Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Elena or Guadalajara?
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 Guadalajara. 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 Guadalajara?
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%.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.
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, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92Guadalajara $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara 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 Santa Elena and Guadalajara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55Guadalajara $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110Guadalajara $84
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and Guadalajara
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena or Guadalajara? 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: Guadalajara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Elena $11Guadalajara $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara : $269
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $180
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara
Also for Guadalajara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from Guadalajara to Sayulita: $240
- Airport-Chapala/Ajijic Transfer: $229
- Guadalajara Airport (GDL): Transfer to Guadalajara hotels: $174
- Airport to City Transfer: $151
- Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels: $119
- Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $98
- Guadalajara to Tequila - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
- Tequila to Guadalajara - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
- Private Transfer from Guadalajara city hotels to Manzanillo Port: $76
- Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Private transfer: Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara: $73
- Guadalajara hotels to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or Guadalajara?
Prices for flights to both Guadalajara 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 $24Guadalajara $48
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Elena $30Guadalajara $28
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: $45
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $50
- 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
- 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
- Birdwatching Tour in Monteverde : $85
- Canopy Adventure From Monteverde: $72
Tours and Activities in Guadalajara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Guadalajara.
- 10-Day Audio Guide Tour of Guadalajara: $12
- 6 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!: $144
- Air Adventure Paraglide over Incredible Landscapes: $156
- Canopy Experience Panoramic Flight in Zip Lines: $43
- Chapala Ajijic Area Tour from Guadalajara: $40
- Chapala and Ajijic Private Tour: $120
- Charreria heritage tour be a charro for a day: $50
- City tour in Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque: $94
- Complete Tour on the Tequila Route from Guadalajara: $58
- Downtown Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque Tour: $73
- Enjoy an exclusive Tequila Tour with a Tequila Master: $149
- From Chapala Lake & Ajijic Tour: $83
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Elena $6.22Guadalajara $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:
- Guadalajara Arquitecture and Brewery Tour: $56
- Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town: $77
- Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery: $173
- Sip & Savor Tequila Experience Distillery w/ Lunch fr Guadalajara: $180
- Private Tour La Fortaleza Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
- Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
- Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
- Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery: $209
- Private Tour to Tequila Ocho Distillery and the Town of Arandas: $209
- Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery in One Day: $264
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Elena and Guadalajara, we can see that Guadalajara is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Elena is in Central America and Guadalajara is in North 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 Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Guadalajara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guadalajara than you might in Santa Elena.
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 Guadalajara 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.