Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Copan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Copan or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Copan and San Jose can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Copan or San Jose?
Copan
If you are a lover of history, or just really want to tap into your inner Indiana Jones, a trip to Copan, Honduras is right up your alley. Located in western Honduras, the cobblestone lined streets and white adobe buildings topped with red roofs provide the beautiful backdrop to this once powerful city.
Occupied by the Maya for 2,000 years, Copan was the ruling city in the southern Mayan kingdom. Settled nicely in a fertile river valley among rolling hills, this city is absolutely fascinating and the perfect place to explore history.
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 Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Copan Prices
Honduras PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCopan $101San Jose $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Copan is $101, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $104. 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 Copan and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCopan $22San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCopan $44San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Copan and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Copan 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: San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Copan $75San Jose $20
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$2.74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport transfer from SJO Airport to Los Sueños Marriott: $170
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to Arenal by Minivan: $169
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $40
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio by Minivan: $169
- Braulio Carrillo 6 in 1 Full Day Pass with Optional Transfer: $101
- Costa Rica SJO Airport TO Downtown Hotel Private Transfer Shuttle: $25
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita, English Speaking Driver: $254
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Limon, English Speaking Driver: $204
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Monteverde, English Speaking Driver: $191
- Direct transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna, English Speaking Driver: $162
- Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Private Transfer: $57
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $139
Is it cheaper to fly into Copan or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Copan 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 dayCopan $35San Jose $31
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: $34
- Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
- San Jose By Night tour Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $59
- San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner : $70
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $78
- Private Authentic Food Tour in San José: $84
- Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $92
- Dinner with Private Show in Tiquicia Traditional Nights : $95
- City Tour and Dinner at the Best Lookout in San Jose: $149
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Copan $24San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self Guided Walking Tour in San Jose City, Costa Rica: $5.72
- Entrance Ticket to the Farm of Hacienda Orosi: $11
- Entrance ticket to the Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- San Jose : Private Custom Guided Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $35
- San Jose Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $35
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
- Sarapiqui Rainforest Night Walk : Wildlife & Adventure.: $35
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCopan $6.95San Jose $17
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- Wine Tour and Tasting: $85
When comparing the travel costs between Copan and San Jose, we can see that San Jose 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. Since both cities are in Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Copan Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Copan or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Copan. When comparing the sizes of Copan 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.
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.