Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Minsk?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Minsk or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Minsk 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: Minsk or San Jose?
Minsk
Minsk is the capital city of Belarus, centrally located. Situated on the Svislac and Niamiha rivers, it is also capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and was the capital of the former Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1919-1991. It is a modern city dominated by monumental Stalinist architecture with many of its museums, theaters, and other cultural attractions.
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 dayMinsk $64San Jose $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Minsk is $64, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $89. 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 Minsk and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMinsk $32San Jose $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMinsk $64San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Minsk and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Minsk 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.Minsk $12San 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$2.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport to SanJose City: $39
- Private One-way Juan Santamaria Airport Transfer to from San Jose: $41
- Transfer Costa Rica SJO Airport To OR From Hotels nearby Private : $45
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Private Transfer from San Jose City to Puntarenas Cruise Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $64
- Private transfer from SJO Intl Airport to downtown Hotels: $65
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Minsk or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Minsk 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 dayMinsk $21San 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, 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.Minsk $20San 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:
- Entrance Ticket to the Farm of Hacienda Orosi: $11
- Entrance ticket to the Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $30
- Sarapiqui Frog Tour: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- San Jose Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
- Corso Lecheria Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMinsk $14San Jose $16
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 Minsk and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Minsk much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Minsk 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 Minsk would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Minsk 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 Minsk.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Minsk Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Minsk or San Jose?
Minsk has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Minsk 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 Minsk or San Jose?
Minsk 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 Minsk or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Minsk during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In July, Minsk is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Minsk average around 19°C (66°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Minsk. In the summer, Minsk often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Minsk gets 258 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Minsk usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Minsk gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMinsk 19°C (66°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Minsk or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Minsk and San Jose. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Minsk is much colder than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Minsk averages around 8°C (47°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Minsk usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Minsk gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Minsk usually receives less rain than San Jose. Minsk gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMinsk 8°C (47°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Minsk or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Minsk as well as San Jose. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Minsk. In the winter, Minsk is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Minsk in January average around -5°C (22°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In the winter, Minsk often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Minsk gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Minsk usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Minsk gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMinsk -5°C (22°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Minsk or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Minsk are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Minsk is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Minsk average around 8°C (46°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. Minsk usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Minsk gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Minsk usually receives more rain than San Jose. Minsk gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMinsk 8°C (46°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Minsk
| Minsk | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (22°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (25°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 0°C (33°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (58°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (47°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 3°C (37°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 53 mm (2.1 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.