Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Arusha?
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 Arusha or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and San Jose can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Arusha or San Jose?
Arusha
Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.
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 G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Arusha Prices
Tanzania PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $189San Jose $113
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $189, 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 Arusha and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $126San Jose $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $252San Jose $108
Compare Hotels in Arusha and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Arusha 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: Arusha Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13San Jose $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $130
- Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airport Transfers with Private Day Tours: $60
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
- Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
- Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
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: $162
- Transfer SJO Airport to Caldera Puntarenas Docks Cruises & Hotels: $145
- Shared transfer to Manuel Antonio: $70
- San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Limon: Private Transfer: $299
- San Jose to Fortuna - Arenal: Private Transfer: $200
- San Jose Airport to La Fortuna Private VIP Transfer: $179
- San Jose Airport Private Transfer to La Fortuna 1 to 4 People: $240
- SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio Hotels / Bejuco Private Transfer: $176
- SJO Airport to La Fortuna Arenal Volcano Hotels Private Transfer: $185
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO): $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Arusha 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 dayArusha $40San Jose $34
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.09
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
- Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
- Homestay + Cooking + Animal Care + Fruit Harvesting + Much More: $195
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
- 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.Arusha $44San Jose $23
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Tour Hot Spring (Majimoto): $80
- 1 Day trip to Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Tour: $127
- 1-Day Trip Tarangire N.P Small group Tour Tanzania sharing Safari: $270
- 4 Hours Cycling Tour in Shimo La Mungu Crater: $50
- 8-Hour Lake Chala Guided Tour from Moshi or Arusha: $260
- A Day at Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour in Mt Kilimanjaro: $160
- Amazing Lake Duluti Day Trip Experience: $70
- Arusha African Shopping Tour: $100
- Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
- Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
- Arusha City Tour: Where Continents Collide & Cultures Dance: $30
- Arusha City town tour: $101
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
- 3-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $40
- Action Packed Class 4 Rafting Adventure: $95
- Arenal Combo Experience: Canopy & Rapell + Thermals: $65
- Arenal Volcano & Baldi Hot Springs one day tour from San Jose: $199
- Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs Private Tour from San José: $281
- Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose: $165
- Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Springs Tour from San Jose: $142
- Arenal Volcano Tour & EcoTermales Thermal Pools from San José: $222
- Beach Tour from San Jose. Private Tour: $275
- Britt Coffee Tour from San José: $90
- Canyoneering and Canopy Tour in Turrialba: $112
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $10San 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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and San Jose, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa 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 Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha 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 Arusha Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or San Jose?
Arusha has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Arusha 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.