Travel budget and cost of living in Tamarindo (Costa Rica) how much does a trip cost?

Tamarindo travel budget

Tamarindo: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Tamarindo

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Tamarindo for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Tamarindo compared to Costa Rica in 2021

On average, the cost of living in Tamarindo in 2021 is 13% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Tamarindo in 2021 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Tamarindo by expense type

Restaurant budget in Tamarindo

Lunch

$ 7.5/person
($ 3.8 to $ 9.4)

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49% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

3 course dinner

$ 20/person
($ 8 to $ 29)

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34% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 29

McDonald's meal

$ 7.5/person
($ 5.6 to $ 9.4)

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4% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.9

Local beer

$ 2.5 for 500ml
($ 1.3 to $ 3.8)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Imported beer

$ 3 for 330ml
($ 1.4 to $ 3.8)

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9% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8

Cappuccino

$ 2.9/cup
($ 1.2 to $ 3.8)

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32% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.2

Fizzy drink

$ 1.7/can
($ 0.7 to $ 2.5)

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10% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Water bottle

$ 1.7/bottle
($ 1 to $ 2.3)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.5

Hotel and accommodation budget in Tamarindo

1-star hotel

$ 71/night
($ 71 to $ 71)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 109

2-star hotel

$ 67/night
($ 45 to $ 90)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

3-star hotel

$ 132/night
($ 83 to $ 201)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 180

4-star hotel

$ 296/night
($ 228 to $ 380)

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13% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 262

5-star hotel

$ 1119/night
($ 929 to $ 1326)

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120% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 510

Hotel/Youth Hostel

$ 54/month
($ 34 to $ 79)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 122

Room with kitchen

$ 182/month
($ 85 to $ 337)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 149/month
($ 82 to $ 238)

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10% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165

Cottage or guest house

$ 130/month
($ 79 to $ 218)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223

Family room

$ 234/month
($ 133 to $ 407)

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34% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175

Supermarket food budget in Tamarindo

Milk

$ 1.4/litre
($ 1 to $ 1.9)

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66% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.8

Bread

$ 1.6/500g
($ 1 to $ 2.6)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Rice

$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 2.9)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Eggs

$ 3.1/12 eggs
($ 1.7 to $ 4.5)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Cheese

$ 5.6/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 6.6)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Chicken

$ 6.1/kg
($ 4.3 to $ 7.6)

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32% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.9

Apples

$ 3.8/kg
($ 3.8 to $ 7.5)

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15% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5

Oranges

$ 2.3/kg
($ 1 to $ 2.9)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Tomatoes

$ 1.7/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2.3)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.2

Potatoes

$ 1.8/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 2.5)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Salad

$ 1/salad
($ 0.5 to $ 1.2)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6

Water bottle

$ 1.9
($ 1.9 to $ 3.8)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Joint of beef

$ 8/kg
($ 5.5 to $ 8.5)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Public and private transport budget in Tamarindo

Bus ticket

$ 1.9/ticket
( $ 1.9)

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15% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Bus pass

$ 55/month
( $ 55)

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19% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 69

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.2/km
($ 0.7 to $ 1.3)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6

Petrol

$ 1.2/litre
($ 1 to $ 1.3)

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86% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.7

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.2
($ 1.2 to $ 1.3)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2

Car hire

$ 28/24hrs
($ 12 to $ 82)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40

Budget for living and housing in Tamarindo

Electricity, water...

$ 87/month
($ 29 to $ 132)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 162

Mobile phone

$ 0.1/min.
($ 0 to $ 0.1)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.1

Broadband internet

$ 67/month
($ 29 to $ 77)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 66

Studio flat (city centre)

$ 505/month
($ 161 to $ 849)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1326

Studio flat (suburbs)

$ 566/month
( $ 566)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1069

Flat (centre)

$ 1884/month
( $ 1884)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2127

Flat (suburbs)

$ 1036/month
( $ 1036)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1701

Gym

$ 52/month
( $ 52)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

Private nursery

$ 396/month
($ 95 to $ 566)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 924

Private primary school

$ 7157/yr
($ 1922 to $ 11299)

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54% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15587

Leisure activity budget in Tamarindo

Cinema

$ 6.6/ticket
($ 3.8 to $ 7.5)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Tennis

$ 18/hr
( $ 18)

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14% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Tamarindo

Cigarettes

$ 3.8/pack
($ 3.8 to $ 4.7)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.9

Levi's jeans

$ 58
($ 35 to $ 85)

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28% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 45

Summer dress

$ 53
($ 29 to $ 71)

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45% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 36

Trainers

$ 112
($ 77 to $ 170)

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48% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 76

Leather shoes

$ 95
($ 58 to $ 152)

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1% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 95

Plane ticket budget

London → San Jose

$ 790
(fair price: $ 634)

New York City → San Jose

$ 431
(fair price: $ 331)

Los Angeles → San Jose

$ 465
(fair price: $ 382)

Toronto (Ontario) → San Jose

$ 514
(fair price: $ 441)

Montreal → San Jose

$ 542
(fair price: $ 456)

Manchester → San Jose

$ 897
(fair price: $ 777)

Dublin → San Jose

$ 944
(fair price: $ 858)

Edinburgh → San Jose

$ 938
(fair price: $ 829)

Sydney → San Jose

$ 1602
(fair price: $ 1413)

Auckland → San Jose

$ 1820
(fair price: $ 1571)

Melbourne → San Jose

$ 1777
(fair price: $ 1562)