A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Agra vs. San Jose for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Agra or San Jose?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Agra or San Jose, 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: Agra or San Jose?

Agra

In the north of India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh is the city of Agra. This land is home to great tales of emperors and majestic temples. It is the home to a magnificent past and the greatest symbol of love known to man, the Taj Mahal.

While this incredible structure is the main draw to this area, there is much more to see. Once the capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra can claim three different UNESCO World Heritage sites - the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikiri.

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 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Agra?

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 Agra is $53, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $103. 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 Agra and San Jose in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Agra $15
    San Jose $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Agra $30
    San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Agra and San Jose

Looking for a hotel in Agra 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.

Hotels in Agra


Hotels in San Jose


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: Agra Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Agra $9.80
    San Jose $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Agra

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Agra:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $0.57

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Agra

Also for Agra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Wildlife SOS Visit with One Way Transfer from Agra to Delhi: $52
  • Transfer from Delhi to Jaipur with Tajmahal sight seeing: $187
  • Transfer from Agra to Tundla railway station and vice versa: $34
  • Transfer from Agra to Delhi Airport: $70
  • Transfer Agra To Jaipur Via Fatehpur Sikri & Stepwell: $51
  • Transfer Agra To Jaipur By Ac Car With Fatehpur sikari.: $85
  • Sunrise Taj Mahal and Agra Fort Half-Day Tour with Transfer: $14
  • Sunrise Taj Mahal & Fatehpur Sikri Tour With Transfer To Jaipur: $106
  • Smooth Departure Transfer by Car from Agra to Lucknow: $100
  • Private transfer from Agra to Varanasi by Car: $161
  • Private transfer Agra to Varnashi: $246
  • Private transfer Agra to Varnashi: $230

Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Jose

Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Jose are as follows:


  • Taxi from SJO
    $25
  • Local Bus
    $2.72

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose

Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Montezuma: $300
  • San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Limon: Private Transfer : $299
  • One-Way Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Uvita or Dominical: $290
  • Private Transfer San Jose SJO Airport to Puerto Viejo by Minivan: $283
  • Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
  • Private Transfer SJO Airport to Puerto Viejo/Cahuita/Manzanillo: $271
  • Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Monteverde: $270
  • Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269
  • Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Samara Beach: $265
  • Direct Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita, English Speaking Driver: $263
  • Private Ground Transfer SJO - Monteverde: $256
  • Private VIP Transfer from San Jose Airport to Fortuna (1-9 ppl): $250

Is it cheaper to fly into Agra or San Jose?

Prices for flights to both San Jose and Agra 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
    Agra $26
    San Jose $31
Typical Food Prices in Agra

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Agra:


  • Breakfast for Two
    $2.04

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Agra

For Agra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cooking class with taj: $5.64
  • Old Agra Market & Street Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $15
  • Street Food Tour with Spice Market on Tuk-Tuk Ride: $18
  • Agra Cooking Classes (Pick up and Drop available): $18
  • Local Food Tour with Cooking Class in Home Agra: $20
  • Dine In Indian, home cooked food Agra Food tour My Magic Kitchen: $21
  • Indian Food Private Cooking Class: $21
  • Old City & Street Food Tour in Car, Tuk Tuk or Bike: $21
  • AI Cooking Class and Much More in a Local Family Home: $27
  • Jaisalmer: Thar Desert Camel Safari with Dinner: $28
  • Cooking Workshop and Vegetarian Dinner in Agra with Family: $28
  • Private Indian Cooking Demonstration and In-Home Meal Minutes from the Taj Mahal: $33

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 including Markets: $34
  • San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner, Cooking & Cocktail Class: $47
  • San Jose Cooking Classes visit Central Market: $52
  • Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour and National Museum : $65
  • San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner : $80
  • Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $92
  • Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $114
  • Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Agra $19
    San Jose $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Agra

For Agra, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Entry to the Red Fort for Two
    $6.81
  • Taj Mahal for Two
    $17

Tours and Activities in Agra

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

  • Private 6 Hours: Agra Temples and Spiritual Sites Tour: $38
  • Private Agra Tour to TajMahal from Delhi by Car: $27
  • Skip-the-Line Private Tour to Taj Mahal and Agra Fort: $5.78
  • Taj Mahal Skip the Line Guided Tour with Optional Add ons: $5.78
  • Taj Mahal Sunrise & Agra Fort Private Tour with Add-ons: $20
  • "Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal Tour With Guide": $15
  • "Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour From Delhi": $105
  • 05-Hours Taj Mahal & Agra Day Tour by TUK TUK: $5.00
  • 1 Day Agra and 1 Day Jaipur Private Tour from Agra: $202
  • 1 Day Private Tour of Agra - Taj Mahal & More: $35
  • 11 Hour Taj Mahal Sunrise and Sunset Day Tour: $20
  • 2 Days Jaipur City Tour from Agra: $85

Tours and Activities in San Jose

For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
  • ATV Off Road Poas Volcano Adventure and Hiking for two persons.: $130
  • AWA Water Museum - Waterfall Adventure (Organic Food Experience): $98
  • Adventure Park: $190
  • Adventure Zip Lining at the Cloud Forest from San José: $138
  • Arenal Combo Experience: Canopy & Rapell + Thermals: $65
  • Arenal Hanging Bridges and Hot Springs Private Tour from San Jose: $295
  • Arenal Volcano & Baldi Hot Springs one day tour from San Jose: $199
  • Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose: $159
  • Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Springs Tour from San Jose: $142
  • Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs Full Day Tour from San Jose: $195
  • Birding Watching tour from San José: $190

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Agra $9.14
    San Jose $16


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Agra and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Agra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Agra is in Asia 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 Agra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Agra 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 San Jose would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Jose than you might in Agra.

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


Which is Bigger, Agra or San Jose?

Agra has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Agra 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.