Which place is cheaper, Cali or Liberia?
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 Liberia or Cali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Liberia and Cali. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Liberia or Cali?
Liberia
Liberia is a town in northwestern Costa Rica. It is the capital of the Guanacaste province, which is about 140 miles away from Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The town has a population of about 56,000 and is one of the tourism centers of the country.
Cali
Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia.
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Liberia Prices
Costa Rica PricesCali Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLiberia $128Cali $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Liberia is $128, while the average daily cost in Cali is $31. 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 Liberia and Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLiberia $60Cali $6.02
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLiberia $120Cali $12
Compare Hotels in Liberia and Cali
Looking for a hotel in Liberia or Cali? 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: Liberia Hotel Prices and Cali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Liberia $43Cali $5.62
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Bike Rental$25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:
- Transfer from Playas del Coco to Liberia Airport (LIR): $90
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Palace Hotel in Guanacaste: $90
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Guanacaste Hotel in Guanacaste: $85
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Rio Perdido Resort: $210
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playas del Coco Guanacaste: $85
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Hermosa Guanacaste: $85
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort: $91
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa: $148
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Dreams Las Mareas Hotel: $149
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Andaz Papagayo Resort: $115
- Transfer from Dreams Las Mareas Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR): $148
- Transfer Liberia Airport to Planet Hollywood or Andaz Papagayo, ROUND TRIP.: $149
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport : $20
- Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airpot One Way Transfer: $20
- Airport Transfers to Cali Hotels: $28
- Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $34
- Transfer Airport Private- Hotels North: $36
- Alfonso Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Transfer from Hotel Zone to Cali Airport: $39
- Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $46
- Departure Private Transfer from Cali City to Cali Airport CLO by Minivan: $71
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $71
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by MiniSuv: $93
- Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Liberia or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali and Liberia 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 dayLiberia $36Cali $15
Typical Food Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Snacks$1.97
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Lunch at The Shack (for 1)$4.94
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Lunch$11
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Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)$14
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Ginger Ale$1.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour: $23
- Street Food Tour: $29
- Cali tastes good! Authentic street food tour through the salsa capital: $53
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Traditional Colombian Meal Cooking Class: $67
- Street Food Tour - Live A Unique Gastronomic Experience: $67
- Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $73
- Food Tour San Antonio: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Liberia $25Cali $11
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- Birdwatching Experience private tour : $300
- 2 Hour ATV Experience From Guanacaste: $189
- 2 Hour ATV Private Tour in Costa Rica: $81
- 2 Hour Coffee & Chocolate Tour in Playas del Coco: $40
- 3 Hour ATV Adventure Tour in El Jobo: $140
- 3 In 1 Volcano Hot Springs & Mud Baths And River Floating Tour: $235
- 4-Hour Private Guided ATV Tour in Costa Rica: $122
- 5 Tours in 1 – The Ultimate Volcano Adventure!: $159
- 7 Hour Private Tour in Palo Verde National Park with Pickup: $120
- 8 Essential Guanacaste Experiences: culture, nature & wellness : $78
- ATV Beach Tour: $125
- ATV Tour 2hrs - Dreams Las Mareas: $135
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali: $10
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $10
- Shared Tour Cali's Local Food at Alameda Market: $12
- Shared Tour Cali's Historical Downtown: $12
- Shared Tour Cali's Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance Experience: $12
- Chiva Private Cultural Tour with Audio Guide in Buga: $15
- Cali Zoo Access Ticket: $15
- Cultural and heritage Cali tour: $15
- Ceramic Workshop for Tourists: $18
- Tour in Cali : Culture, Tropical Fruits and Sauce: $23
- Walking tour of the historic center: $25
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia : $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLiberia $13Cali $8.48
Sample the Local Flavors in Cali
Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $25
- Craft Beer Pub Crawl in Cali: $40
- Salsa Pub Crawl in Cali: $45
- Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Liberia and Cali, we can see that Liberia is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Liberia is in Central America and Cali is in South 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 Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Liberia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Liberia than you might in Cali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Liberia Expensive? and Is Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Liberia or Cali?
Cali has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Liberia. When comparing the sizes of Liberia and Cali, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.