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

Should you visit Skopje or Tamarindo?

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

Should I visit Skopje or Tamarindo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Skopje or Tamarindo?

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 Adventure Tours to Macedonia, The Best Budget Tours to Macedonia, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Skopje?

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 Skopje is $76, 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 Skopje and Tamarindo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Skopje $55
    Tamarindo $50
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Skopje $110
    Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Skopje and Tamarindo

Looking for a hotel in Skopje 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 Skopje


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: Skopje Hotel Prices and Tamarindo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Skopje $5.46
    Tamarindo $69

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:

  • Airport Transfer from Intl. Liberia (LIR) to Tamarindo- Flamingo : $170
  • Airport Transfer from Liberia Airport to Andaz Papagayo Hyatt (Round Trip): $180
  • Costa Rica Private LIR Airport Departure transfer : $6.00
  • Flamingo/Tamarindo to Liberia Airport(LIR)- Departure Transfer: $123
  • Guanacaste Airport transfer to Jw Marriott Guanacaste: $130
  • JW Marriott/Riu Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Transfer: $105
  • Liberia Airport Private Transfer To Gulf of Papagayo Costa Rica: $125
  • Liberia Airport Private Transfer to Best Western Tamarindo: $100
  • Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $95
  • Monteverde: Transfer to Tamarindo: $100
  • Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $107
  • Private Round Trip Transfer: From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $280

Is it cheaper to fly into Skopje or Tamarindo?

Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Skopje 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
    Skopje $12
    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.
    Skopje -
    Tamarindo $17

Tours and Activities in Skopje

Here are a few actual costs in Skopje for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Skopje Classic one-day tour from Sofia: $135
  • Skopje Day Trip from Sofia – Small Group Tour: $141
  • 2 days tour from Sofia to North Macedonia: $304
  • From Sofia: Kosovo and North Macedonia 2-Day Tour: $393

Tours and Activities in Tamarindo

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

  • 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $30
  • 1,5 Hours Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $40
  • Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $45
  • Turtle Nesting Tour Playa Grande CR: $45
  • Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
  • Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour: $47
  • Horseback Riding - 2h Guided Tour: $48
  • Tamarindo Birdwatching Crocodiles and Monkey Tour: $50
  • Rain Forest Canopy Tour from Zipline, Hanging Bridge: $55
  • Morning Moka -Tamarindo's Morning Coffee Tour: $62
  • Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
  • Turtle Nesting Tour: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Skopje -
    Tamarindo $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo

Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Brunch and Bubbles - Tamarindo's Sparkling Wine Tour and Ride: $99


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

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