Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Leon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Leon or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Leon and San Jose can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Leon or San Jose?
Leon
Leon is one of the oldest city's in Nicaragua and you can see hints of its colonial past in the architecture around town. Tourism is not a major part of the economy in Leon, but the city is gaining popularity with budget travelers and backpackers and more recently tour groups are including Leon in their itinerary.
With a population of just over 200,000, Leon is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. During the university season the population grows dramatically as there is a heavy presence of students in Leon. It is a popular university town, and this young population gives the city plenty of energy and entertainment.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeon $59San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Leon is $59, 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 Leon and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeon $16San Jose $49
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeon $32San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Leon and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Leon 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: San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leon $1.51San Jose $19
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:
- 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
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $35
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita, English Speaking Driver: $239
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Limon, English Speaking Driver: $191
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Monteverde, English Speaking Driver: $179
- Direct transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna, English Speaking Driver: $152
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $67
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $135
- Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO) to Puntarenas city-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $165
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas city- Arrival Private Transfer: $82
Is it cheaper to fly into Leon or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Leon 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 dayLeon $12San Jose $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.
- Tlakualli Food Tour: $19
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.Leon $5.81San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $163
- A Stroll Through León’s Enchanting Streets: Romantic Walking Tour: $224
- Half Day Private Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $35
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $103
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
- Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
- Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
- Telica Sunset Tour : $93
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
- Visit a Butterfly Chapel, Gardens, Coffee Tour with Typical Lunch: $30
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $30
- Sarapiqui Frog Tour: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- Private Custom Guided Tour in San Jose: $33
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- San Jose Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- Historical Tour and Old Houses by Dota: $35
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeon $3.53San 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 Leon and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leon 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 Leon.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leon Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leon or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Leon. When comparing the sizes of Leon 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 Leon 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 Leon or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Leon as well as San Jose. Leon 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. Leon receives a lot of rain in the summer. Leon usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Leon gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Leon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. Leon gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
Leon is around the same temperature as San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeon 27°C (81°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Leon or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Leon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon 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 Leon. In October, Leon usually receives less rain than San Jose. Leon gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Leon usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Leon gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Leon is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leon in October average around 27°C (81°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeon 27°C (81°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Leon or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Leon during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Leon usually gets less rain in January than San Jose. Leon gets 4 mm (0.2 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 Leon. In the winter, Leon often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Leon gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
In January, Leon is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 26°C (79°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeon 26°C (79°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Leon or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Leon and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Leon usually receives less rain than San Jose. Leon gets 6 mm (0.2 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 Leon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Leon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during spring. Leon gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Leon is around the same temperature as San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeon 29°C (84°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Leon
| Leon | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.