Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Belfast?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Belfast or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Belfast or San Jose, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Belfast or San Jose?
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and the second largest city on the island of Ireland after Dublin. It has a population of about 270,000 and almost 500,000 in the metropolitan area. It's located on the mouth of the River Lagan and is set between many low hills that rise up around it.
One of the most famous, and tragic times in Belfast's history is referred to as "The Troubles." During this time, between 1969 and 1997, there were many bomb and gun attacks throughout the city. This left many areas as essentially no-go zones. Neighborhoods became completely lawless do to the lack of security and the damage is still visible today in some areas. In 1998 the Good Friday Agreement was signed and much of the politically motivated violence ended. The city actually received praise recently as the safest city in the UK based on crime rate. Tourism is growing and many visitors enjoy seeing this less popular travel destination. The city has a lot of character and will give you an interesting take on Irish and British history.
Belfast has a temperate climate and temperature and precipitation have little variation throughout the year. The climate is influenced by the warming effects of the Gulf Stream, making it warmer than many cities that are found at the same latitude. Rain is common with precipitation falling an average of 157 days a year. Snow is much less common, although it does happen about ten days a year. The warmest days during the summer may reach a temperature around 25 degrees Celsius and the coldest days have lows that drop just below freezing.
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 United Kingdom, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Kingdom, 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 dayBelfast £133San Jose £73
The average daily cost (per person) in Belfast is £133, while the average daily cost in San Jose is £73. 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 Belfast and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBelfast £68San Jose £40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBelfast £136San Jose £80
Compare Hotels in Belfast and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Belfast 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: Belfast Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Belfast £14San Jose £16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belfast
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Belfast:
- Private Transfer from Dundonald to Belfast Airport (BFS): $94
- Private Transfer from Carryduff to Belfast Airport (BFS): $94
- Private Transfer from Belfast City to Belfast Airport (BFS): $84
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Whiterock: $62
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Warrenpoint: $135
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Tynan: $147
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Trillick : $202
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Tandragee: $122
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Strangford: $110
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Strabane : $227
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Stewartstown : $151
- Private Transfer from Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Rosslea: $214
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£20
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Local Bus£2.22
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
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- 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
- Transfer Costa Rica SJO Airport To OR From Hotels nearby Private : $45
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Private Transfer from San Jose City to Puntarenas Cruise Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $64
- Private transfer from SJO Intl Airport to downtown Hotels: $65
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Belfast or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Belfast 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 dayBelfast £51San Jose £15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belfast
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Belfast.
- Guided Craft Beer and Street Food Tour: $82
- Belfast Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $108
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.Belfast £18San Jose £17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Belfast
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Belfast are as follows:
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Movie Tickets£8.00
Tours and Activities in Belfast
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Belfast are as follows:
- Belfast A Music and StreetArt Experience. Small Gr Walking Tour : $25
- Belfast The Troubles cab tour Adventure 2hrs personal guide : $113
- Historical Private Tour in Belfast : $76
- (Small Group) Shore Tour from Giant's Causeway and Belfast Day Trip: $147
- 2 hour Private Political History & Murals Tour Belfast: $70
- 2 hours Belfast Original Drivers The Troubles Black Taxi Tour: $93
- 3 Hour extended Murals Tour: $102
- 4 Hours Private Guided Belfast City Tour: $254
- A History of Terror - Belfast City Centre Walking Tour : $28
- Antrim Coast Carrickfergus and Gobbins Cliff Experience: $439
- Award winners Express 2 hrs Black Taxi tours and Mural Taxi Tour: $159
- Belfast Famous Black taxi political mural peace wall tour 2 hour: $126
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 dayBelfast £7.86San Jose £13
Sample the Local Flavors in Belfast
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Belfast:
- Pub Crawl and Bar Walking Tour with Two Drinks: $15
- Explore & Taste: Distillery Tour at Titanic Distillers: $32
- Belfast Giant's Causeway and Titanic Distillery Whiskey Tour: $69
- VIP Skip-the Line Titanic Museum and Distillery Tasting Tour: $119
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 Belfast and San Jose, we can see that Belfast is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Belfast 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 Belfast would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Belfast 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 Belfast Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Belfast or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of Belfast. When comparing the sizes of Belfast 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 Belfast or San Jose?
Belfast 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 Belfast or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Belfast during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Belfast because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Belfast is much colder than San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Belfast averages around 15°C (59°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In the summer, Belfast often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Belfast gets 151 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Belfast usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Belfast gets 70 mm (2.8 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 JulyBelfast 15°C (59°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Belfast or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Belfast and San Jose. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Belfast this time of year. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Belfast is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Belfast in October average around 9°C (48°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Belfast usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Belfast gets 92 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Belfast usually receives less rain than San Jose. Belfast gets 90 mm (3.5 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 OctoberBelfast 9°C (48°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Belfast or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Belfast as well as San Jose. Many travelers come to Belfast for the shopping scene and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Belfast. In January, Belfast is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Belfast average around 4°C (39°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In the winter, Belfast often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Belfast gets 50 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Belfast usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Belfast gets 80 mm (3.1 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 JanuaryBelfast 4°C (39°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Belfast or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Belfast are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Belfast in the spring for the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Belfast is much colder than San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Belfast averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. Belfast usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Belfast gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Belfast usually receives more rain than San Jose. Belfast gets 50 mm (2 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 AprilBelfast 8°C (46°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Belfast
| Belfast | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (48°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.