Which place is cheaper, Montanita or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Santa Elena or Montanita?
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 Montanita. 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 Montanita?
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%.
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
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 G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92Montanita $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, while the average daily cost in Montanita is $96. 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 Montanita in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55Montanita $41
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110Montanita $82
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and Montanita
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena or Montanita? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Elena $11Montanita $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
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or Montanita?
Prices for flights to both Montanita 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 $24Montanita $28
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 $30Montanita $31
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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Elena $6.22Montanita $7.86
When comparing the travel costs between Santa Elena and Montanita, we can see that Montanita 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 Montanita 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 Montanita Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or Montanita?
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 Montanita in the Summer?
Both Montanita and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. In July, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Montanita. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during summer. Santa Elena gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun in the summer.
Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Montanita in the summer. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Montanita fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)Montanita 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Montanita in the Autumn?
Both Montanita and Santa Elena during the autumn 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 Montanita year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in October than Montanita. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Santa Elena often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Santa Elena gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santa Elena in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita averages at about 26°C (78°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Montanita 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Montanita in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Montanita. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during winter. Santa Elena gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Santa Elena is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Montanita 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Montanita in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Montanita. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.
Santa Elena usually gets less rain in April than Montanita. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena this time of the year. In the spring, Santa Elena often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Santa Elena gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun.
Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Montanita in the spring. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)Montanita 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Montanita and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | Montanita | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.