Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and San Jose can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or San Jose?
Abu Dhabi
It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.
Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.
Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.
San Jose
San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica and is likely to be your first and last stop in a visit to the country. The city is situated in the Central Valley and is surrounded by beautiful mountains and valleys, making for a beautiful flight in. The city has an elevation of 1200 meters and sits on a plateau with a beautiful backdrop of lush green forest. Half of the people in Costa Rica reside in the country's capital city. You are likely to stay only a day or two, but there are a handful of things to do and see including museums and markets. You will also find many embassies, as well as the University of Costa Rica in San Jose.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164San Jose $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $87. 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 Abu Dhabi and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98San Jose $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196San Jose $94
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or San Jose? 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: Abu Dhabi Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20San Jose $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
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Car Rental$31
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Taxi to Airport$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
- Yas Waterworld General Admission with Transfers: $123
- Warner Bros World and Ferrari World Combo Ticket with transfer from Dubai: $204
- Warner Bro's with Private Transfers from Dubai: $279
- Visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi From Dubai Included Transfer and Tickets: $235
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi HTL-APT(AUH): $52
- Transfer in private vehicle from Abu Dhabi City - Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $42
- Snow Park Abudhabi Premium Tickets with Optional Transfers: $120
- Snow Abu Dhabi Tour with Optional Private Transfers: $110
- Ski Abu Dhabi with Optional Transfers: $100
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque-Entry to the Masterpiece with Transfer: $110
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) - Abu Dhabi City: $83
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Jose
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Jose are as follows:
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Taxi from SJO$24
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Local Bus$2.62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $33
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $35
- Costa Rica SJO Airport TO or FROM Hotels nearby Private Transfer: $39
- Private One-way Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport to San Jose: $42
- Private One-way Transfer from San Jose to Juan Santamaria Airport: $42
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Private San José Airport Transfer to San José Hotels : $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose City to Puntarenas Cruise Port: $52
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Private transfer from SJO Intl Airport to downtown Hotels: $65
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Abu Dhabi 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 dayAbu Dhabi $45San Jose $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Dhow cruise with Buffet dinner & Burj Khalifa view in Canal: $24
- Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment: $37
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $45
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari BBQ Dinner Live Shows Pick & Drop More: $59
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows and BBQ Dinner: $60
- Desert Safari In Abu Dhabi With BBQ Dinner: $63
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $65
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner : $65
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and all Camp Activities : $72
- Desert Safari Abu Dhabi w/ Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $75
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars: $77
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari (Dune Bashing, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride & Sand Skii): $80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Jose
For San Jose, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bites and Sights: Walking Food Tour in San Jose, Costa Rica: $26
- San Jose City Tour Cooking Classes and Markets local food: $49
- San Jose By Night Tour: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $59
- San Jose Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour and visit Gold Museum : $60
- Explore San Jose By Night: Food and Culture Tour with Local Dinner: $70
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $76
- Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $99
- Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $108
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39San Jose $20
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Abu Dhabi Louvre Museum Entrance Ticket: $41
- Admission Ticket To Qasr Al Hosn Abu Dhabi: $20
- Ferrari World Entrance ticket : $95
- Full Day Abu Dhabi City & Louvre Museum Tour: $90
- Full Day Ferrari World Ticket with Optional Transport From Dubai: $95
- Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi Ticket: $26
- Private Full-Day Tour in Abu Dhabi: $279
- Ticket to Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi: $19
- 1 Day 2 Yas Island Park Tickets Combo: $130
- 17 Minutes Helicopter Tour in Abu Dhabi: $245
- 2 Days 2 Park- Ferrari World +Yas Waterworld Or Warner Bros World Combo Tickets: $155
- 8 Hour Ticket/Pass For Yas Water World In Dubai.: $103
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Entrance Ticket to the Farm of Hacienda Orosi: $11
- Entrance ticket to the Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- San Jose Historical Walking Tour with a Guide: $34
- San Jose : Private Custom Guided Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $34
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- San Jose City Tour and central Market with local food : $35
- Corso Lecheria Tour: $40
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13San Jose $16
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $37
- Wine Tour and Tasting: $85
- Bar Crawl in San Jose in a Deluxe Party Bus: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and San Jose, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and San Jose 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 San Jose would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Jose 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 Abu Dhabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Abu Dhabi than you might in San Jose.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Abu Dhabi Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or San Jose?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 80% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and San Jose, 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.
When is the best time to visit Abu Dhabi or San Jose?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Abu Dhabi during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Abu Dhabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's very hot in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 35°C (95°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in San Jose is the dry season. May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season. San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than San Jose. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Abu Dhabi is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Abu Dhabi in October average around 29°C (84°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as San Jose. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Abu Dhabi usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. In the winter, Abu Dhabi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
In January, Abu Dhabi is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 18°C (64°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Abu Dhabi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Abu Dhabi throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in San Jose is December to April. The hurricane season in San Jose is May to November. In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than San Jose. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during spring. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Abu Dhabi is around the same temperature as San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
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.