Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Tamarindo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Tamarindo?
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, or simply Santa Cruz, is a larger city in the middle of Bolivia. It is also one of the most wealthy cities in the country. The city is also one of the fastest growing in the world. It is famous for its nightlife and it makes an excellent base for exploring many of the tourist attractions in the nearby areas.
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 Tours Under $1000 in Bolivia, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Santa Cruz de la Sierra Prices
Bolivia PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Cruz de la Sierra $68Tamarindo $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is $68, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $144. 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Cruz de la Sierra $22Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Cruz de la Sierra $44Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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: Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Cruz de la Sierra $9.90Tamarindo $69
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
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Taxi Ride$4.34
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Mini Bus$0.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Costa Rica Private LIR Airport Departure transfer : $6.00
- Guanacaste Airport transfer to Jw Marriott Guanacaste: $130
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer To Gulf of Papagayo Costa Rica: $125
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer to Best Western Tamarindo: $100
- Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $95
- Monteverde: Transfer to Tamarindo: $100
- Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $107
- Private Round Trip Transfer: From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $280
- Private Transfer From LIR Airport to JW Marriott Guanacaste: $130
- Private Transfer From LIR Airport to Westin Playa Conchal Resort: $140
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $235
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Four Seasons: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 daySanta Cruz de la Sierra $34Tamarindo $56
Typical Food Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
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Snacks$3.18
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Chips$0.29
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Banana$0.14
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Cookies$1.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
- Guided Street Food Tour: Santa Cruz de la Sierra: $10
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Cruz de la Sierra $19Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking tour - A journey through the History of Santa Cruz: $11
- Lomas de Arena Sandboarding Tour: $42
- Santa Cruz: Wildlife Sanctuary and Preservation Park Tour: $85
- Day Tour /El Fuerte & Samaipata: $98
- Day Tour Jardin de las Delicias: $99
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $30
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $45
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour: $47
- Morning Moka -Tamarindo's Morning Coffee Tour: $62
- Zipline Canopy Tour from Guanacaste: $70
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
- Turtle Watching Tour: $70
- Turtle Watching Night Tours with Expert Naturalist: $75
- Tamarindo River Boat Tour: $75
- Kayak and SUP Private Tour: $75
- Private Wildlife Tour in Avellanas Beach: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Cruz de la Sierra $14Tamarindo $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Cruz de la Sierra from other travelers:
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Beer$1.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Also in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bolivia: Bolivian Wine Tasting with Charcuterie Board: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz de la Sierra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Cruz de la Sierra is in South America and Tamarindo is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Santa Cruz de la Sierra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo than you might in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Cruz de la Sierra Expensive? and Is Tamarindo Expensive?.
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.