Which place is cheaper, Manaus or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Elena or Manaus?
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 Manaus. 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 Manaus?
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%.
Manaus
Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92Manaus $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, while the average daily cost in Manaus is $59. 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 Manaus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55Manaus $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110Manaus $84
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and Manaus
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena or Manaus? 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: Manaus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Elena $11Manaus $7.94
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $72
- Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $40
- Transfers from the airport to any place in Manaus City: $40
- Private Transfer - Airport - Hotel / Hotel - Airport: $35
- Manaus private Airport transfer: $30
- Manaus hotels to Manaus Airport(MAO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus Airport (MAO) to Manaus hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or Manaus?
Prices for flights to both Manaus 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 $24Manaus $12
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus
For Manaus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
- Food Tour: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Elena $30Manaus -
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 Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adventure: 4-hour hike in the Amazon rainforest: $150
- Amazon Experience: meet a native village and swim with porpoises: $80
- Amazon Jungle Experience with Overnight: $300
- Amazon Jungle: 3- or 4-Day Tour at Ipanema River Guest House: $200
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- Amazon Private Safari by Tuhiri Eco Tour - Leaving Manaus: $199
- Amazon River Stand Up Paddling Tour: $124
- Amazon and Negro Rivers Experience with Night Exploration Tour: $300
- City Tour Plus Amazon River Tour: $100
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $50
- City Tour no Centro Histórico de Manaus com um fotógrafo: $91
- From Manaus Cruise Terminal: Amazon Rainforest Highlights: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Elena $6.22Manaus $2.84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Elena and Manaus, we can see that Santa Elena is more expensive. And not only is Manaus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Elena is in Central America and Manaus 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 Manaus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manaus 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 Manaus.
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 Manaus Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or Manaus?
Manaus 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 Manaus in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Manaus. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.
In July, Santa Elena is generally around the same temperature as Manausin January. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 28°C (82°F), and Manaus fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than Manaus during summer. Santa Elena gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Manaus receives 114 hours of full sun in the summer.
Manaus receives a lot of rain in the summer. Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Manausin January. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 264 mm (10.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)Manaus 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Manaus in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Manaus. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Manaus in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Manaus fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in April.
In the autumn, Santa Elena often gets more sunshine than Manausin April. Santa Elena gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manaus receives 112 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Manaus. Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Santa Elena usually gets less rain in October than Manausin April. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 311 mm (12.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Manaus in the Winter?
Both Manaus 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.
In the winter, Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Manaus. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santa Elena in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Manaus averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Manaus. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than Manaus during winter. Santa Elena gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Manaus receives 214 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Manausin July. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 85 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Manaus in the Spring?
Both Manaus 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 April, Santa Elena is generally around the same temperature as Manausin October. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 29°C (85°F), and Manaus fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. In the spring, Santa Elena often gets more sunshine than Manausin October. Santa Elena gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manaus receives 171 hours of full sun.
Manaus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Santa Elena usually gets less rain in April than Manausin October. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 113 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)Manaus 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Manaus and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | Manaus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 264 mm (10.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 311 mm (12.3 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.6 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.