A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aveiro vs. San Jose for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aveiro 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 Aveiro 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: Aveiro or San Jose?

Aveiro

Aveiro has great canals that are lined by houses. Because of this ambiance, the town has earned its nickname the "Portuguese Venice." While it's similar, don't put too much into the name. The town is also known for it's colorful boats, referred to as moliceiros, that ride along the canals and under the bridges.

While the canals are lovely, most visitors actually come for the beaches. Aveiro's beaches are known for their clean and pristine sand. The shore is referred to as the Silver Coast, and has comfortably warm water, which is another major draw to the area.

Aveiro is comfortable year around because it's winters are mild and warm and its summer is somewhat cool. The winter months get the most rain and the summer is usually the driest. If you're there during the fall and winter, the winds will be strong making it the best time for surfing, sailing, and other water sports.

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 Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Aveiro?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Aveiro is €100, while the average daily cost in San Jose is €98. 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 Aveiro and San Jose in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aveiro 46
    San Jose 46
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aveiro 92
    San Jose 92
Compare Hotels in Aveiro and San Jose

Looking for a hotel in Aveiro 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.

Hotels in Aveiro


Hotels in San Jose


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: Aveiro Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aveiro 8.57
    San Jose 18

Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Jose

Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Jose are as follows:


  • Taxi from SJO
    24
  • 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 from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Montezuma: $300
  • San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Limon: Private Transfer: $299
  • Private Transfer: San José Apto to Puerto Viejo / Cahuita (Limón): $299
  • Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Liberia: $297
  • Private Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita With 2 Stops: $295
  • One-Way Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Uvita or Dominical: $290
  • Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $283
  • Private Transfer San Jose SJO Airport to Puerto Viejo by Minivan: $281
  • Private Transfer from SJO Airport to Tamarindo/Papagayo/Riu Hotel: $280
  • Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Cahuita: $272
  • Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Monteverde: $270
  • Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269

Is it cheaper to fly into Aveiro or San Jose?

Prices for flights to both San Jose and Aveiro 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 day
    Aveiro 48
    San Jose 29

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
  • Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $35
  • San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $49
  • Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
  • San José Market-to-Table Tour: Cooking Class with a Local Chef: $58
  • Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $80
  • San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner: $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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aveiro 8.57
    San Jose 20

Tours and Activities in Aveiro

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Aveiro.

  • From Coimbra: Tour to Aveiro, Costa Nova beach and Moliceiro boat: $122
  • From Coimbra: Tour to Aveiro, Costa Nova beach, and Moliceiro boat ride: $140
  • From Coimbra: Tour to Aveiro, Costa Nova beach, and Moliceiro boat ride: $175

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 Irazu + San Jose City Tour: $187
  • 3 Hour Painting Experience in Uvita: $80
  • 3-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $40
  • AWA Water Museum - Waterfall Adventure (Organic Food Experience): $98
  • Action Packed Class 4 Rafting Adventure: $95
  • Adventure Zip Lining at the Cloud Forest from San José: $149
  • 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 Full-Day Tour from San José: $197
  • Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs Private Tour from San José: $284

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aveiro 17
    San Jose 16

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
  • Wine Tour and Tasting: $95


When comparing the travel costs between Aveiro and San Jose, we can see that Aveiro 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 Aveiro 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 Aveiro Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Aveiro or San Jose?

San Jose has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Aveiro. When comparing the sizes of Aveiro 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 Aveiro or San Jose?

Aveiro 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 Aveiro or San Jose in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Aveiro and San Jose. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Aveiro is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Aveiro in July average around 21°C (69°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F).

In Aveiro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aveiro usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Aveiro gets 308 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.

San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Aveiro usually receives less rain than San Jose. Aveiro gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Aveiro 21°C (69°F) 
    San Jose 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Aveiro or San Jose in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Aveiro as well as San Jose. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.

In October, Aveiro is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Aveiro average around 17°C (62°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In the autumn, Aveiro often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Aveiro gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in San Jose. Aveiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Aveiro usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Aveiro gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in San Jose is the dry season. Also, May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Aveiro 17°C (62°F) 
    San Jose 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Aveiro or San Jose in the Winter?

Both San Jose and Aveiro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Aveiro is much colder than San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Aveiro averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite sunny in San Jose. Aveiro usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Aveiro gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Aveiro. In January, Aveiro usually receives more rain than San Jose. Aveiro gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Aveiro 10°C (50°F) 
    San Jose 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Aveiro or San Jose in the Spring?

Both San Jose and Aveiro during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.

In the spring, Aveiro is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Aveiro in April average around 14°C (56°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F).

In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Aveiro. In the spring, Aveiro often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Aveiro gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Aveiro. Aveiro usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Aveiro gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in San Jose. Also, the hurricane season in San Jose is May to November.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Aveiro 14°C (56°F) 
    San Jose 29°C (85°F)

Typical Weather for San Jose and Aveiro

Aveiro San Jose
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (50°F) 171 mm (6.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 8 mm (0.3 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 169 mm (6.7 in) 28°C (83°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 12°C (54°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 29°C (84°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Apr 14°C (56°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 29°C (85°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
May 16°C (60°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 29°C (83°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jun 19°C (66°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jul 21°C (69°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
Aug 20°C (69°F) 22 mm (0.9 in) 26°C (79°F) 289 mm (11.4 in)
Sep 20°C (67°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 328 mm (12.9 in)
Oct 17°C (62°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 254 mm (10 in)
Nov 13°C (55°F) 152 mm (6 in) 27°C (81°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Dec 11°C (51°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)