Which place is cheaper, Mazatlan or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Elena or Mazatlan?
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 Mazatlan. 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 Mazatlan?
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%.
Mazatlan
Mazatlan is located on the Pacific coast in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city has a population of almost 500,000, making it the second largest city in the state. It is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and resort hotels. Most people head to Mazatlan specifically for its beaches, but the city itself is somewhat large and diverse with many different cultures and ethnicities represented. Many foreigners come here not only to vacation, but also to retire. You'll meet people from all over Europe, as well as Canada and the United States.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92Mazatlan $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, while the average daily cost in Mazatlan is $79. 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 Mazatlan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55Mazatlan $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110Mazatlan $66
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and Mazatlan
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena or Mazatlan? 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: Mazatlan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Elena $11Mazatlan $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $180
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara : $269
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mazatlan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mazatlan:
- Mazatlan Intl Airport (MZT): Private Transfer to Mazatlan: $296
- Private roundtrip airport to hotel transfer in Mazatlan: $262
- Mazatlan Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Mazatlan hotels: $236
- Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $119
- Round transfer airport to hotel in Mazatlán: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or Mazatlan?
Prices for flights to both Mazatlan 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 $24Mazatlan $34
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 Mazatlan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mazatlan.
- Mercado walking food tour: $78
- Mazatlan routes of taste food tour: $84
- Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Mazatlan: $84
- Tacos, Beer and Mezcal Food Tour in Mazatlan: $96
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Elena $30Mazatlan $9.59
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $26
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $30
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour: $30
- Kinkajou Night Walk Tour: $30
- CuriCancha Reserve Admission Ticket: $33
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $34
- Night Adventures in Monteverde: $35
- Natural History Tour - Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve: $35
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Regular Guided tour Monteverde Reserve: $38
Tours and Activities in Mazatlan
Here are a few actual costs in Mazatlan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Barrio Bites tour: $78
- Beach Activities and All Inclusive Tour: $58
- BeachBlast ATV's & City Tour: $99
- Bird Watching Mazatlán - Birding Tour: $115
- City Tour with Tequila Tasting & Beach Hotel Day Pass Included : $49
- From Zipline & ATV Adventure with Tequila Tasting: $210
- Half-Day Tour to Tequila Factory and Villages from Mazatlan: $75
- Half-Day Ziplining Experience from Mazatlán: $110
- Jungle and beach ATV tour + lunch + tequila tasting: $120
- Mazatlán: Beach & Jungle ATV Tour w/ Lunch & Tequila Tasting: $126
- Mazatlán: Tequila Factory & Country Sightseeing: $103
- Mazatlán: Zipline Adventure, Sightseeing & Mezcal Tasting: $128
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Elena $6.22Mazatlan $18
When comparing the travel costs between Santa Elena and Mazatlan, 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 Mazatlan is in North 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 Mazatlan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or Mazatlan?
Mazatlan 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 Mazatlan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Mazatlan. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Mazatlan for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Santa Elena is generally around the same temperature as Mazatlan. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 28°C (82°F), and Mazatlan fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mazatlan. In the summer, Santa Elena often gets less sunshine than Mazatlan. Santa Elena gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mazatlan receives 216 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Mazatlan. Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the summer. Santa Elena usually gets less rain in July than Mazatlan. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)Mazatlan 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Mazatlan in the Autumn?
Both Mazatlan and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Mazatlan in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Mazatlan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Mazatlan fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Mazatlan. Santa Elena usually receives less sunshine than Mazatlan during autumn. Santa Elena gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Mazatlan receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. In October, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Mazatlan. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Mazatlan 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Mazatlan in the Winter?
Both Mazatlan and Santa Elena during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Mazatlan for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Santa Elena is a little warmer than Mazatlan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santa Elena in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Mazatlan averages at about 20°C (67°F).
In Mazatlan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. In the winter, Santa Elena often gets more sunshine than Mazatlan. Santa Elena gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mazatlan receives 203 hours of full sun.
Santa Elena usually gets less rain in January than Mazatlan. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Mazatlan 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Mazatlan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Mazatlan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Mazatlan because of the beaches.
In April, Santa Elena is generally a little warmer than Mazatlan. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 29°C (85°F), and Mazatlan fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mazatlan this time of the year. In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santa Elena usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mazatlan during spring. Santa Elena gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Mazatlan receives 250 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Mazatlan. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)Mazatlan 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Mazatlan and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | Mazatlan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 227 mm (8.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 18 mm (0.7 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.