Which place is cheaper, La Fortuna or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
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 Nadi (Port Denarau) or La Fortuna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nadi (Port Denarau) or La Fortuna, 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: Nadi (Port Denarau) or La Fortuna?
Nadi (Port Denarau)
Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. It erupts on average 41 times a day. This area of northern Costa Rica is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.
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Nadi (Port Denarau) Prices
Fiji PricesLa Fortuna Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNadi (Port Denarau) $198La Fortuna $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $198, while the average daily cost in La Fortuna is $123. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) and La Fortuna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNadi (Port Denarau) $106La Fortuna $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNadi (Port Denarau) $212La Fortuna $102
Compare Hotels in Nadi (Port Denarau) and La Fortuna
Looking for a hotel in Nadi (Port Denarau) or La Fortuna? 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: Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices and La Fortuna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.81La Fortuna $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):
- Private Transfer-Nadi International Airport to Hotels : $6.86
- Private Car Transfer to Nadi International Airport: $8.24
- Private Departure Transfer To Nadi Airport From Your Hotel: $9.12
- Private Departure Transfer From Your Hotel To Nadi Airport (cfc approved): $9.12
- Shared Transfer from Nadi Airport Fiji to Nadi area hotels: $9.15
- Shared Shuttle Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport/ Port to Hotel: $9.15
- Private Transfer from Nadi Intl Airport to Sheraton Fiji Resort : $11
- Port Denarau Island from Your Resort (Private Transfer): $12
- Private Departure Transfer to Nadi Airport from Your Hotel: $12
- Private Transfer Nadi Airport to or from Hotel or Resort: $13
- Nadi Airport Transfer :Nadi Airport to All Nadi & Denarau Island/ Vuda Hotels: $14
- Private Transfer: Nadi Int Airport - Denarau Island Hotels: $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Fortuna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Fortuna:
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Tabacón Arenal: $39
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To La Fortuna: $40
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Arenal La Fortuna: $42
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $42
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Arenal La Fortuna San Carlos: $49
- One-Way Transfer from La Fortuna to Monteverde through Arenal Lake: $57
- From San Jose: One way shared transfer to La Fortuna: $74
- Guided Tour to Arenal Mistico Hanging Bridges with Transfer: $79
- Private Transfer from La Fortuna to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $110
- One Way Private Transfer - La Fortuna to your Selected Location: $128
- Transfer from Arenal or Fortuna to Papagayo: $170
- Private Transfer La Fortuna To Juan Santamaria Airport From 7to10: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Nadi (Port Denarau) or La Fortuna?
Prices for flights to both La Fortuna and Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 dayNadi (Port Denarau) $69La Fortuna $47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Fortuna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Fortuna.
- Farm to Table Cooking Class : $43
- Skip the Line: Mineral Hot Springs Full Day Ticket w/ Optional Lunch or Dinner: $47
- Typical Costa Rican Cooking Classes in La Fortuna: $48
- Costa Rican cuisine Cooking Class at Rancho Don Lelo: $54
- Costa Rica The Chela Cooking Experience : $55
- Costa Rican Cooking Class: $57
- Cooking Class "Cook Like a Local" La Fortuna: $63
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family: $70
- Rainforest Night Walk and Authentic Costa Rican Dinner from La Fortuna: $71
- Horseback Riding and Cooking Class with Lunch : $72
- Cooking and Salsa Dance Lesson Combo : $74
- Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nadi (Port Denarau) $32La Fortuna $44
Tours and Activities in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:
- Nadi Sightseeing Including Viseisei Lookout, Village Tour, Garden & Temple Tour: $70
- Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool Tour: $73
- Shore Excursion-Wonders of Nadi Sightseeing Tour-Temple,Gardens,Markets&Shopping: $77
- Coral Coast Sightseeing & Pottery Village Tour: $80
- Cultural Night Tour: $80
- Nadi Therapeutic Mud Pools and Garden Tour - Shore Excursions EX PORT DENARAU: $82
- Nadi Heritage Tour : $82
- Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $83
- Fiji Lautoka Shore Excursions Tour : $92
- Coral Coast Heritage Tour : $99
- Nadi Sightseeing & Mud Pool Tour - Ex Fiji Marriott, Momi Bay: $100
- Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $100
Tours and Activities in La Fortuna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Fortuna are as follows:
- La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket: $20
- Petting Zoo Interactive Farm Experience: $20
- Three hours walking tour around the deep Tropical Rain Forest: $20
- Café Experience in Bijagua : $25
- Frog Sanctuary Tour at Night : $29
- Birdwatching Tour in La Fortuna: $29
- Don Olivo Chocolate Tour: $30
- Excellent Wildlife Tour in Bijagua de Upala: $30
- Guaranteed Red eyed Tree Frog & Amphibians Tour: $30
- Guaranteed Sloth Watching Tour: $30
- Sloth and Monkey Wild Life Tour : $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNadi (Port Denarau) $11La Fortuna $11
Sample the Local Flavors in La Fortuna
Also in La Fortuna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting Experience : $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nadi (Port Denarau) and La Fortuna, we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) is more expensive. And not only is La Fortuna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nadi (Port Denarau) is in Pacific and La Fortuna 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 La Fortuna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Fortuna 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) than you might in La Fortuna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive? and Is La Fortuna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nadi (Port Denarau) or La Fortuna?
Nadi (Port Denarau) has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of La Fortuna. When comparing the sizes of Nadi (Port Denarau) and La Fortuna, 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.