Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Santo Domingo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Santo Domingo or Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Santo Domingo and Quepos can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santo Domingo or Quepos?
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is a vibrant city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and modernity. Known for being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, Santo Domingo offers a wealth of experiences that cater to every type of traveler.
Traveling to Santo Domingo on a budget is entirely achievable with some strategic planning. Accommodations range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. The Zona Colonial, the historic district, offers several affordable lodging options that provide easy access to major attractions. Hostels offer comfortable accommodations and a chance to meet fellow travelers, too. Eating on a budget is also feasible in Santo Domingo. Local eateries, known as "comedores," serve traditional Dominican dishes at reasonable prices.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
-
Santo Domingo Prices
Dominican Republic PricesQuepos Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanto Domingo $99Quepos $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Santo Domingo is $99, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $139. 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 Santo Domingo and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanto Domingo $40Quepos $76
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanto Domingo $80Quepos $152
Compare Hotels in Santo Domingo and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Santo Domingo or Quepos? 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: Santo Domingo Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santo Domingo $4.59Quepos $9.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santo Domingo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santo Domingo:
- VIP Private Transfer from Las Americas Airport AILA To Punta Cana: $155
- Transfer to and from Santo Domingo.: $50
- Transfer in Tesla from SDQ Airport to Santo Domingo: $68
- Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $37
- Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $30
- Santo Domingo to La Romana transfer: $177
- Santo Domingo Airport to Uvero Alto Exclusive Transfer: $197
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Uvero Alto - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $88
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Santo Domingo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $60
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Santo Domingo - Arrival Transfer: $37
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Puerto Plata - Private Transfer: $37
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) Arrival Transfer to Punta Cana: $74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Manuel Antonio (One Way): $99
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $203
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $220
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $229
Is it cheaper to fly into Santo Domingo or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos and Santo Domingo 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 daySanto Domingo $53Quepos $51
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch$15
-
Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $81
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santo Domingo $14Quepos $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Santo Domingo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Santo Domingo are as follows:
-
Snorkeling Tour$42
Tours and Activities in Santo Domingo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santo Domingo are as follows:
- Discover Santo Domingo Gualey and Zona Colonial Private Tour: $115
- Santo Domingo A Historic Day Tour with Lunch from Punta Cana: $109
- 6 Hours Private Cultural Tour in Santo Domingo: $190
- 6-Hour Private Tour of Águilas Bay and the Bauxite Mine: $130
- Cabarete Caves & Nature Adventure: $128
- Cultural VIP Private Tour From Santo Domingo: $150
- Cumayasa Private Buggies Tour from Santo Domingo: $135
- Full Day Tour to Santo Domingo from Punta Cana with Lunch: $80
- Full Dominican Adventure: Zipline, ATV Buggie, Horseback & Safari: $266
- Full-Day Adventure Tour of Culture through Santo Domingo: $125
- Full-Day Cultural Adventure Tour of Santo Domingo from Samana: $140
- Full-Day Santo Domingo City Tour from Punta Cana: $89
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $25
- Quepos Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $26
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $27
- Manuel Antonio Park: Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $27
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $29
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour : $29
- Guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park: $29
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio with Mauro / Tickets not Included! : $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park: Guided Tour with Beach Time: $30
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySanto Domingo $7.54Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santo Domingo and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Santo Domingo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santo Domingo is in Caribbean Islands and Quepos is in Central 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 Santo Domingo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santo Domingo 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos than you might in Santo Domingo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santo Domingo Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santo Domingo or Quepos?
Santo Domingo has a larger population, and is about 280 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Santo Domingo and Quepos, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.