Which place is cheaper, San Jose or La Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Plata or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between La Plata and San Jose can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: La Plata or San Jose?
La Plata
Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.
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 Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, 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 dayLa Plata $8.62San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in La Plata is $8.62, 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 La Plata and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Plata $3.47San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Plata $6.94San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in La Plata and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in La Plata 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: La Plata Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Plata $2.47San Jose $19
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:
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tortuguero: $300
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $299
- transfer from Juan Santamaria airport to Dominical and Uvita: $290
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $280
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport or Guanacaste Hotels: $276
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tambor beach: $276
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Samara Beach: $265
- Private Transfer: $260
- Private Transfer Airport or San Jose hotels to Puerto Viejo Limon: $259
Is it cheaper to fly into La Plata or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and La Plata 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 dayLa Plata $3.37San Jose $18
Typical Food Prices in La Plata
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to La Plata:
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Ice Cream$0.01
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.La Plata $2.16San Jose $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in La Plata
For La Plata, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sciencias Naturales Museum Entrance Fee$0.01
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 dayLa Plata $1.20San 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 La Plata and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is La Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Plata is in South America 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 La Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Plata 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 La Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Plata Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Plata or San Jose?
La Plata has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of La Plata 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 La Plata or San Jose?
La Plata has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Jose experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit La Plata or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and San Jose. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, La Plata is generally cooler than San Josein July. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 25°C (77°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
La Plata usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. La Plata gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, La Plata usually receives less rain than San Josein July. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyLa Plata 25°C (77°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit La Plata or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to La Plata as well as San Jose. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
La Plata is much colder than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 18°C (65°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
In the autumn, La Plata often gets less sunshine than San Josein October. La Plata gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. La Plata usually gets less rain in April than San Josein October. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberLa Plata 18°C (65°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit La Plata or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and La Plata are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, La Plata is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in La Plata in July average around 12°C (53°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. La Plata usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. La Plata gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, La Plata usually receives more rain than San Josein January. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLa Plata 12°C (53°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit La Plata or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and La Plata during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In October, La Plata is generally much colder than San Josein April. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 18°C (64°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, La Plata often gets less sunshine than San Josein April. La Plata gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in La Plata. La Plata usually gets more rain in October than San Josein April. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilLa Plata 18°C (64°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and La Plata
| La Plata | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 96 mm (3.8 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.