Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Amman?
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 Amman or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and San Jose. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Amman or San Jose?
Amman
Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.
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 Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Amman Prices
Jordan PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmman $135San Jose $113
The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $135, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $113. 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 Amman and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmman $49San Jose $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmman $98San Jose $108
Compare Hotels in Amman and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Amman 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: Amman Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amman $24San Jose $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)$0.71
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RIde to Airport$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman
Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Stress-Free Airport Transfers: Queen Alia to Anywhere in Jordan: $26
- Reliable Door-to-Door Private Transfer Amman ⇆ Dead Sea ⇆ Airport: $40
- Queen Alia International Airport Transfers To Amman, Petra.: $235
- Queen Alia Airport Transfers From / To Amman, Petra, Dead Sea.: $45
- Queen Alia Airport Transfer Pick-Up and Drop-Off Service: $50
- Private Transfer: From Amman City to Airport: $40
- Private Transfer: Amman Airport to Wadi Rum: $133
- Private Transfer: Amman Airport to Aqaba Airport: $153
- Private Transfer from Madaba Hotel to Amman Airport: $47
- Private Transfer from Amman to the Dead Sea: $48
- Private Transfer from Amman Airport to Dead sea: $95
- Private Transfer from Amman Airport to Araba Border: $153
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$28
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Local Bus$3.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers to Occidental Papagayo - Secrets Resort, Round-Trip: $130
- Transfer from San Jose to Arenal-La Fortuna San Carlos: $48
- Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to Quepos Cruise Port: $163
- Transfer TO or FROM SJO Airport to Esterillos - Bejuco Not Shared: $240
- Transfer SJO Airport to Caldera Puntarenas Docks Cruises & Hotels: $145
- Transfer 1 to 6 Pax Juan Santamaria Airport to SJO Hotels: $65
- Shared transfer to Manuel Antonio: $70
- Scenic Coach Transfers San José to Arenal AM & back at 19:00 hrs: $58
- San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Limon: Private Transfer: $299
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $57
- San Jose to Fortuna - Arenal: Private Transfer: $200
- San Jose Airport to La Fortuna Private VIP Transfer: $179
Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Amman 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 dayAmman $58San Jose $34
Typical Food Prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$4.23
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Tea$5.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman
For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Amman by Night Tour with Local Dinner: $35
- private cooking with local chef: $40
- Private 2 Hour Cooking Class with the Locals in Amman: $50
- Guided Food Tour in Downtown: $70
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience: $80
- Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman: $80
- Women-Led Food Tour Through Amman’s Culinary Scene: $80
- The Best Culture&Food Tour With Majd The Local Guide: $81
- Private Madaba Haret Jdoudna Restaurant Lunch or Dinner from Amman: $100
- Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman: $119
- Half Day Cooking Class Experience with Amman Panoramic Tour: $127
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Arak Experience: $140
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: $35
- San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $49
- Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
- 3.5h Cooking Class in San José with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $75
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $80
- Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $92
- City Tour and Dinner at the Best Lookout in San Jose: $149
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amman $32San Jose $23
Tours and Activities in Amman
For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-Night Private Overnight Madaba Independent Tour from Amman: $170
- 1Day Private spiritual Tour to Amman Madaba Baptism site Dead Sea: $100
- 2 Day Group Tour from Amman to Petra Wadi Rum Aqaba Dead Sea: $250
- 2 Day Madaba Mount Nebo Mujib Kerak Dana Shobak and Petra Tour: $195
- 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum Aqaba and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $195
- 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum Madaba and Mount Nebo Private Guided Tour: $195
- 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum Mount Nebo and Dead Sea Private Tour: $195
- 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum Shobak Castle and Kerak Castle Private Tour: $195
- 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $185
- 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $175
- 2 Day Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea Private Tour: $175
- 2 Day Petra and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour All Inclusive: $195
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 in 1 Volcano Combo Tour Irazu Crater Turrialba Eruption Area: $199
- 2 in 1 Volcano Irazu + San Jose City Tour: $187
- 3 Hour Painting Experience in Uvita: $80
- 3-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $40
- A taste of Aquiares - 2 hours Coffee Tour: $42
- AWA Water Museum - Waterfall Adventure (Organic Food Experience): $98
- Action Packed Class 4 Rafting Adventure: $95
- Arcade and Mini Bowling Experience: $78
- 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 & Hot Springs Private Tour from San José: $281
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmman $14San Jose $18
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- San Jose Exclusive Bar Crawl with Drinks and Club Entrys: $28
- Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $40
- Wine Tour and Tasting: $95
- Bar Crawl in San Jose in a Deluxe Party Bus: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and San Jose, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman 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 Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman 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 Amman Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amman or San Jose?
Amman has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Amman 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 Amman or San Jose?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Amman or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Amman are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Amman throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In July, Amman usually receives less rain than San Jose. Amman gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Amman. Amman usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Amman gets 364 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Amman is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Amman average around 25°C (77°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAmman 25°C (77°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Amman or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Amman during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Amman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
December to April is the dry season in San Jose. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in San Jose. San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Amman usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Amman gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Amman. In the autumn, Amman often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Amman gets 274 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
Amman is cooler than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Amman averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAmman 20°C (68°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Amman or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Amman and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Amman year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Amman gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Amman usually receives more rain than San Jose. Amman gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. Amman usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Amman gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Amman is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Amman in January average around 8°C (46°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAmman 8°C (46°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Amman or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Amman as well as San Jose. Amman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Also, December to April in San Jose is the dry season. Also, May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season. Amman usually gets less rain in April than San Jose. Amman gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 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 Amman this time of the year. In the spring, Amman often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. Amman gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Amman is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Amman average around 16°C (61°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAmman 16°C (61°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Amman
| Amman | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (46°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (48°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 138 mm (5.4 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.