Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Sosua?
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 Sosua or Santa Elena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sosua or Santa Elena? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Sosua or Santa Elena?
Sosua
Nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Sosua is a charming town renowned for its stunning beaches, rich cultural history, and vibrant nightlife. Originally a quiet fishing village, Sosua transformed during World War II when Jewish refugees settled in the area, bringing with them a unique cultural blend that still influences the town today. With its turquoise waters, lively beachfront, and diverse culinary scene, Sosua offers a mix of relaxation and adventure for all types of travelers.
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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Sosua Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSanta Elena Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySosua $288Santa Elena $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Sosua is $288, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $110. 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 Sosua and Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSosua $151Santa Elena $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSosua $302Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Sosua and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Sosua 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: Sosua Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sosua $52Santa Elena $11
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
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara : $269
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $234
- Monteverde to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) - Departure Transfer: $222
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $198
- MiniVan Departure Transfer Monteverde to San Jose Airport SJO: $175
- Transfer from Monteverde to Santa Tereza Montezuma : $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Sosua or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena and Sosua 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 daySosua $100Santa Elena $41
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sosua $43Santa Elena $30
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: $35
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $40
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $30
- 3 hours of the Longest and Highest Extreme Zip line Experience in Monteverde: $95
- 5-Hour Birdwatching and Photography Tour in Monteverde: $120
- Adventure Day - Outdoor Fun for Family & Friends Package: $29
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course : $69
- Arenal Volcano Jungle Night Tour: $45
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $44
- Birding tour Curi cancha : $75
- Birdwatching Tour in Monteverde : $85
- Birdwatching tour at the Cloud Forest -Monteverde Wild-: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySosua $18Santa Elena $6.24
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sosua and Santa Elena, we can see that Sosua is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sosua is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Sosua would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sosua than you might in Santa Elena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sosua 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.