Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Grande-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Grande-Terre or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Grande-Terre 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: Grande-Terre or San Jose?
Grande-Terre
Grande Terre is an island that makes up the eastern half of the Guadeloupe 'mainland.' It is divided from the other half of the main Guadeloupe island, Basse Terre, by a narrow channel called Rivière Salee (or the Salt River). The island itself is characterized by rolling hills, white sand beaches, and cliffs, and its indented coastline is surrounded by coral reefs. It is home to most of Guadeloupe's farmlands and tourist resorts.
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 dayGrande-Terre €145San Jose €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Grande-Terre is €145, while the average daily cost in San Jose is €85. 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 Grande-Terre and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrande-Terre €82San Jose €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrande-Terre €164San Jose €92
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Grande-Terre 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: Grande-Terre Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grande-Terre €9.00San Jose €18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grande-Terre
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Grande-Terre:
- Transfer Guadeloupe Airport to Cruise Port: $38
- PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Cruise Port to Airport (PTP) : $26
- PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Cruise Port : $26
- Private Transfers (Airport, Port, Hotels) Guadeloupe : $54
- Private Transfer in Guadeloupe: $71
- Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Cruise Port to City Hotels: $26
- Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre City Hotels to Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport to Deshaies or Trois Riviers by SUV: $91
- Pointe-a-Pitre to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport to Pointe-a-Pitre Hotels Arrival Transfer: $23
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Pointe-a-Pitre - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island hotel-Arrival Private Transfer: $79
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€24
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Local Bus€2.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer San José Airport - La Fortuna: $180
- Airport transfer from SJO Airport to Los Sueños Marriott: $170
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to Arenal by Minivan: $177
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita, English Speaking Driver: $240
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Limon, English Speaking Driver: $192
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Monteverde, English Speaking Driver: $180
- Direct transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna, English Speaking Driver: $153
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $135
- Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO) to Puntarenas city-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $166
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
- One way Transfer from SJO airport or San José to Playa Dominical max 5 passenger: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Grande-Terre or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Grande-Terre 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 dayGrande-Terre €48San Jose €17
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 & Cocktails Classes: $57
- 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
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grande-Terre €45San Jose €20
Tours and Activities in Grande-Terre
Here are a few actual costs in Grande-Terre for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- *Cruise Stopover* - Tropical Forest - Sainte-Anne Beach: $60
- Cruise Stopover at Village Sainte Anne and its Beach: $31
- Cruise stopover - Plage du Gosier Round trip: $15
- Full Day Private Boat Tour to the Lagoon of Guadeloupe: $232
- Full Day Tour of Guadeloupe: $157
- Guided tour by electric tuk-tuk: $49
- Photoshoot + Drone on a Caribbean paradise beach or day tour : $100
- Private Surf Lessons Tour in Guadeloupe: $97
- Private Ultralight Seaplane Experience in Guadeloupe: $169
- Stand Up Paddle Adventure in Guadeloupe: $49
- Stopover Cruise - Valombreuse Botanical Garden + Sainte-Anne Beach: $49
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 Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Visit a Butterfly Chapel, Gardens, Coffee Tour with Typical Lunch: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
- Historical Tour and Old Houses by Dota: $35
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- San Jose Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- Corso Lecheria Tour: $40
- Zipline Tour Arenal + Indigenous culture + Thermomineral pools: $48
- Chocolate and Coffee Tour Farm Don Jorge: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrande-Terre €12San 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 Grande-Terre and San Jose, we can see that Grande-Terre is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grande-Terre 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 Grande-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grande-Terre 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 Grande-Terre Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Grande-Terre or San Jose?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Grande-Terre as well as San Jose. Grande-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Grande-Terre receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grande-Terre usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Grande-Terre this time of the year. In the summer, Grande-Terre often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Grande-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, Grande-Terre is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrande-Terre 27°C (81°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Grande-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grande-Terre 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 Grande-Terre. In October, Grande-Terre usually receives less rain than San Jose. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Grande-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrande-Terre 27°C (80°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Grande-Terre during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grande-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Grande-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Grande-Terre. In the winter, Grande-Terre often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Grande-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Grande-Terre is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Grande-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrande-Terre 24°C (76°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Grande-Terre and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grande-Terre year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Grande-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than San Jose. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. In Grande-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Grande-Terre usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during spring. Grande-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Grande-Terre is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrande-Terre 26°C (78°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Grande-Terre
| Grande-Terre | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.