Which place is cheaper, Quepos or Setubal?
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 Setubal 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 Setubal and Quepos can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Setubal or Quepos?
Setubal
Setubal is a busy working port and major commercial fishing center. Setubal is a city that has always had a close connection to the seas, and this is celebrated along the newly rejuvenated waterfront, which encompasses the colorful fishing harbor, the popular urban park and the Troia Peninsula ferry terminal. Within the charming historic center is a maze of narrow alleys, hidden plazas, and family-owned shops, along with Portugal's largest fish market. Setubal is primarily an industrial city, but is situated in a region of immense beauty; to the east is the stunning Serra da Arrabida, to the north is historic Palmela, while to the south are the paradise beaches of the Troia Peninsula. Setubal may not be a conventional holiday destination, but there is a surprising amount to see and do within the city and the surrounding region.
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 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Setubal Prices
Portugal PricesQuepos Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySetubal €149Quepos €132
The average daily cost (per person) in Setubal is €149, while the average daily cost in Quepos is €132. 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 Setubal and Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSetubal €59Quepos €73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSetubal €118Quepos €146
Compare Hotels in Setubal and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Setubal 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: Setubal Hotel Prices and Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Setubal €54Quepos €9.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Setubal
Also for Setubal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer: Grândola > Lisbon: $282
- Transfer From Évora to Lisbon: $148
- Sesimbra Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $56
- Serra da Arrabida Natural Park E Bike Tour with Transfers: $189
- Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach Taxi Boat Transfer Round Trip: $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: Manuel Antonio Beach: $300
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $295
- Private transfer from Manuel Antonio Quepos to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $269
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to Liberia City Hotels: $257
- Private Airport Transfer to Manuel Antonio: $250
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to or from Manuel Antonio Quepos: $235
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to the Sierpe: $213
- Private Transfer FROM or TO Manuel Antonio - Sierpe: $209
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Arenal La Fortuna: $195
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $110
- Puntarenas city to Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO)-Departure Private Transfer: $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Setubal or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos and Setubal 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 daySetubal €60Quepos €48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Setubal
For Setubal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Evora Cooking Class & Wine Pairings in Fatima’s Home: $220
- Lisbon Getaway: Private Arrábida Wine & Food Tour: $237
- Authentic Evora Cooking Class with Wine in Chef Sofia’s Garden: $279
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch€14
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)€19
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 and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Setubal €12Quepos €16
Tours and Activities in Setubal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Setubal.
- Évora Private Food and Wine Walking Tour in the UNESCO Old Town: $189
- Évora Private Walking Tour and Traditional Food Tasting: $183
- Évora Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.53
- Évora Walking Tour: Small Group Tour with Chapel of Bones Tickets: $58
- Évora or Montemor-o-Novo: Guided Tour to Escoural Caves: $30
- Évora: Monsaraz Private Walking Tour with Driver and Guide: $266
- Évora: Private walking tour with tickets to main monuments: $103
- Évora: Private walking tour, By Local Guide: $73
- Adventure Circuit + Via Ferrata, Arrábida, Setúbal, near Lisbon: $65
- Arrabida Adventure Circuit: $77
- Arrabida Adventure Coasteering Try Dive or Via Ferrata: $142
- Boat Tour with Lunch in the Heart of Arrábida - Sesimbra: $142
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Hour Kayak Tour in Quepos: $85
- 2-Hour Kayak Tour in Quepos Mangroves – See Monkeys & Sloths: $65
- Adventure to Natural Wonders on the Pacific Coast: $130
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $86
- All Inclusive Zip line & Catamaran Eco Adventure: $170
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
- All-Inclusive Jungle Night Tour: $59
- Barista Experience Workshop: $120
- Barista Experience Workshop: $120
- Barista Experience Workshop: $120
- Birding at El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Private Birding Tour: $120
- Birdwatching Manuel Antonio/ El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Group Tour: $129
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySetubal €10Quepos €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Setubal
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Setubal:
- Private Half Day Arrabida Tour with Wine Tasting in Sesimbra: $145
- Half Day Wine Tour Around Evora: $154
When comparing the travel costs between Setubal and Quepos, we can see that Setubal 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 Setubal is in Europe and Quepos 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 Setubal Expensive? and Is Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Setubal or Quepos?
Setubal has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Setubal 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.
When is the best time to visit Setubal or Quepos?
Setubal has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Setubal or Quepos in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Setubal and Quepos. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Setubal is generally cooler than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Setubal average around 23°C (73°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Setubal, it's very sunny this time of the year. Setubal usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during summer. Setubal gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
Quepos receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Setubal usually receives less rain than Quepos. Setubal gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySetubal 23°C (73°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Setubal or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Setubal as well as Quepos. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Setubal is cooler than Quepos in the autumn. The daily temperature in Setubal averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Setubal this time of the year. In the autumn, Setubal often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Setubal gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. Setubal usually gets less rain in October than Quepos. Setubal gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in Quepos is the dry season. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in Quepos.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSetubal 19°C (66°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Setubal or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos and Setubal are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Setubal is much colder than Quepos. Typically, the winter temperatures in Setubal in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Quepos. Setubal usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during winter. Setubal gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Setubal. In January, Setubal usually receives more rain than Quepos. Setubal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySetubal 12°C (53°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Setubal or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos and Setubal during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
In April, Setubal is generally much colder than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Setubal average around 16°C (60°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
In Quepos, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Setubal. In the spring, Setubal often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Setubal gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun.
Setubal usually gets more rain in April than Quepos. Setubal gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in Quepos. Also, May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSetubal 16°C (60°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Setubal
| Setubal | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.