Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Terre-de-Haut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Terre-de-Haut or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Jaco? 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: Terre-de-Haut or Jaco?
Terre-de-Haut
Les Saintes (also known as Iles des Saintes) is a small archipelago of Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean. The islands here are best known for their tropical beauty, untouched beaches, and bayside villages. Only two of the nine are inhabited.
Terre-de-Haut of Les Saintes is the most popular island to visit. It is known for the Pain de Sucre, a small bay lined with coconut trees and an ideal location for snorkeling, in addition to white sandy beaches like the Plage de Pompierre. There is also a nineteenth-century fort which can be reached on foot for striking views of the surrounding area.
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTerre-de-Haut €140Jaco €98
The average daily cost (per person) in Terre-de-Haut is €140, while the average daily cost in Jaco is €98. 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 Terre-de-Haut and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTerre-de-Haut €68Jaco €64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTerre-de-Haut €136Jaco €128
Compare Hotels in Terre-de-Haut and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Terre-de-Haut or Jaco? 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: Terre-de-Haut Hotel Prices and Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Terre-de-Haut €44Jaco -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Terre-de-Haut
Also for Terre-de-Haut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Deshaies or Trois Riviers to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $92
- Guadeloupe to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport - Private Departure Transfer: $79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Private From Jaco to San José or Airport up to 5 passengers (one way) : $245
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $245
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $200
- Jaco or Playa Hermosa: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $173
- From Tortuga Island Boat Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $90
- Transfer FROM Jaco Beach TO SJO Airport OR RETURN (One Way): $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Terre-de-Haut or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and Terre-de-Haut 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 dayTerre-de-Haut €45Jaco €20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Terre-de-Haut
For Terre-de-Haut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Grilled Lobster and Fish Private Cooking Tour with Lunch Included: $231
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch€3.74
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner€17
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Taco Bar Dinner€8.55
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch€5.99
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Ice Cream€5.61
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Breakfast Taco Bar€3.17
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Fruit Plate€2.81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jacó: $87
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Terre-de-Haut €20Jaco €57
Tours and Activities in Terre-de-Haut
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Terre-de-Haut.
- Private Shooting Tour Around Soufrière: $106
- Sailing and Snorkeling Day Tour to Les Saintes: $133
- Small Day Cruise (Ilet caret, mangrove, coral reef: $103
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class€9.32
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Surf Lesson€47
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Bike Rental€9.32
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Tortuga Island Tour€93
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Massage€42
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle & River ATV Adventure, 2 hours / Jacó: $95
- Ocean views Zip Line Canopy Tour in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $71
- "Miro Jaco" & Jaco Beach Horseback Tour: $59
- 2 Hour ATV Jungle Adventure Jaco: $75
- 2 Hour Private Ranch Experience in Quebrada Amarilla: $120
- 2 Hours Private Guided Hiking Experience to El Miro in Jaco: $50
- 2 hour ATV Tour & Waterfalls + Chocolate Experience : $110
- 2 hour Double ATV Tour + Waterfalls in Jaco Beach : $99
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $110
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $95
- 4×4 Waterfalls and Jungle Experience: $80
- 4x4 Happy Jungle Booze Cruise: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTerre-de-Haut €44Jaco €30
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine€14
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Night at the Bar€25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Terre-de-Haut and Jaco, we can see that Terre-de-Haut is more expensive. And not only is Jaco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Terre-de-Haut is in Caribbean Islands and Jaco 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 Jaco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaco 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 Terre-de-Haut would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Terre-de-Haut than you might in Jaco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Terre-de-Haut Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Terre-de-Haut or Jaco?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Jaco in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Terre-de-Haut and Jaco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Terre-de-Haut year-round. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Jaco receives a lot of rain in the summer. Terre-de-Haut gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Terre-de-Haut usually receives less rain than Jaco. Terre-de-Haut gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Terre-de-Haut, it's very sunny this time of the year. Terre-de-Haut usually receives more sunshine than Jaco during summer. Terre-de-Haut gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Terre-de-Haut is around the same temperature as Jaco. Typically, the summer temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Jaco averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTerre-de-Haut 27°C (81°F)Jaco 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Jaco in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Terre-de-Haut as well as Jaco. Terre-de-Haut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Jaco. Terre-de-Haut receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Terre-de-Haut usually gets less rain in October than Jaco. Terre-de-Haut gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Terre-de-Haut this time of the year. In the autumn, Terre-de-Haut often gets more sunshine than Jaco. Terre-de-Haut gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 169 hours of full sun.
In October, Terre-de-Haut is generally around the same temperature as Jaco. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 27°C (80°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTerre-de-Haut 27°C (80°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Jaco in the Winter?
Both Jaco and Terre-de-Haut are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Terre-de-Haut throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than Jaco. Terre-de-Haut gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Jaco. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually receives less sunshine than Jaco during winter. Terre-de-Haut gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Jaco receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
Terre-de-Haut is cooler than Jaco in the winter. The daily temperature in Terre-de-Haut averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTerre-de-Haut 24°C (76°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Jaco in the Spring?
Both Jaco and Terre-de-Haut during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Terre-de-Haut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in April than Jaco. Terre-de-Haut gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Jaco, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Terre-de-Haut. In the spring, Terre-de-Haut often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Jaco. Terre-de-Haut gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Jaco receives 255 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Terre-de-Haut is cooler than Jaco. Typically, the spring temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Jaco averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTerre-de-Haut 26°C (78°F)Jaco 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Jaco and Terre-de-Haut
| Terre-de-Haut | Jaco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.