 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: Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro $34Tamarindo $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing Adventure Air Transfer: $255
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Private Premium Transfer: From Tamarindo Zone: $85
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer To Or From Tamarindo: $86
- Private Round-Trip Transfer: Liberia Airport to Tamarindo with Free Drinks: $89
- Transfer Liberia to Tamarindo: $90
- Private Transfer to Tamarindo Beach from Liberia Airport: $100
- Volcano Adventure Sisisi Transfers & Tours Costa Rica: $155
- Private transfer from Tamarindo to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $265
- Transfer TO or FROM Tamarindo Area to SJO Airport: $325
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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
-
Food Meals for one daySan Pedro $40Tamarindo $31
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro $33Tamarindo $16
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- Jungle Tour in the City - from San Jose: $45
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $62
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $67
- Mexico Rocks Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $67
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $107
- Caves Kayaking Zipline Experience from Ambergris Caye San Pedro: $142
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure: $190
- Cave Tubing and Zip line Adventure from San pedro Ambergris caye: $208
- Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from San Pedro Ambergris Caye: $220
- Crossing the highlands: From Cusco to Puno or Viceversa - Private tour: $421
- The best of San Pedro Town walking tour: $496
- The Best of San Jose Walking Tour: $509
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Skip the Line: Monkey Park Admission Ticket: $27
- Kayak Tour: $45
- Turtle Watching Tour: $45
- Turtle Nesting Tour: $46
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo River Boat Tour: $50
- Canopy Tour Costa Rica: $55
- Tamarindo Kayak Estuary Mangrove Tour: $56
- Tamarindo Kayaking Tour with Snorkeling at Captain Island: $60
- Premium Tour: Turtle Nesting Tour: $62
- Early Bird Watching Tour: $65
- Private Buggy/ATV Sunset Tour at Tamarindo: $65
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro $16Tamarindo $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro and Tamarindo, we can see that San Pedro is more expensive. And not only is Tamarindo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 Tamarindo.
When is the best time to visit San Pedro or Tamarindo?
Both destinations experience a tropical climate with warm weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit San Pedro or Tamarindo in the Summer?
Both Tamarindo and San Pedro are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. It's quite rainy in San Pedro. In July, San Pedro usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. San Pedro gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Pedro. San Pedro usually receives more sunshine than Tamarindo during summer. San Pedro gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
San Pedro is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the summer. The temperature in San Pedro is usually 28°C (82°F) in July, and Tamarindo stays around 28°C (82°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Pedro 28°C (82°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
Both Tamarindo and San Pedro during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Pedro because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year.
Tamarindo 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 around the same amount of rain in October as Tamarindo. San Pedro gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, San Pedro often gets more sunshine than Tamarindo. San Pedro gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, San Pedro is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Pedro in October are around 26°C (80°F), and Tamarindo is about 27°C (81°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Pedro 26°C (80°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Tamarindo in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Pedro and Tamarindo. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
San Pedro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, San Pedro usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. San Pedro gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tamarindo this time of the year. San Pedro usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during winter. San Pedro gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, San Pedro is generally cooler than Tamarindo. Temperatures in San Pedro average around 24°C (74°F), and Tamarindo stays around 27°C (81°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Pedro 24°C (74°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Tamarindo in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to San Pedro as well as Tamarindo. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
San Pedro usually gets more rain in April than Tamarindo. San Pedro gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 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 Pedro this time of the year. In the spring, San Pedro often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo. San Pedro gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun.
San Pedro is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the spring. The temperature in San Pedro is usually 27°C (80°F) in April, and Tamarindo stays around 29°C (85°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Pedro 27°C (80°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and San Pedro
| San Pedro | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
Related Articles for San Pedro
Related Articles for Tamarindo
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.More City Comparisons
San Pedro vs. San IgnacioSan Pedro vs. Belize City
San Pedro vs. San Pedro La Laguna
San Pedro vs. Flores
San Pedro vs. Guatemala City
San Pedro vs. Antigua Guatemala
San Pedro vs. Roatan
San Pedro vs. La Ceiba
San Pedro vs. Copan
San Pedro vs. San Juan del Sur
San Pedro vs. Isla de Ometepe
San Pedro vs. Managua
San Pedro vs. Leon
San Pedro vs. Granada
San Pedro vs. San Jose
San Pedro vs. Quepos
San Pedro vs. Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)
San Pedro vs. Santa Elena
San Pedro vs. Liberia
San Pedro vs. Jaco
San Pedro vs. La Fortuna
San Pedro vs. Pedasi
San Pedro vs. Panama City
San Pedro vs. David
San Pedro vs. Boquete
San Pedro vs. Bocas del Toro
San Pedro vs. Puerto Viejo
San Ignacio vs. Tamarindo
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.