Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Basse-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Basse-Terre or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Jose? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Basse-Terre or San Jose?
Basse-Terre
In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.
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 Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasse-Terre €151San Jose €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €151, 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 Basse-Terre and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasse-Terre €90San Jose €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasse-Terre €180San Jose €92
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre 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: Basse-Terre Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basse-Terre €8.00San Jose €18
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:
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $35
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose City to SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport: $39
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport to SanJose City: $39
- Private One-way Juan Santamaria Airport Transfer to from San Jose: $41
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Transfer SJO Airport to Hotels nearby or Vice versa Private 6 PAX: $45
- Private San José Airport Transfer to San José Hotels : $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose City to Puntarenas Cruise Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Basse-Terre 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 dayBasse-Terre €46San Jose €17
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
- Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
- 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
- Private Authentic Food Tour in San José: $84
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basse-Terre €47San Jose €20
Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basse-Terre are as follows:
- Full day tour: the best of the island w/photos drone sunset: $214
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 Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Visit a Butterfly Chapel, Gardens, Coffee Tour with Typical Lunch: $30
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- 2-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $33
- Private Custom Guided Tour in San Jose: $33
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- Historical Tour and Old Houses by Dota: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasse-Terre €13San Jose €16
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 Basse-Terre and San Jose, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands 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 Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre or San Jose?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Basse-Terre during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the summer, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBasse-Terre 27°C (81°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than San Jose. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Basse-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBasse-Terre 27°C (80°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as San Jose. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the winter, Basse-Terre often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
In January, Basse-Terre is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBasse-Terre 24°C (76°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In April, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than San Jose. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during spring. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Basse-Terre is cooler than San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBasse-Terre 26°C (78°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Basse-Terre
| Basse-Terre | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.