Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Antwerp?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Antwerp 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 Antwerp and San Jose can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Antwerp or San Jose?
Antwerp
Antwerp is a very popular tourist destination in Belgium. It's a lovely city in the region of Flanders and its people are known for their friendly, open and welcoming personalities. It's a very relaxed and low stress city, making it an excellent place to spend a few days in the midst of a hectic trip. The city itself is known to have a very high standard of living and a great quality of life. Antwerp is also an economic center in Belgium, because of its importance in the diamond trade. It is known as the "world's leading diamond city" with about seventy percent of all diamonds traded through Antwerp.
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 Tours for Seniors to Belgium, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Brussels, 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 dayAntwerp €123San Jose €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Antwerp is €123, 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 Antwerp and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAntwerp €71San Jose €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAntwerp €142San Jose €92
Compare Hotels in Antwerp and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Antwerp 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: Antwerp Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Antwerp €12San Jose €18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antwerp
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antwerp:
- Round Trip Private Transfer Brussels Airport BRU to Antwerp City by Luxury Car: $274
- Round Trip Private Transfer Brussels Airport BRU to Antwerp City by Business Car: $235
- Private Transfer from Antwerp to Bruges or ZeeBrugge By Luxury car: $141
- Private Departure Transfer from Antwerp to Brussels By luxury car: $86
- Private Arrival Transfer from Antwerp to Brussels By luxury car: $163
- Arrival Private Transfer Antwerp Airport ANR to Antwerp by Sedan: $68
- Antwerp Shuttle Transfer <-> Schipol Airport Amsterdam (1 to 8 Places): $175
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 Antwerp or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Antwerp 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 dayAntwerp €39San Jose €17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antwerp
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antwerp.
- 2-Hour Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $71
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.Antwerp €8.21San Jose €20
Tours and Activities in Antwerp
Here are a few actual costs in Antwerp for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Antwerp : $230
- 3-Hour Antwerp Bike Tour: $35
- 3-Hour Private Tour in Antwerp: $49
- Antwerp : Must-See Attractions Walking Tour: $81
- Antwerp : Private Custom Walking Tour with Local Guide: $59
- Antwerp Bike Tours: $35
- Antwerp In App Audio Tour : Belgian Port City (EN, DU): $7.59
- Antwerp Private Tour From Brussels: $427
- Antwerp Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $245
- Antwerp Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $7.11
- Antwerp Shore Excursion and Bruges Private City Tour including Chocolate Tasting: $183
- Antwerp by Night Private Walking Tour: $90
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 dayAntwerp €18San Jose €16
Sample the Local Flavors in Antwerp
Also in Antwerp, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Antwerp Pub Trail: Pub crawl with interactive online game: $12
- City Brewery De Koninck Interactive Tour: $17
- Tour and Tasting if alcoholic Ginger-beer in a gluten-free nano-brewery: $62
- Antwerp Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $66
- Pub Crawl in the Historical City: $97
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 Antwerp and San Jose, we can see that Antwerp is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Antwerp 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 Antwerp would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antwerp 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 Antwerp Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Antwerp or San Jose?
Antwerp has a larger population, and is about 37% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Antwerp 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 Antwerp or San Jose?
Antwerp 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 Antwerp or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Antwerp as well as San Jose. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Antwerp this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In July, Antwerp is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Antwerp average around 17°C (63°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Antwerp this time of the year. In the summer, Antwerp often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Antwerp gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Antwerp usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Antwerp gets 66 mm (2.6 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 JulyAntwerp 17°C (63°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Antwerp or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Antwerp are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Antwerp for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Antwerp is much colder than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Antwerp averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Antwerp usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Antwerp gets 105 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, Antwerp usually receives less rain than San Jose. Antwerp gets 78 mm (3.1 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 OctoberAntwerp 12°C (54°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Antwerp or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Antwerp during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Antwerp in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Antwerp can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Antwerp is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Antwerp in January average around 3°C (38°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, Antwerp often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Antwerp gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Antwerp usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Antwerp gets 59 mm (2.3 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 JanuaryAntwerp 3°C (38°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Antwerp or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Antwerp and San Jose. Most visitors come to Antwerp for the activities around the city during these months. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Antwerp is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Antwerp average around 8°C (47°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. Antwerp usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Antwerp gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Antwerp usually receives more rain than San Jose. Antwerp gets 45 mm (1.8 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 AprilAntwerp 8°C (47°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Antwerp
| Antwerp | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (47°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (40°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.