Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Mandeville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mandeville or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mandeville 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: Mandeville or San Jose?
Mandeville
Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandeville $81San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, 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 Mandeville and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandeville $38San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandeville $76San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Mandeville 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandeville $31San 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:
- transfer from Juan Santamaria airport to Dominical and Uvita: $290
- Transfers to Occidental Papagayo - Secrets Resort, Round-Trip: $130
- 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
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Transfer from SJO Airport to Jaco or vice versa: $125
- Transfer TO or FROM SJO Airport to Monteverde Area. Private, NOT SHARED: $215
- Transfer TO & FROM SJO Airport to Esterillos - Bejuco Not Shared.: $180
- Transfer SJO Airport to Hotels nearby or Vice versa Private 6 PAX: $45
- Transfer From San Jose to Puerto Viejo: $80
- Transfer Airport Area to Jaco Hotels Private One Way Transport: $150
- Shuttle & transfer rides to Jaco beach: $137
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Mandeville 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 dayMandeville $24San Jose $18
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
- 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
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandeville $8.31San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Poas Volcano National Park Tour and Bird watching in Costa Rica: $205
- 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 & Baldi Hot Springs one day tour from San Jose: $199
- Arenal Volcano Eco Tour & Baldi Hot Springs Private Tour from San Jose: $285
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandeville $6.51San 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 comparing the travel costs between Mandeville and San Jose, we can see that San Jose 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 Mandeville 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 Mandeville Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandeville or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Mandeville. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville 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 Mandeville or San Jose?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Mandeville or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville 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. In July, Mandeville usually receives less rain than San Jose. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 29°C (83°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMandeville 29°C (83°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Mandeville during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the autumn, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
Mandeville is around the same temperature as San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMandeville 28°C (82°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Mandeville usually receives more rain than San Jose. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Mandeville is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mandeville in January average around 26°C (79°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMandeville 26°C (79°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as San Jose. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Mandeville usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the spring, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Mandeville is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 26°C (80°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMandeville 26°C (80°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Mandeville
| Mandeville | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 104 mm (4.1 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.