Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Brisbane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Brisbane or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Brisbane and San Jose can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Brisbane or San Jose?
Brisbane
Although Brisbane is often overlooked as a travel destination in Australia, it is the capital of the state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia. It's a very young and vibrant city with an active nightlife and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It's a modern and economically thriving city and, if you do have time to visit, it actually has a lot to offer travelers. It has some beautiful scenery, a wonderful warm climate all year long, and is actually one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.
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 Luxury Tours to Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBrisbane $133San Jose $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Brisbane is $133, 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 Brisbane and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBrisbane $82San Jose $48
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBrisbane $164San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Brisbane and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Brisbane 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: Brisbane Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Brisbane $18San Jose $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Brisbane:
-
Airtrain to the City$9.91
-
Go Card$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brisbane
Also for Brisbane, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sunshine Coast Airport Arrival transfer to Hotels: $18
- Sirromet Winery 3 Course Lunch, Tour, Tastings and Transfers: $132
- Private Transfer: Cruise Port to Brisbane Airport BNE or Brisbane City: $91
- Private Transfer: Cruise Port to Brisbane Airport BNE or Brisbane City: $123
- Private Transfer: Brisbane Airport BNE or Brisbane City to Cruise Port: $91
- Private Transfer to Gold Coast /OOL Airport from Brisbane /BNE Airport (1-7 Pax): $228
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Port to Brisbane Airport (BNE): $33
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Hotels to Brisbane Cruise Port: $33
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Cruise Port to Brisbane: $33
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane Port: $33
- Private Transfer between Brisbane/BNE Airport -Gold Coast / OOL Airport(1-11Pax): $297
- Private Arrival Transfer: Brisbane Airport to Hotel: $53
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Jose
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Jose are as follows:
-
Taxi from SJO$25
-
Local Bus$2.71
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 Tortuguero: $300
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tambor beach: $276
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport or Guanacaste Hotels: $276
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269
- Private Transfer from San Jose downtown to Liberia Airport: $267
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Samara Beach: $265
- Private Transfer: $260
- Private Transfer Airport or San Jose hotels to Puerto Viejo Limon: $259
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to La Fortuna Arenal: $259
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Liberia: $257
Is it cheaper to fly into Brisbane or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Brisbane 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 dayBrisbane $31San Jose $18
Typical Food Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Brisbane:
-
Hamburger Lunch$5.28
-
Cup of Coffee$1.98
-
Chinese Food Lunch$8.26
-
Ice cream$3.63
-
Japanese Meal$14
-
Smoothie$4.29
-
Japanese Soup$7.60
-
Coffee & Muffin$4.62
-
Morning Mint Tea$2.31
-
Veggie Burger & Chips$9.25
-
Bread$1.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vertigo Dinner: Dining on the edge!: $165
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Brisbane $24San Jose $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Concert Tickets$13
Tours and Activities in Brisbane
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Brisbane.
- 1hr Animal Tour: $43
- 2hr Animal Tour: $73
- 3-Hour Walking Tour in Brisbane: $56
- 45-Minute Behind-the-Tanks Tour on North Stradbroke Island: $32
- 90min Brisbane River Cruise/Tour: $35
- Adventure Moreton Island Day Pass: $85
- All-Inclusive Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise Brisbane: $131
- Barefoot Luxury Mount Tamborine Winery Tour from Brisbane: $178
- Bellthorpe Rainforest Private Tour: $132
- Brisbane : Must See Attractions Private Walking Tour: $87
- Brisbane City Botanic Gardens Audio Tour FREE Ticket: $15
- Brisbane City Highlights Sightseeing Tour: $116
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Explore San Jose on Foot: Food Delights and Sights Tour: $47
- Street Food Walking Tour in Downtown San Jose: $60
- 3 in 1 Eco Tour Rain Forest Aerial Tram, River Cruise & Nature Walk Private Tour: $299
- 6 in 1 RainForest Adventure From San Jose: $189
- A taste of Aquiares - 2 hours Coffee Tour: $42
- AERIAL TRAM TOUR - HALF DAY PASS Rainforest Adventures Braulio Ca: $78
- AWA Water Museum - Waterfall Adventure (Organic Food Experience): $98
- Arenal Volcano Eco Tour & Baldi Hot Springs Private Tour from San Jose: $285
- Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose: $159
- Arenal Volcano Hanging Bridges & Baldi Hot Springs. Private Tour from San Jose: $285
- Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Springs Tour from San Jose: $142
- Arenal Volcano Horseback Riding & Baldi Hot Springs. Private Tour: $295
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBrisbane $51San Jose $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brisbane
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Brisbane:
-
Evening at the Bar$9.91
-
Sixpack of Beer$9.25
-
Guiness Beer$5.61
-
Sixpack of Beer$8.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Brisbane
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Brisbane:
- XXXX Brewery Tour: $24
- XXXX Beer Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting: $24
- City Winery Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $50
- Artisinal Wine Tasting and Local 2-Course Meal: $50
- River Cruise Brewery Tour with Drinks: $65
- Wine tasting tour to Tamborine Mountain: $104
- Half Day Gold Coast Brewery Tour: $107
- Tamborine Wine & Distillery Tour + 2 Course Lunch: $126
- Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch: $131
- Mount Tamborine Wine Tasting Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast: $132
- From Mount Tamborine Wine Tour with Gourmet Lunch: $132
- Gold Coast Full Day Brewery Tour: $134
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 Brisbane and San Jose, we can see that Brisbane is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Brisbane is in Pacific 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 Brisbane would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brisbane 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 Brisbane Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Brisbane or San Jose?
Brisbane has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Brisbane 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 Brisbane or San Jose?
Brisbane 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 Brisbane or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Brisbane and San Jose. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Brisbane this time of year. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Brisbane is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Brisbane in January average around 25°C (77°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
In Brisbane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Brisbane usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Brisbane gets 256 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. Brisbane gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Brisbane usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Josein July. Brisbane gets 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyBrisbane 25°C (77°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Brisbane or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Brisbane as well as San Jose. Many travelers come to Brisbane for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In April, Brisbane is generally cooler than San Josein October. Daily temperatures in Brisbane average around 22°C (71°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Brisbane this time of the year. In the autumn, Brisbane often gets more sunshine than San Josein October. Brisbane gets 214 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Brisbane receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Brisbane usually gets less rain in April than San Josein October. Brisbane gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberBrisbane 22°C (71°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Brisbane or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Brisbane are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Brisbane in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Brisbane is much colder than San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Brisbane averages around 15°C (59°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Brisbane. Brisbane usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Brisbane gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Brisbane usually receives more rain than San Josein January. Brisbane gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBrisbane 15°C (59°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Brisbane or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Brisbane during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Brisbane for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In the spring, Brisbane is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Brisbane in October average around 21°C (69°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F)in April.
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Brisbane. In the spring, Brisbane often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Josein April. Brisbane gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
Brisbane usually gets more rain in October than San Josein April. Brisbane gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilBrisbane 21°C (69°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Brisbane
| Brisbane | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (61°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (59°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (69°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 127 mm (5 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.