Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Santa Elena or La Serena?
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 La Serena. 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 La Serena?
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%.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55La Serena $42
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena or La Serena? 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: La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Elena $11La Serena $20
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 from Monteverde to Samara : $269
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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
-
Food Meals for one daySanta Elena $24La Serena $27
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Elena $30La Serena $24
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 La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Elena $6.22La Serena $22
When comparing the travel costs between Santa Elena and La Serena, we can see that Santa Elena 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. Even though Santa Elena is in Central America and La Serena is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 La Serena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or La Serena?
La Serena has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Santa Elena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Santa Elena or La Serena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.
In the summer, Santa Elena is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Elena in July average around 28°C (82°F), and La Serena averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Serena this time of the year. Santa Elena usually receives less sunshine than La Serena during summer. Santa Elena gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.
Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than La Serenain January. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or La Serena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as La Serena. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Santa Elena is generally much warmer than La Serenain April. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In the autumn, Santa Elena often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Serenain April. Santa Elena gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun.
Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in October than La Serenain April. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena 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.
Santa Elena is much warmer than La Serena in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during winter. Santa Elena gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than La Serenain July. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or La Serena in the Spring?
Both La Serena 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.
In the spring, Santa Elena is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Elena in April average around 29°C (85°F), and La Serena averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. In the spring, Santa Elena often gets more sunshine than La Serenain October. Santa Elena gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.
Santa Elena usually gets more rain in April than La Serenain October. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.