A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Liberia vs. Rosario for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Liberia or Rosario?

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 Rosario. 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 Rosario?

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.

Rosario

Rosario is the third largest city in Argentina. Located at the Parana river and known for its rich architectural heritage and beautiful riverside scenery, Rosario is the birthplace of the Argentinian flag as well as two of the nation's most famous icons, Che Guevara and Lionel Messi. Rosario is still an important river port but has done a great job of regenerating its center, which now has a vibrant cultural and night life. The abandoned buildings of the long riverbank have been converted into galleries, restaurants, skateparks and river beaches, which buzz with life in summer. Dynamic and confident without being showy, culturally rich and the best urban location to cool off in the boiling summers, Rosario is easily overlooked but not to be missed.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Argentina, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Rosario or Liberia?

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 Liberia is $128, while the average daily cost in Rosario is $62. 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 Rosario in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Liberia $60
    Rosario $47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Liberia $120
    Rosario $94
Compare Hotels in Liberia and Rosario

Looking for a hotel in Liberia or Rosario? 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 Liberia


Hotels in Rosario


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 Rosario Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Liberia $43
    Rosario $3.14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:


  • Bike Rental
    $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:

  • Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Dreams Las Mareas Hotel: $295
  • Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Dreams Las Mareas: $285
  • Private Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Monteverde / Jaco: $268
  • Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa: $265
  • Private Transfer from Liberia Int Airport (LIR) to Quepos Port: $258
  • Private Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Arenal / La Fortuna : $253
  • Private Transfer Int. Airport Liberia To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
  • Private Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Samara: $232
  • Private Transfer from Liberia Int Airport LIR to La Fortuna area: $220
  • Liberia Airport to Hotels Round Trip Private Transfers: $220
  • Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Grande Round-Trip Private Transfer: $214
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Rio Perdido Resort: $210

Is it cheaper to fly into Liberia or Rosario?

Prices for flights to both Rosario 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Liberia $36
    Rosario $6.59
Typical Food Prices in Liberia

Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:


  • Snacks
    $1.97
  • Lunch at The Shack (for 1)
    $4.94
  • Lunch
    $11
  • Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)
    $14
  • Ginger Ale
    $1.28

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Liberia $25
    Rosario $27

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 Rosario

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rosario.

  • Newell's Old Boys Football Match and Messi Tour: $120

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Liberia $13
    Rosario $7.54


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

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


Which is Bigger, Liberia or Rosario?

Rosario has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Liberia. When comparing the sizes of Liberia and Rosario, 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.