Which place is cheaper, Bogota or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Elena or Bogota?
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 Elena and Bogota. 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 Elena or Bogota?
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
Bogota
Sprawling across a high altitude in the Columbian Andes region, Bogota is the capital city of Columbia. It is a mix of the old and new with century-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering skyscrapers, museums representing the history, art, and culture of the region, as well as a mix of distinct neighborhoods from quaint and historic to trendy and contemporary.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92Bogota $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, while the average daily cost in Bogota is $53. 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 Elena and Bogota in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55Bogota $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110Bogota $52
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and Bogota
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena or Bogota? 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: Bogota Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Elena $11Bogota $8.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $179
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bogota
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bogota are as follows:
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Taxi from Airport$7.56
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Taxi Ride$0.39
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2 Bus Passes$0.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bogota
Also for Bogota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Salt Cathedral and Nemocón Salt Mines + In & out Transfer + (8 hours): $242
- Private Visit to Zipaquira's Town & Salt Cathedral + In&Out Transfer + (6 hours): $176
- Bogotá to or from Barichara or San Gil Private Transfer: $167
- Bogotá to or from Villavieja or Tatacoa Desert Private Transfer: $167
- Layover Bogotá Private Tour + Transfer in & Out (4 Hrs.) : $149
- Arrival Private Transfer Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota City in a Luxury Van: $134
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota City by Minibus: $124
- Bogotá Private Luxury Transfer - Airport Pick Up or Drop Off - SUV Mercedes Benz: $97
- Bogotá to or from Villa de Leyva Private Transfer: $80
- El Dorado International Airport (BOG) - Private Round trip transfer Bogota: $80
- Arrival Transfer from Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota by MiniSuv: $66
- Andres Carne de Res Chia • Premium Private Transfer: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or Bogota?
Prices for flights to both Bogota and Santa Elena 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 Elena $24Bogota $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Typical Food Prices in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$1.57
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Hot Dog$0.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Peruvian cooking workshop: $26
- Bogotá Bites: Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $45
- Viejo Bogota Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $49
- PALOQUEMAO MARKET FOOD TOUR. EXOTIC FRUIT. LOCAL SNACKS. /Min 2 pax: $55
- Bogota Food Tour • Private Car • Fruits Cacao Lunch Coffee Beer: $59
- Private Colombian Cooking Class and Market Tour In Bogota: $90
- Dinner and party at Andres Carne de Res DC: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Elena $30Bogota $13
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $70
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $50
- Day & Night Nature Tour in Monteverde Combo tour : $190
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- 100% Adventure Park Combo: Zipline, Superman, and Mega Tarzan Tour in Monteverde: $57
- 3 hours of the Longest and Highest Extreme Zip line Experience in Monteverde: $80
- 5-Hour Birdwatching and Photography Tour in Monteverde: $100
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course : $69
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Bird Watching Experience in Monteverde: $90
- Bird-Watching private tour : $100
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bogota
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bogota's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Beer$1.31
Tours and Activities in Bogota
For Bogota, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bogota Zipaquira Salt Cathedral Private Tour + Lunch: $80
- Express Salt Cathedral Tour• Guided Tour & Tickets • 5h: $219
- La Candelaria and Monserrate Walking Half Day Tour: $234
- Lake Guatavitá Private Day Tour: $255
- Salt Cathedral Zipaquira - Group tour and daily departure: $80
- *Private tour* to Guatavita sacred lagoon + Nemocon salt mine: $153
- 3h 30 -Hour StopOver—Walking Tour: Bogota Historical Center: $54
- 4 Hours Private Tour to Monserrate from Bogotá: $69
- 4-Hour Private Tour of Bogotá with Guide and Transportation: $77
- 4-hour Paragliding Adventure from Bogota: $170
- 5-hour Bogota Street Art Tour with transportation: $184
- 5-hour Tour through Bogotá during the stopover. Includes round-trip from airport: $160
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Elena $6.22Bogota $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Bogota
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bogota:
- Thursday Bar Crawl in Bogotá: $25
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Bogotá : $25
- Saturday Bar Crawl in La Candelaria, Bogotá: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Elena and Bogota, we can see that Santa Elena is more expensive. And not only is Bogota much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Elena is in Central America and Bogota is in South 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 Bogota would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bogota 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 Santa Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena than you might in Bogota.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Elena Expensive? and Is Bogota Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or Bogota?
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 Santa Elena or Bogota in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Bogota. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round. Bogota attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Bogota. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Bogota receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Santa Elena is much warmer than Bogota. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Elena in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Bogota averages at about 14°C (57°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)Bogota 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Bogota in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Bogota. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bogota throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Bogota. Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in October than Bogota. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Bogota receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Santa Elena is generally much warmer than Bogota. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 27°C (81°F), and Bogota fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Bogota 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Bogota in the Winter?
Both Bogota and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Bogota because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Bogota. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Bogota receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Santa Elena is much warmer than Bogota in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Bogota fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Bogota 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Bogota in the Spring?
Both Bogota and Santa Elena during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bogota year-round.
Santa Elena usually gets less rain in April than Bogota. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Bogota receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Santa Elena is much warmer than Bogota. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Elena in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Bogota averages at about 15°C (59°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)Bogota 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Bogota and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | Bogota | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 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.