Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Aqaba?
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 Aqaba or Santa Elena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Santa Elena, 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: Aqaba or Santa Elena?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
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 Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Aqaba Prices
Jordan PricesSanta Elena Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $157Santa Elena $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $109. 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 Aqaba and Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Santa Elena $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba 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: Aqaba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Santa Elena $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Amman/Death Sea: 1-Way Transfer to/from Wadi Rum in Private: $266
- Sheikh Hussein Crossing Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $250
- Private Transfers To Petra: $200
- Petra by Night Tour with Private Transfer: $198
- Private Transfer: Aqaba Airport to Sheikh Hussein Border or vice versa: $193
- Private Transfer to Petra with Wi-Fi and Water: $191
- Private Petra Day Trip from Aqaba Port with Return Transfer: $190
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Allenby King Hussein Bridge: $173
- Private Car Transfer with Wadi Rum Jeep Safari: $169
- Hassle-Free Aqaba South Beach to Wadi Rum Transfer – 24/7 Service: $150
- Aqaba Border (Yitzhak Rabin Terminal) to Petra Private Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer Between Aqaba and the Dead Sea : $136
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $197
- MiniVan Departure Transfer Monteverde to San Jose Airport SJO: $215
- Monteverde to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) - Departure Transfer: $221
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $233
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to your Destination: $240
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Saint Helena Monte Verde: $210
- Shuttle Transfer from Monteverde to Tamarindo area: $65
- Transfer from Monteverde to Santa Tereza Montezuma : $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena and Aqaba 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 dayAqaba $73Santa Elena $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Sunset Cruise with BBQ Dinner and Drinks: $54
- Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
- 4h Jeep Tour + Bedouin Night (Dinner & Breakfast): $61
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $84
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $111
- Wadi Rum New Year Eve Party (Jeep Tour + Dinner + Music + Fireworks + Overnight): $112
- From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
- Wadi Rum Private Tour with Jeep Safari and Dinner: $220
- Petra & Wadi Rum Private Tour with Dinner one day: $425
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Monteverde Cooking Class: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Santa Elena $30
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discover the Depths: Aqaba's Ultimate Dive Experience: $55
- Private Lawrence of Arabia Wadi Rum Overnight Bedouin Experience from Aqaba : $248
- Wadi Rum 2-Hour Sunset Tour Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $30
- Wadi Rum 5-Hour Jeep Tour with Camel Ride and Stargazing: $120
- "Jordan: 3-Day Tour of Ancient Sites, Nature,&Local Culture": $317
- 03 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $47
- 04 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $70
- 1 Day & 1 Night | Stay & Jeep + Camel Tour in Wadi Rum | Magic Bedouin Star: $136
- 2 Days & 1 Night | Jeep & Hike Tour in Wadi Rum Desert | Magic Bedouin Star: $258
- 2 Days 1 Night in Wadi Rum Jeep Tour: $204
- 2 Days Tour | Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea From Amman.: $264
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour (Morning or Sunset) Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $30
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Admission Ticket to Las Pumas Rescue Center : $20
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $22
- Night Walk Tour in Monteverde: $24
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $24
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $25
- Monteverde Cloud Forest hanging bridges Nature Tour: $25
- Guided Butterfly Conservatory Tour in Costa Rica: $26
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $27
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $28
- Adventure Day - Outdoor Fun for Family & Friends Package: $29
- Selvatura Park: Herpetarium Tour in Monteverde: $29
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Nature Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Santa Elena $6.21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Santa Elena, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East 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 Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba 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 Aqaba Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Aqaba or Santa Elena?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Aqaba or Santa Elena in the Summer?
Both Santa Elena and Aqaba during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Aqaba because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.
Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Aqaba usually gets less rain in July than Santa Elena. Aqaba gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Aqaba. In the summer, Aqaba often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Aqaba gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.
The heat can be very extreme in Aqaba. In the summer, Aqaba is a little warmer than Santa Elena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Aqaba in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAqaba 33°C (91°F)Santa Elena 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Santa Elena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Aqaba and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Aqaba year-round. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
June to October is the hurricane season in Santa Elena. Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Aqaba, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aqaba usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. Aqaba gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Aqaba is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Aqaba average around 26°C (79°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAqaba 26°C (79°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Santa Elena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Aqaba as well as Santa Elena. Aqaba attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
Also, February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season. Aqaba usually gets less rain in January than Santa Elena. Aqaba gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Aqaba this time of the year. In the winter, Aqaba often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Aqaba gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.
Aqaba is much colder than Santa Elena in the winter. The daily temperature in Aqaba averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAqaba 14°C (57°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Santa Elena in the Spring?
Both Santa Elena and Aqaba are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Aqaba throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Santa Elena is February to May. June to October in Santa Elena is the hurricane season. In April, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Aqaba. Aqaba usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during spring. Aqaba gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Aqaba is cooler than Santa Elena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Aqaba in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAqaba 24°C (75°F)Santa Elena 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Aqaba
| Aqaba | Santa Elena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.