Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Amsterdam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Amsterdam or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Amsterdam 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: Amsterdam or San Jose?
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital, and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. There are over one million residents in the metro area. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that criss cross across the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The architecture, bridges, and cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
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 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmsterdam €175San Jose €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Amsterdam is €175, while the average daily cost in San Jose is €85. 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 Amsterdam and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmsterdam €102San Jose €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmsterdam €204San Jose €92
Compare Hotels in Amsterdam and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Amsterdam 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: Amsterdam Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amsterdam €20San Jose €18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
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Ride on Tram€3.20
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Renting a Bike€15
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One Hour Canal Cruise€10
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Single Day Transit Pass€2.60
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Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport€3.40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
- VIP Transfer from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam City or Back to the Airport : $93
- VIP Amsterdam Airport Departure Transfer: $67
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Amsterdam City - Amsterdam Airport (AMS): $44
- Taxi Transfer from hotel in Amsterdam to cruise port terminal in Amsterdam: $67
- Schiphol: Private Transfer to Amsterdam - Travel Like a VIP: $135
- Roundtrip Transfer Schiphol - Amsterdam: $139
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Amsterdam Airport (AMS) - Amsterdam City: $108
- Rotterdam: Private transfer to/from Schiphol Airport: $312
- Rotterdam Cruise private Transfers: Hotel to Ship & Return: $145
- Private transfer from Schiphol airport to The Hague: $102
- Private transfer between Rotterdam - Amsterdam (incl. Schiphol airport) : $170
- Private departure transfer from Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport (AMS): $57
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€2.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer San José Airport - La Fortuna: $180
- Airport transfer from SJO Airport to Los Sueños Marriott: $170
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to Arenal by Minivan: $177
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio by Minivan: $158
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Monteverde, English Speaking Driver: $181
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $136
- Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO) to Puntarenas city-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $167
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas city- Arrival Private Transfer: $83
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $64
- One way Transfer from SJO airport or San José to Playa Dominical max 5 passenger: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Amsterdam or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Amsterdam 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 dayAmsterdam €43San Jose €17
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
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Afternoon Tea€6.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
- Food Tour Amsterdam (Tip Based): $5.46
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood : $8.19
- Self-Guided Food Tour in De Jordaan Neighbourhood: $13
- Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood: $13
- Self-Guided Food Tour of Amsterdam's De Jordaan District: $14
- Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam with Set Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Exclusive Burger Dinner Cruise: $32
- Dinner Cruise with Fries Bitterballen and Drink from Amsterdam: $38
- Pizza Cruise with Drinks: $40
- Evening Canal Cruise with Pizza and Drinks: $43
- Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket with A GOLD MENU Hard Rock Dinner: $43
- Food Tour Jordaan District: $51
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: $34
- San Jose By Night Tour: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $57
- San Jose Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour and visit Gold Museum : $60
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $76
- Explore San Jose By Night: Food and Culture Tour with Local Dinner: $80
- Dinner + Typical Show in the best viewpoint of the City: $99
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amsterdam €37San Jose €20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum€6.00
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Entry for two to the Anne Frank House€17
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Amsterdam (Museum Quarter) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Anne Frank Story & Neighborhood Walk Tour in Amsterdam: $46
- Cheese, Wine with Unlimited Drinks in Amsterdam Luxury Cruise: $54
- 1 Hour Amsterdam Canal Cruise with Audio Guide: $20
- 1 Hour Canal Cruise in Amsterdam: $22
- 1,5 hours Amsterdam Rickshaw Tour: $164
- 1-Hour Canal Cruise in the Evening : $22
- 2 Hour Exclusive Canal Boat Cruise w/ Dutch snacks & Onboard Bar: $43
- 2 Hour Exclusive Canal Cruise: Including drinks & Dutch snacks: $63
- 2 Hours Private Amsterdam Rickshaw Tour: $213
- 2-Hour Private Historical Highlights Walking Tour: $131
- 2-hour Red Light District and Old Town Walking Tour in Amsterdam: $49
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
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $30
- Sarapiqui Frog Tour: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- San Jose Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
- Corso Lecheria Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmsterdam €24San Jose €16
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl with Shots and Beer Maid Guide: $25
- Red Light District Pub Crawl: $27
- Central Pub Crawl and Nightlife Experience: $27
- Central Pub Crawl and Nightlife Experience: $27
- Original Pub Crawl Party with VIP Entrance: $29
- Chateau Urban Wine Tasting and optional bites: $32
- Original Amsterdam Pub Crawl: $33
- Self-guided Red Light District Pub Crawl Mystery: $38
- Leidseplein and Red Light Pub Crawl: 2 Night Pass: $38
- Red Light District and Local Pub Tour: $39
- Dutch Cheese and Wine Tasting: $43
- Dutch Wine Tasting || Amsterdam City Centre: $48
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $38
- 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 Amsterdam and San Jose, we can see that Amsterdam is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amsterdam is in Europe 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amsterdam or San Jose?
Amsterdam has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam or San Jose?
Amsterdam has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Jose experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Amsterdam or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Amsterdam as well as San Jose. The summer months attract visitors to Amsterdam because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In July, Amsterdam is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Amsterdam average around 17°C (62°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Amsterdam this time of the year. In the summer, Amsterdam often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Amsterdam gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Amsterdam usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Amsterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAmsterdam 17°C (62°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Amsterdam or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Amsterdam are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Amsterdam this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Amsterdam is much colder than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Amsterdam averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Amsterdam usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Amsterdam gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In October, Amsterdam usually receives less rain than San Jose. Amsterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAmsterdam 11°C (51°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Amsterdam or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Amsterdam during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Amsterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Amsterdam. In the winter, Amsterdam is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Amsterdam in January average around 2°C (36°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Amsterdam often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Amsterdam gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Amsterdam usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Amsterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAmsterdam 2°C (36°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Amsterdam or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Amsterdam and San Jose. Many visitors come to Amsterdam in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Amsterdam is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Amsterdam average around 8°C (46°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. Amsterdam usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Amsterdam gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Amsterdam usually receives more rain than San Jose. Amsterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAmsterdam 8°C (46°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Amsterdam
| Amsterdam | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.