Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Marseille?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Marseille or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marseille 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: Marseille or San Jose?
Marseille
Marseille is the second largest city in France and is the largest Mediterranean port in the region. For visitors, Marseille offers an authentic glimpse at France. It has many colorful markets, natural beauty such as the Calanques with its large, beautiful cliffs, and the old harbor area, which offers a glimpse at the areas working class history.
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 Contiki Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to France, 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 dayMarseille €148San Jose €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Marseille is €148, while the average daily cost in San Jose is €85. 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 Marseille and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMarseille €71San Jose €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMarseille €142San Jose €92
Compare Hotels in Marseille and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Marseille 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: Marseille Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Marseille €28San Jose €18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Marseille
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Marseille:
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Metro Pass€3.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marseille
Also for Marseille, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- private driver vtc marseille taxi transfer airport station port hotel: $73
- Transfert aéroport de Marseille -> Marseille centre/hôtels: $194
- Transfert Aéroport Marseille vers : $226
- Transfer from the Port to the Airport, Marseille sity or AIX TGV: $104
- Transfer from Marseille Airport to Train Station / Ports / Hotels: $164
- Transfer between Marseille airport and Marseille city: $85
- Transfer Minivan Cruise Port Marseille -> Aix en Provence: $130
- Transfer Marseille city center to Marseille Airport: $88
- Transfer Marseille airport, port, hotel, train station: $110
- Transfer Marseille Provence Airport ↔ Cruise Port: $104
- Transfer Marseille Airport to Marseille city center: $90
- Transfer : $85
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€24
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Local Bus€2.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers to Occidental Papagayo - Secrets Resort, Round-Trip: $130
- Transfer to Los Sueños Marriot Playa Herradura from San Jose or Airport: $215
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport to SanJose City: $39
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to Quepos Cruise Port: $72
- Transfer TO & FROM SJO Airport to Esterillos - Bejuco Not Shared.: $180
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- Transfer Costa Rica SJO Airport To OR From Hotels nearby Private : $45
- Transfer Airport area to Manuel Antonio Hotels Private One Way: $185
- Transfer Airport Area to Jaco Hotels Private One Way Transport: $150
- Shuttle & transfer rides to Jaco beach: $137
- Shared transfer to Manuel Antonio: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Marseille or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Marseille 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 dayMarseille €42San Jose €17
Typical Food Prices in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Orangina€2.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Marseille! (Cours Julien): $64
- Sunset Boat Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $73
- Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $74
- Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $86
- Bakeries, Chocolate & Patisseries Food Tour: $94
- Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Evening Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Sunset Sailing Dinner in the Frioul Archipelago: $102
- Marseille Food Tour - Bakeries, Chocolate and Patisseries: $103
- Marseille Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $108
- E-Bike and Food Tour: $118
- 3-Hour Shore Excursion Walking Food Tour: $118
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
- 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
- Dinner + Typical Show in the best viewpoint of the City: $99
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Marseille €38San Jose €20
Tours and Activities in Marseille
For Marseille, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Old Marseille" district tour and treasure hunt: $27
- 2H: City-Tour Marseille: $275
- 3h Kayak Tour at Calanques National Park: $68
- A Day in Provence Small Group Tour from Marseille: $181
- Accrobranche - Ecopark Adventures Marseille Saint-Jérôme: $26
- Aix-en-Provence: Half-Day Shore Excursion Tour: $646
- All Inclusive Food & History Tour of Marseille with Local Guide: $145
- Beer tasting experience in Marseille: $43
- Bookbinding experience in the Vieux Port: $93
- Calanques National Park Kayak Day Tour: $113
- Calanques Trilogy Electric Bike Tour from Marseille: $66
- Canyoning Half Day Tour from La Ciotat : $68
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Explore San Jose on Foot: Food Delights and Sights Tour: $47
- Street Food Walking Tour in Downtown San Jose: $60
- 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 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
- Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Springs Tour from San Jose: $142
- Arenal Volcano Horseback Riding & Baldi Hot Springs. Private Tour: $295
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMarseille €27San Jose €16
Sample the Local Flavors in Marseille
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marseille:
- Marseille Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $22
- Marseille Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $43
- New Year's Eve Bar Crawl Marseille France: $65
- Short Day Tour around Aix en Provence and Wine Tasting : $119
- Bandol and Cassis: Full Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $144
- Luberon: Full-Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $144
- Full-day Wine Tour around Bandol & Cassis from Marseille: $147
- Marseille Shore Excursion - Full Day Wine Tour in Provence: $164
- Small Group Marseille Shore Excursion : Avignon & Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Tour: $164
- Côtes du Rhône Wine tour: Avignon, Palace of the Popes: $165
- From Provence Sightseeing Tour and Wine Tasting: $178
- From Bandol and Cassis Wine Tasting Tour: $178
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 Marseille and San Jose, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Marseille is in Europe 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 San Jose would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Jose 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille than you might in San Jose.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Marseille Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Marseille or San Jose?
Marseille has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Marseille 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 Marseille or San Jose?
Marseille 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 Marseille or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Marseille are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Marseille because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Marseille is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Marseille in July average around 24°C (75°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. Marseille usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Marseille gets 366 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In July, Marseille usually receives less rain than San Jose. Marseille gets 14 mm (0.6 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 JulyMarseille 24°C (75°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Marseille or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Marseille during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Marseille this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In October, Marseille is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Marseille average around 16°C (61°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Marseille. In the autumn, Marseille often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Marseille gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Marseille usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Marseille gets 78 mm (3.1 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 OctoberMarseille 16°C (61°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Marseille or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Marseille and San Jose. Many travelers come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the cuisine. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Marseille is much colder than San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Marseille averages around 7°C (44°F) in January, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. Marseille usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Marseille gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Marseille usually receives more rain than San Jose. Marseille gets 47 mm (1.9 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 JanuaryMarseille 7°C (44°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Marseille or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Marseille as well as San Jose. Many visitors come to Marseille in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In the spring, Marseille is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Marseille in April average around 13°C (56°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. In the spring, Marseille often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. Marseille gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
Marseille usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Marseille gets 48 mm (1.9 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 AprilMarseille 13°C (56°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Marseille
| Marseille | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 8°C (46°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (50°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (51°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 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.