Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena 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.
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Should you visit Santo Domingo or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santo Domingo or Santa Elena?
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.
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%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Santo Domingo Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSanta Elena Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanto Domingo $105Santa Elena $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Santo Domingo is $105, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $122. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanto Domingo $42Santa Elena $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanto Domingo $84Santa Elena $122
Compare Hotels in Santo Domingo and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Santo Domingo or Santa Elena? 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 Santa Elena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santo Domingo $4.85Santa Elena $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santo Domingo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santo Domingo:
- Private Transfer Santo Domingo SDQ to Samana/Miches/Terrenas: $299
- Bahía de las Águilas w/ Private Transfer: $250
- Private transfer From Las Americas Airport (SDQ) To Samana: $250
- Private transfer Santo Domingo Airport to, Sosua, Cabarete,: $240
- Transfer from the Americas Inter. Airport to Punta Cana: $235
- Private transfer from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana & Viceversa (one way): $235
- Private Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) Transfers To Pedernales & Barahona Hotels: $225
- Santo Domingo Private Transfer to Samaná and Las Terrenas: $218
- Santo Domingo Airport Transfer to your Hotel in Punta Cana: $200
- Santo Domingo Airport to Uvero Alto Exclusive Transfer: $197
- Transfer from Santo Domingo SDQ /JBQ Airport to Punta Cana Hotels: $192
- Private Arrival Transfer: Santo Domingo International Airport to Hotels (1 - 4): $184
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal: $30
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Saint Helena Monte Verde: $45
- MiniVan Departure Transfer Monteverde to San Jose Airport SJO: $213
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $232
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to your Destination: $260
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
Is it cheaper to fly into Santo Domingo or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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
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Food Meals for one daySanto Domingo $57Santa Elena $46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santo Domingo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santo Domingo.
- Cooking Class in Santo Domingo:6 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $42
- Food Tour & Paradise Beach Day with Drinks: $140
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santo Domingo $15Santa Elena $33
Typical Entertainment Prices in Santo Domingo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Santo Domingo are as follows:
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Snorkeling Tour$44
Tours and Activities in Santo Domingo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santo Domingo are as follows:
- 6 Hours Private Cultural Tour in Santo Domingo: $190
- Cabarete Caves & Nature Adventure: $128
- Cacao trail and making of chocolate tour from Santo Domingo: $190
- Dominican Food, Rum, and Beer Tasting Experience: $35
- Experience the Three Eyes Park and Columbus Lighthouse: $45
- From Catalina Island Day Tour: $85
- From Full day Historical Tour with Lunch: $75
- Full-Day Cultural Adventure Tour of Santo Domingo from Samana: $140
- Guided Full-Day Santo Domingo Tour with pickup from Punta Cana: $99
- Half Day Comatillo Off-Road Experience: $135
- Hiking and Hidden River Tour in Santo Domingo: $110
- Hiking the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua Tour from Santo Domingo: $150
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Monteverde Nocturnal Adventure: $25
- High Ropes Course & Adventure Park Day Pass: $25
- Wildlife Refuge Monteverde Night Walking Tour: $26
- Monteverde Night Tour Unique Experience: $29
- Guided Butterfly Conservatory Tour in Costa Rica: $30
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Tour with Expert Naturalist: $30
- Monteverde Cloud Forest / Wildlife Tour / Local Naturalist: $30
- Night Adventures in Monteverde: $32
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $32
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Night Wildlife Experience: $33
- Monteverde Cloud Forest | Guided Tour of Flora & Fauna: $35
- Three Wattled Bellbird Tour In Monteverde: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanto Domingo $7.98Santa Elena $6.92
When comparing the travel costs between Santo Domingo and Santa Elena, 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 Santo Domingo is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Elena is in Central 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 Santo Domingo Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.
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.