Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Guatemala City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Guatemala City or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City 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: Guatemala City or San Jose?
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $44San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $44, 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 Guatemala City and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24San Jose $49
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.17San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Transfer from Guatemala City hotel to INTL Airport La Aurora: $75
- Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $80
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
- Private one way transfer in Guatemala: $45
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Puerto Quetzal Port: $73
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $120
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Panajachel or Atitlan: $254
- Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $150
- Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $23
- PRIVATE Group Transfer From Guatemala City to La Antigua: $20
- One way private transfer to Antigua: $74
- Guatemala City Airport GUA to San Felipe de Lara-Arrival Transfer: $76
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$2.72
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $31
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $31
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $35
- 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
- Private One-way Juan Santamaria Airport Transfer to from San Jose: $40
- Transfer SJO Airport to Hotels nearby or Vice versa Private 6 PAX: $45
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Private San José Airport Transfer to San José Hotels : $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Private transfer from San Jose-Heredia-Alajuela Hotels to International Airport: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Guatemala City 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 dayGuatemala City $15San Jose $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Cooking class/Pepian Workshop: $35
- Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour : $75
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180
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 : $34
- Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
- San Jose By Night Tour: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktails Classes: $57
- San Jose Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour and visit Gold Museum : $60
- Explore San Jose By Night: Food and Culture Tour with Local Dinner: $67
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $76
- Private Authentic Food Tour in San José: $84
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.21San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 2-Hour Culture and Historical Tour From Guatemala: $29
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $130
- 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $55
- Acatenango Volcano Overnight Adventure from Guatemala City : $300
- Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $77
- Antigua Guatemala , Full-Day Shared Tour from Guatemala City: $75
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $58
- Antigua Guatemala Half Day Tour: $100
- Antigua walking tour from Guatemala City : $90
- Bike Tour to Antigua Villages from Guatemala City : $175
- Chichicastenango - Panajachel collective tour: $150
- Chichicastenango Market 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:
- Entrance Ticket to the Farm of Hacienda Orosi: $11
- Entrance ticket to the Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Sarapiqui Frog Tour: $30
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $30
- Visit a Butterfly Chapel, Gardens, Coffee Tour with Typical Lunch: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- Private Custom Guided Tour in San Jose: $33
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- Historical Tour and Old Houses by Dota: $35
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.84San 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 Guatemala City and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guatemala City Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or San Jose?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City 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.