Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Tamarindo?
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 Tamarindo or Roatan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tamarindo or Roatan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Tamarindo or Roatan?
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Tamarindo Prices
Costa Rica PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTamarindo $144Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Tamarindo is $144, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Tamarindo and Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTamarindo $50Roatan $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTamarindo $100Roatan $22
Compare Hotels in Tamarindo and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Tamarindo or Roatan? 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: Tamarindo Hotel Prices and Roatan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tamarindo $69Roatan $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Costa Rica Private LIR Airport Departure transfer : $6.00
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Secret Papagayo: $13
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Hotel Riu Guanacaste: $15
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Riu Guanacaste: $16
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Hotel Mar Rey Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Pastiempo Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Palapa in Tamarindo: $21
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Selina Tamarindo: $21
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Mar Rey Tamarindo: $22
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport To Hotel Pas Tiempo Tamarindo: $22
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Hotel Luna Llena: $22
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Westin Conchal: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$4.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Tamarindo or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan and Tamarindo 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 dayTamarindo $56Roatan $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Tamarindo : Traditional Cooking Class: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tamarindo $17Roatan $26
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $30
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $45
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour: $47
- Tamarindo Surf & Tours : Surf Lesson For All Levels: $50
- Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour with Naturalist Guide: $50
- Morning Moka -Tamarindo's Morning Coffee Tour: $62
- Tamarindo Estuary: Kayak Monkey Tour: $65
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
- Zipline Canopy Tour from Guanacaste: $70
- Turtle Watching Tour: $70
- Tamarindo River Boat Tour: $75
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Monkeys and sloths, private tour , and beach: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTamarindo $14Roatan $6.64
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl Experience: $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tamarindo and Roatan, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo than you might in Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tamarindo Expensive? and Is Roatan 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.