A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cordoba vs. Tamarindo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cordoba or Tamarindo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cordoba or Tamarindo, 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: Cordoba or Tamarindo?

Cordoba

Cordoba is the capital of the Cordoba province and the second largest city in all of Argentina. The city is in a beautiful setting surrounded by valleys and hills. Within the city you will find many colonial buildings and beautiful architecture. Cordoba also has many universities and scientific institutes, giving it the nickname "La Docta." Because of the large number of students, Cordoba's population is young and active, which keeps the atmosphere light and fun.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Cordoba?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cordoba is $61, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $144. 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 Cordoba and Tamarindo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cordoba $49
    Tamarindo $50
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cordoba $98
    Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Cordoba and Tamarindo

Looking for a hotel in Cordoba or Tamarindo? 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.

Hotels in Cordoba


Hotels in Tamarindo


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: Cordoba Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cordoba $2.86
    Tamarindo $69

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:

  • Private Round Trip Transfer: From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $280
  • Round Trip Shuttle Transfer From Liberia Airport To Four Seasons Papagayo: $265
  • Round Trip Transfer From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $250
  • Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $235
  • Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $235
  • Transfer From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $225
  • Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $205
  • Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $205
  • Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Andaz Papagayo Resort: $201
  • Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Westin Resort Costa Rica: $185
  • Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Margaritaville Costa Rica: $185
  • Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Tamarindo, Guanacaste: $185

Is it cheaper to fly into Cordoba or Tamarindo?

Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Cordoba 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cordoba $6.62
    Tamarindo $56

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cordoba $17
    Tamarindo $17

Tours and Activities in Tamarindo

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:

  • ATV Tour Top Adventure Through beaches & Towns: $96
  • ATV adventure from Riu, Secrets and papagayo: $90
  • Buggy - Side by Side Family Tour : $275
  • Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park: $199
  • 1 Full Private Tour to Arenal Volcano + Baldi Hot Springs: $183
  • 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $30
  • 2 Hours ATV Off Road Tour in Guanacaste Costa Rica: $100
  • 2 Hours Private Jet Ski Tour in Brasilito Flamingo or Conchal: $270
  • 2 Hours Pura Vida ATV Adventure from Tamarindo to Playa Conchal: $180
  • 2-Hour Guided Tour by ATV near Playa Conchal: $130
  • 2h ATV Beach & Dirt Trails Adventure Tour: $130
  • 3 Hour ATV Secluded Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo, Conchal & Grande: $125

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cordoba $6.96
    Tamarindo $14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cordoba and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Cordoba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cordoba is in South America and Tamarindo 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 Cordoba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cordoba 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 Cordoba.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cordoba Expensive? and Is Tamarindo Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Cordoba or Tamarindo?

Cordoba has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tamarindo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Cordoba or Tamarindo in the Summer?

Both Tamarindo and Cordoba during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round.

In the summer, Cordoba is much colder than Tamarindo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cordoba in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Cordoba. In the summer, Cordoba often gets more sunshine than Tamarindoin July. Cordoba gets 277 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun.

Tamarindo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cordoba usually gets less rain in January than Tamarindoin July. Cordoba gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Cordoba 10°C (50°F) 
    Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Cordoba or Tamarindo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cordoba and Tamarindo. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Cordoba is generally much colder than Tamarindoin October. Daily temperatures in Cordoba average around 16°C (61°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Cordoba usually receives more sunshine than Tamarindo during autumn. Cordoba gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Tamarindo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Cordoba usually receives less rain than Tamarindoin October. Cordoba gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to May in Tamarindo is the dry season. June to November is the hurricane season in Tamarindo.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Cordoba 16°C (61°F) 
    Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Cordoba or Tamarindo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cordoba as well as Tamarindo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.

Cordoba is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the winter. The daily temperature in Cordoba averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. In the winter, Cordoba often gets less sunshine than Tamarindoin January. Cordoba gets 189 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun.

Cordoba usually gets more rain in July than Tamarindoin January. Cordoba gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Cordoba 27°C (81°F) 
    Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Cordoba or Tamarindo in the Spring?

Both Tamarindo and Cordoba are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Cordoba is much colder than Tamarindo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cordoba in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 29°C (85°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Tamarindo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cordoba. Cordoba usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo during spring. Cordoba gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Cordoba usually receives more rain than Tamarindoin April. Cordoba gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Tamarindo is December to May. June to November in Tamarindo is the hurricane season.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Cordoba 19°C (66°F) 
    Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)

Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Cordoba

Cordoba Tamarindo
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (50°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 8 mm (0.3 in)
Feb 11°C (52°F) 50 mm (2 in) 28°C (83°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 14°C (57°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 29°C (84°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Apr 16°C (61°F) 50 mm (2 in) 29°C (85°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
May 19°C (66°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 29°C (83°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jun 24°C (75°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 26°C (79°F) 289 mm (11.4 in)
Sep 25°C (77°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 328 mm (12.9 in)
Oct 19°C (66°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 254 mm (10 in)
Nov 14°C (57°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Dec 11°C (52°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)