Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Fortaleza?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza 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: Fortaleza or San Jose?
Fortaleza
A major city on Brazil's northeastern coast and the capital city of Ceara state, Fortaleza is best characterized by its city landscape lined with beaches and palm trees. It also features some great seafood as well as long-standing folk traditions in culture and dance.
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 Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, 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 dayFortaleza $69San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $69, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $90. 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 Fortaleza and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFortaleza $30San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFortaleza $60San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza 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: Fortaleza Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Fortaleza $21San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza
Also for Fortaleza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Beach Park: $12
- Transfer leaving from the Fortaleza waterfront to Beach Park: $8.97
- Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $29
- Transfer Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $300
- Transfer Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $153
- Transfer 4x4 Regular Service Fortaleza - Jericoacoara: $75
- Transfer 4 X 4 Fortaleza to Jericoacoara or Jericoacoara to Fortaleza: $240
- Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $104
- Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Cumbuco: $49
- Shared Transfer from Fortaleza to Aquiraz: $88
- Shared Airport Transfer to Fortaleza Hotels: $9.58
- Roundtrip transfer from Pinto Martins Airport to Hotels in Fortaleza: $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$25
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Local Bus$2.72
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
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $299
- transfer from Juan Santamaria airport to Dominical and Uvita: $290
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $280
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport or Guanacaste Hotels: $276
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tambor beach: $276
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Fortaleza 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 dayFortaleza $24San Jose $18
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.Fortaleza $15San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Fortaleza
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fortaleza.
- Águas Belas Tour: $15
- 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $13
- Beach Park Full-Day Trip Including Brief Tour of Fortaleza: $35
- Canoa Quebrada Beach Tour with Nettour: $20
- Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $19
- City Tour Fortaleza - Full Day Cumbuco Beach Tour by Nettour: $26
- City-Tour and Fortaleza (central market, cathedral, Fort, Theaters, encetur, P.ferreira: $56
- Cumbuco Beach Tour: $12
- Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza: $16
- Fortaleza City Tour : $26
- Fortaleza Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $31
- 4-Hour City Car Tour: $266
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Street Food Walking Tour in Downtown San Jose: $60
- 2-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $33
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- 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 Combo Experience: Canopy & Rapell + Thermals: $65
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFortaleza $9.97San Jose $17
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 Fortaleza and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Fortaleza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fortaleza is in South America 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 Fortaleza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fortaleza 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 San Jose would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Jose than you might in Fortaleza.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fortaleza Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or San Jose?
Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza or San Jose?
Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Fortaleza and San Jose. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Fortaleza is generally around the same temperature as San Josein July. Daily temperatures in Fortaleza average around 28°C (82°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Fortaleza, it's very sunny this time of the year. Fortaleza usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Fortaleza gets 221 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. Fortaleza gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Fortaleza usually receives less rain than San Josein July. Fortaleza gets 119 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyFortaleza 28°C (82°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Fortaleza as well as San Jose. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Fortaleza is around the same temperature as San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Fortaleza averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
In the autumn, Fortaleza often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Josein October. Fortaleza gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Fortaleza receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Fortaleza usually gets more rain in April than San Josein October. Fortaleza gets 356 mm (14 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberFortaleza 27°C (80°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Fortaleza are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Fortaleza is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Fortaleza in July average around 26°C (79°F), and San Jose averages at about 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 Fortaleza. Fortaleza usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during winter. Fortaleza gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Fortaleza usually receives more rain than San Josein January. Fortaleza gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryFortaleza 26°C (79°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Fortaleza or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Fortaleza during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In October, Fortaleza is generally around the same temperature as San Josein April. Daily temperatures in Fortaleza average around 28°C (82°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Fortaleza. In the spring, Fortaleza often gets more sunshine than San Josein April. Fortaleza gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
Fortaleza usually gets less rain in October than San Josein April. Fortaleza gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilFortaleza 28°C (82°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Fortaleza
| Fortaleza | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 356 mm (14 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (80°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.