A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Jakarta vs. San Jose for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Jakarta 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 Jakarta 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.

Jakarta

Jakarta is a diverse, genuine, and sprawling city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Jakarta travel costs.

San Jose

San Jose is a traditional, colorful, and bustling city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food. See San Jose travel costs.

Jakarta and San Jose: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Jakarta or San Jose?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Jakarta than San Jose, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Jakarta is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, and big city activities, while San Jose is known for its nightlife. Jakarta is popular for its diversity, culture, cuisine, and mega-malls. It is also home to Istiqlal Mosque. San Jose is popular for its colorful markets and vibrant nightlife, as well as its easy access to the rest of the country.

How is Jakarta different from San Jose?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Jose and Jakarta. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Jakarta or San Jose?

Jakarta is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Jakarta can be an interesting and educational experience. There's a huge number of museums around town like the National Museum, Museum Layang-Layang, and Museum MACAN. There's also Merdeka Square, which is one of the world's biggest public squares and Istiqlal Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.

San Jose offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Despite most people rushing through town, there are a number of museums, plazas, and interesting buildings that are worth checking out.

Is the Food Better in Jakarta or San Jose? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Jakarta is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Jakarta. There are so many different cultures represented in Indonesian cuisine, and you'll find them all in Jakarta. The food stalls, restaurants, and casual eateries all have their own flavor and style, which makes dining in this mega-city a true adventure.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in San Jose. Most people miss out on local cuisine during their time in Costa Rica, but the capital city offers the best opportunities to eat like a local. You can sample favorite local dishes such as chifrijo, gallo pinto, rondón, and casado. You should also wander through the Central Market and dine at one of the many local restaurants.

Is Jakarta or San Jose Better for Nightlife?

San Jose is a great city for nightlife. Also, Jakarta is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

The nightlife in San Jose has something for everybody. This city has the best nightlife in all of Costa Rica. You'll find a diversity of clubs and bars that are fun to explore. Check out the reggae bars, dance clubs, and sports bars (where you can enjoy a soccer game) while you're in town.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Jakarta. It's a huge city, so there's a very active nightlife scene, but it's mostly focused on locals and not tourists like you'll find elsewhere in Indonesia. For the best nightlife district, head to Kemang, which has many bars and clubs.

Is the Shopping Better in Jakarta or San Jose?

If you're looking to go shopping, Jakarta and San Jose both offer plenty of great spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Jakarta. The city is filled with high end luxury malls where you can buy the latest fashions and many international brands. Around town you'll also find everything from local handicrafts to chic boutiques and grand international chains.

San Jose is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There are a number of unique things you can buy in the city including jewelry, handbags, and wood workings. Make sure you check out the Central Market.

Is Jakarta or San Jose Better for Families?

Jakarta is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, San Jose is lacking in good options for its family-friendly activities.

Jakarta is a family-friendly city. Most visitors skip out on this huge city, and it's definitely not the first place that comes to mind when you think about family-friendly destinations, but there's actually a very fascinating culture that kids and adults alike can enjoy. There's the Kota area, which has colonial architecture. There's also a puppet museum and several history museums. But for most kids, the highlight is a visit to the Taman Impian Jaya Ancol area, which has amusement parks and even SeaWorld.

San Jose doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Most people pass through the city quickly, but if you have a day or two to explore, you can visit the Children's Museum (Museo de los Niños), Spirogyra Butterfly Gardens, or explore the Central Market.

Is Jakarta or San Jose Better for Couples?

Jakarta is a nice place to visit for romance. However, San Jose is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Jakarta is a nice destination for couples. Most travelers looking for a romantic destination will head to the many famous honeymoon spots in Indonesia. But for those who make their way to Jakarta, there is sure to be a lot of adventure and culture. The city has many great museums as well as nature parks and amusement parks.

Most people don't think of San Jose as a couple's destination. While Costa Rica is a popular honeymoon destination, the capital city is often overlooked for the beaches and rainforests around the country.

Is Jakarta or San Jose Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Jose is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Jakarta is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

San Jose is very popular with the backpacker crowd. Backpackers appreciate the affordability of the city and the wide range of hostels that you can choose from. The city also offers an authentic glimpse of life in Costa Rica.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Jakarta. Visitors often have strong feelings about this city, whether they love it or hate it. For those backpackers who spend some time here, they're sure to be treated to a look at true Indonesian culture, which is hard to find in the more touristy areas.

Is Jakarta or San Jose Better for Students?

San Jose is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Jakarta is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit San Jose. Many students come to Costa Rica to study the country's amazing environment and unique ecological systems. San Jose makes a good base as its easy to travel to other parts of this small country.

Jakarta is not popular with students.

Is Jakarta or San Jose Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

San Jose is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Jakarta is not known for its public transit.

While San Jose offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are local buses that travel through the city during the daytime hours.

Public transit is generally limited in Jakarta. Public transportation has improved a lot recently. There's a commuter line as well as buses. The system can be a bit overwhelming and slow though, so tourists often avoid it.

Is Jakarta or San Jose a more walkable city?

San Jose is a good destination for its walkability. However, Jakarta is not known for its high level of walkability.

San Jose is somewhat walkable. It can feel a bit chaotic, but it's relatively easy to get around on foot.

Jakarta is generally not very walkable. Central Jakarta is more walkable than most of the city but, in general, the city has a lot of traffic and isn't the best for exploring on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Jakarta Worth Visiting? and Is San Jose Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in San Jose or Jakarta?

How long in Jakarta or San Jose?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Jakarta or San Jose to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Jakarta than San Jose because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Jakarta, and 1-2 days is enough time in San Jose.

Families should spend more time in Jakarta than San Jose. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Jakarta, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Jakarta than San Jose. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Jakarta that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Jose than Jakarta if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in San Jose.

One day in Jakarta or San Jose?

Jakarta is a big city with plenty to do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In San Jose, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Jakarta or San Jose?

Jakarta is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Jakarta, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

In San Jose, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that San Jose has to offer.

Five days in Jakarta or San Jose?

Jakarta is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

San Jose is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Jakarta or San Jose?

Jakarta is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Jose. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting San Jose. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jakarta and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Jakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jakarta is in Asia 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 Jakarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jakarta 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 Jakarta.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jakarta Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Jakarta or San Jose?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta 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.