Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or San Pedro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, 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 Pedro $135Tamarindo $117
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro is $135, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $117. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro $66Tamarindo $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro $132Tamarindo $96
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro $34Tamarindo $67
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 Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Hotel Riu Guanacaste: $15
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport Hotel Arco Iris Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Mar Rey Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Pastiempo Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Best Western Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Luna Llena Hotel Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Selina Tamarindo: $21
- Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $31
- Flamingo/Tamarindo to Liberia Airport(LIR)- Departure Transfer: $39
- Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $55
- From Hotel Transfer to Liberia Guanacaste Airport: $62
- Monteverde: Transfer to Tamarindo: $65
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
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Food Meals for one daySan Pedro $40Tamarindo $31
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro $33Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- Ambergris Caye, San Pedro Electric Bike and Beach Cruiser Rental: $40
- 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $54
- Shark & Ray Afternoon Swim Tiki Bar Cruise: $60
- Sunset Tiki Bar Cruise in Caye Caulker, Belize: $60
- Belizean Food Experience: $80
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $85
- SAN PEDRO; Belizean Food Experience: $86
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $93
- Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour: $95
- Hol-Chan Snorkel Tour from Caye Caulker: $99
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $99
- Hol Chan, Shark Ray Full-Day Snorkeling Tour From San Pedro Belize: $110
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $44
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Birdwatching Crocodiles and Monkey Tour: $50
- Rain Forest Canopy Tour from Zipline, Hanging Bridge: $55
- ATV Beach and Mountain Tour!: $62
- UTV Side By Side Off Road Tour Tamarindo Beach & Flamingo Beach: $65
- Tamarindo Estuary: Kayak Monkey Tour: $65
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- ATV and UTV Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo and Conchal Beach: $67
- Turtle Watching Tour: $70
- Zipline Canopy Tour from Guanacaste: $70
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro $16Tamarindo $13
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 comparing the travel costs between San Pedro and Tamarindo, we can see that San Pedro is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit San Pedro or Tamarindo?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice 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 climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts 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 daily temperature in San Pedro averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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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 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. 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 average around 26°C (80°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Pedro year-round. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny 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. Daily temperatures in San Pedro average around 24°C (74°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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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. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm 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 daily temperature in San Pedro averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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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) |
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.