Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Grand Cayman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Grand Cayman or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Grand Cayman and San Jose. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Grand Cayman or San Jose?
Grand Cayman
When people think of the Cayman Islands, they typically think of offshore bank accounts and sunny, cruise ship ports. Grand Cayman has more to offer travelers than a playground for the wealthy or a short stopover for cruise passengers. This tropical island is the largest of the three Cayman Islands, it is a shopper's heaven, a center for global finance and an ideal vacation spot.
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 Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrand Cayman $214San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Cayman is $214, 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 Grand Cayman and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrand Cayman $150San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrand Cayman $300San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Grand Cayman and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Grand Cayman 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: Grand Cayman Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grand Cayman $31San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from George Town or 7 Mile to George Town Port: $53
- Private Transfer from George Town Port to Owen Roberts AirportGCM: $53
- Private Transfer from George Town Port to George Town or 7-Mile: $53
- Privat Transfer from Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town Port: $53
- George Town Port to Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
- George Town Port to George Town / 7-Mile Beach area -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $106
- George Town Cruise Port to George Town or 7-Mile Beach -Arrival Private Transfer: $53
- George Town / 7- Mile Beach area to George Town Port -Departure Private Transfer: $53
- Airport Transfers to North Side Accommodation (GCM Grand Cayman): $265
- Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $88
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:
- transfer from Juan Santamaria airport to Dominical and Uvita: $290
- Transfers to Occidental Papagayo - Secrets Resort, Round-Trip: $130
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport to SanJose City: $39
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose City to SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport: $39
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Transfer from SJO Airport to Jaco or vice versa: $125
- Transfer TO or FROM SJO Airport to Monteverde Area. Private, NOT SHARED: $215
- Transfer TO & FROM SJO Airport to Esterillos - Bejuco Not Shared.: $180
- Transfer SJO Airport to Hotels nearby or Vice versa Private 6 PAX: $45
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- Transfer From San Jose to Puerto Viejo: $80
- Transfer Airport Area to Jaco Hotels Private One Way Transport: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Cayman or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Grand Cayman 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 dayGrand Cayman $39San 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.Grand Cayman $41San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman
For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Acquarius Stingray City and Snorkel Tours: $80
- Cayman Adventure: Starfish Point, Stingray City and Coral Gardens: $99
- Cayman Crystal Caves & Pedro St James Castle Tour in Grand Cayman: $179
- Cayman Crystal Caves Tour in Grand Cayman Island: $126
- Cayman's Classic Food Tasting & Cultural Experience: $179
- East End Activities and Tour in Grand Cayman: $158
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $275
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in George Town from George Town Port: $262
- Grand Cayman - Bioluminescent Bay Tour: $95
- Grand Cayman Cruise: Starfish Point, Stingray City, Coral Garden: $80
- Grand Cayman Reef & Stingray City Snorkeling Adventure: $159
- West Island Guided Tour with Entry Tickets: $120
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 dayGrand Cayman $13San Jose $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Grand Cayman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:
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Beer$4.97
Sample the Local Flavors in Grand Cayman
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Grand Cayman:
- Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery Tour Pass Ticket Only: $24
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 Grand Cayman and San Jose, we can see that Grand Cayman is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands 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 Grand Cayman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grand Cayman 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 Grand Cayman Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Grand Cayman or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Grand Cayman 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 Grand Cayman or San Jose?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Grand Cayman or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Grand Cayman are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand Cayman throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. It's quite rainy in Grand Cayman. In July, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than San Jose. Grand Cayman gets 179 mm (7 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Grand Cayman is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Grand Cayman in July average around 28°C (83°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrand Cayman 28°C (83°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Grand Cayman during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grand Cayman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as San Jose. Grand Cayman gets 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Grand Cayman is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Grand Cayman average around 27°C (81°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrand Cayman 27°C (81°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand Cayman and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Grand Cayman usually receives more rain than San Jose. Grand Cayman gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Grand Cayman is cooler than San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Grand Cayman averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrand Cayman 24°C (76°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Grand Cayman or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Grand Cayman as well as San Jose. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Grand Cayman usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Grand Cayman gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Grand Cayman is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Grand Cayman in April average around 26°C (79°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrand Cayman 26°C (79°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Grand Cayman
| Grand Cayman | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 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.