Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kingston or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or San Jose, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Kingston or San Jose?
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
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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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $125San Jose $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $125, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $115. 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 Kingston and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $63San Jose $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $126San Jose $108
Compare Hotels in Kingston and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Kingston 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: Kingston Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $29San Jose $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- VIP Private Airport Transfer: Norman Manley to Montego Bay Hotels: $123
- Transfer from Norman Manley Airport (KIN) to Kingston Hotels: $150
- Transfer for Kingston Airport to or from Hotels in Falmouth Area: $173
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN): $54
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $45
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $25
- Private Transfer to and from Kingston International Airport: $73
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Cruise Port to Kingston Hotels: $261
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Montego Bay Port: $261
- Private Transfer To & From New Kingston to Norman Manley Airport: $40
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
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$28
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Local Bus$3.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport transfer from SJO Airport to Los Sueños Marriott: $185
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio by Minivan: $182
- Costa Rica San Jose Airport (SJO) Private Transfer to San Jose: $42
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita, English Speaking Driver: $257
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Limon, English Speaking Driver: $205
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Monteverde, English Speaking Driver: $193
- Direct transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna, English Speaking Driver: $163
- Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Private Transfer: $57
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $140
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $280
- Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) to San Jose - Private Transfer: $74
- Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO) to Puntarenas city-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $205
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Kingston 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 dayKingston $45San Jose $34
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 including Markets: $35
- San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $49
- San José Market-to-Table Tour: Cooking Class with a Local Chef: $68
- 3.5h Cooking Class in San José with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $75
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $80
- San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner: $80
- Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $92
- City Tour and Dinner at the Best Lookout in San Jose: $149
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $12San Jose $23
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Outback Adventure from Kingston: $288
- Art Walk, Bob Marley Museum Kingston City Tour: $130
- Bamboo Rafting and Boston Jerk Centre Tour in Portland Jamaica: $220
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Coffee Tasting & Farm Tour from Kingston: $150
- Blue Mountain Craighton Estate Coffee Tasting Tour / Devon House: $180
- Blue Mountain Waterfall and Sightseeing Ecotour: $200
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bluehole, Dunn's River Falls and Port Royal all in one tour: $690
- Bob Marley Guided City Tour: $95
- Bob Marley Museum Entry Ticket: $30
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston Hotels: $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:
- Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of San Jose Highlights: $5.50
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Private Guided Tour of Cheese in Canaan de Rivas: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Britt Classic Coffee Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- Rainforest Day Experience Day Tour in Costa Rica: $35
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $35
- Historical Tour and Old Houses by Dota: $35
- San Jose Birdwatching Nature and Cultural Experience: $35
- Hacienda Doka Coffee Experience Tour: $35
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11San Jose $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Worthy Park Estate Rum Distillery Tour with Tasting: $144
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $40
- Wine Tour and Tasting: $95
- Bar Crawl in San Jose in a Deluxe Party Bus: $100
When comparing the travel costs between Kingston and San Jose, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Kingston is in Caribbean Islands and San Jose is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kingston Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or San Jose?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Kingston 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 Kingston 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 Kingston or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kingston as well as San Jose. Kingston 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. Kingston usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 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 Kingston this time of the year. In the summer, Kingston often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Kingston is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kingston in July average around 29°C (83°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kingston or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in San Jose is December to April. May to November is the hurricane season in San Jose. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. It's quite rainy in Kingston. In October, Kingston usually receives less rain than San Jose. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 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 Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 28°C (82°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kingston or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Kingston during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Kingston usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 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 Kingston. In the winter, Kingston often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Kingston is around the same temperature as San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kingston or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in San Jose is the dry season. May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season. In April, Kingston usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Jose. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 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 Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during spring. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Kingston is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kingston in April average around 26°C (80°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Kingston
| Kingston | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.