Quepos vs Atenas
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Quepos leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Atenas where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Atenas's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Quepos | Atenas |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 62 | 70 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 56 | 56 |
| Climate | 83 | 100 |
| Safety | 51 | 58 |
| Summer °C | 27.4 | 23.2 |
| Winter °C | 25.0 | 21.3 |
| Top disaster risk | storms (hurricane/cyclone) | earthquake |
Quepos vs Atenas: the short answer
Atenas comes out ahead on overall livability (70/100), clearly above Quepos (62/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Atenas is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Quepos 56 vs Atenas 56, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Quepos runs warmer in summer (about 27.4°C peak vs 23.2°C in Atenas), while winter lows sit near 25.0°C in Quepos and 21.3°C in Atenas. On natural-disaster exposure Atenas is the safer choice (safety 58/100); the dominant modelled hazard is storms (hurricane/cyclone) for Quepos and earthquake for Atenas.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Atenas — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Quepos — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Atenas — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Atenas — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Quepos or Atenas better to live in?
Atenas scores higher overall — 70 vs 62 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Quepos or Atenas?
Atenas has the lower cost of living (cost index 56 vs 56; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Quepos or Atenas?
Quepos — summer highs reach about 27.4°C versus 23.2°C in Atenas.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Quepos or Atenas?
Atenas (disaster-safety 58/100). Main hazard: storms (hurricane/cyclone) in Quepos, earthquake in Atenas.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Quepos?
storms (hurricane/cyclone) is the dominant modelled hazard for Quepos on our risk index.
How is the Quepos vs Atenas comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.