Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Ankara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ankara 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 Ankara 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: Ankara or San Jose?
Ankara
Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.
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 Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
-
Ankara Prices
Turkey PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAnkara $117San Jose $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $117, 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 Ankara and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAnkara $48San Jose $49
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAnkara $96San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Ankara and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Ankara 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: Ankara Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ankara $31San Jose $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ankara:
-
Metro Ride$0.03
-
Short Taxi Ride$0.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
- Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Gordion Ancient City: $185
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
- Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $51
- Private Transfer Ankara Esenboga Airport ESB to Keçiören Ankara: $40
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Ankara Airport to Cankaya Hotels: $51
- Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $51
- Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $108
- Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $108
- Ankara Airport & Hotel Transfers : $57
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 San José Airport - La Fortuna: $200
- Private Transfer: San José Airport to Puerto Viejo / Cahuita : $259
- Private Transfer: San José Hotels to SJO Airport: $95
- Airport transfer from SJO Airport to Los Sueños Marriott: $170
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to Arenal by Minivan: $169
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $40
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio by Minivan: $169
- Braulio Carrillo 6 in 1 Full Day Pass with Optional Transfer: $112
- Costa Rica SJO Airport TO Downtown Hotel Private Transfer Shuttle: $25
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Limon, English Speaking Driver: $202
- Direct transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna, English Speaking Driver: $160
- Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Private Transfer: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Ankara 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 dayAnkara $47San Jose $31
Typical Food Prices in Ankara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:
-
A Quick Lunch$0.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ankara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ankara.
- Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class at Local Home with Family: $49
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
- Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
- San Jose By Night tour Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $53
- San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner : $70
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $78
- Private Authentic Food Tour in San José: $84
- Dinner with Private Show in Tiquicia Traditional Nights : $95
- Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $109
- City Tour and Dinner at the Best Lookout in San Jose: $149
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ankara $29San Jose $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara
Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Underground City$0.21
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $34
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $228
- Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
- Private Ankara City Tours by an Archaeologist Tour Guide : $280
- Private Ankara Sightseeing Tour: $235
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
- Private Guided Tour of Cheese in Canaan de Rivas: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Britt Classic Coffee Tour : $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- San Jose Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $34
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $35
- Sarapiqui Rainforest Night Walk : Wildlife & Adventure.: $35
- Historical Tour and Old Houses by Dota: $35
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAnkara $13San Jose $17
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $37
When comparing the travel costs between Ankara and San Jose, we can see that Ankara is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Ankara is in Europe and San Jose is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ankara Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ankara or San Jose?
Ankara has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Ankara 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.
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.