Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern 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: Bern or San Jose?
Bern
The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, 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 dayBern $252San Jose $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $252, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $89. 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 Bern and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $163San Jose $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $326San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Bern and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Bern 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: Bern Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $34San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $228
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $214
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $192
- Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73
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$25
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Local Bus$2.71
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 Bern or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Bern 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 dayBern $60San Jose $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.
- Cooking delicious Spanish paella in Switzerland.: $66
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.Bern $34San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
- 007 Elegance:Exclusive Private Tour to Schilthorn from Bern: $633
- Alpine Heights: Small Group Tour to Jungfraujoch from Bern: $598
- Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Bern : Highlights & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $81
- Bern : Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide (Private tour): $59
- Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $7.00
- Bern Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local: $157
- Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $162
- Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $60
- Bern Old City Walking Tour: $464
- Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $537
- Bern Private Walking Tour: $336
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 dayBern $27San 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 Bern and San Jose, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern 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 Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern 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 Bern Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern 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 Bern or San Jose?
Bern 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 Bern or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bern for the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Bern is cooler than San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Bern gets 250 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. Bern usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 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 JulyBern 21°C (70°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Bern or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and San Jose. Many visitors come to Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Bern is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bern in October average around 13°C (55°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Bern usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Bern gets 126 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, Bern usually receives less rain than San Jose. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 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 OctoberBern 13°C (55°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Bern or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Bern as well as San Jose. Most visitors come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Bern can be very cold during winter. In January, Bern is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 3°C (37°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, Bern often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 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 JanuaryBern 3°C (37°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Bern or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Bern because of the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Bern is much colder than San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. Bern usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Bern usually receives more rain than San Jose. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 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 AprilBern 11°C (52°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Bern
| Bern | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.