Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay 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: Montego Bay or San Jose?
Montego Bay
As with most places around the tropical oasis of Jamaica, Montego Bay (or "MoBay") is an ideal place to visit for a Caribbean getaway. It is Jamaica's second largest city and the capital of St. James parish on the northern coast. Montego Bay is considered to be the tourist capital of the country and is where the largest airport is located, bringing in many international travelers.
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 dayMontego Bay $200San Jose $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $200, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $87. 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 Montego Bay and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $102San Jose $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $204San Jose $94
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay 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: Montego Bay Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Montego Bay HTL-APT (MBJ): $37
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Montego Bay APT-HTL (MBJ): $37
- Transfer Service, Sangster MBJ Airport From/To Iberostar zone: $55
- Sunset at the Palms Negril Airport Transfers: $53
- Sunscape Splash Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $20
- Sunscape Resorts Montego Bay Private Airport Transfers: $21
- Southcoast Private Airport Transfer: $108
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Montego Bay: $13
- Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $8.33
- Secrets and Breathless Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $20
- Secrets Wild Orchid Hotel Airport Transfer : $21
- Secrets Wild Ochid/ St. James Private Airport Transfer: $43
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$2.62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $33
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $35
- Costa Rica SJO Airport TO or FROM Hotels nearby Private Transfer: $39
- Private One-way Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport to San Jose: $42
- Private One-way Transfer from San Jose to Juan Santamaria Airport: $42
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Private San José Airport Transfer to San José Hotels : $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose City to Puntarenas Cruise Port: $52
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Private transfer from SJO Intl Airport to downtown Hotels: $65
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Montego Bay 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 dayMontego Bay $82San Jose $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Lunch or Dinner with Pickup from Montego Bay : $81
- Night cruise and swim the Falmouth Mystic Lagoon, Dinner and Rum Punch Inclusive: $85
- Private Rick Cafe Cliff Diving and Sunset Dinner Tour : $100
- Jamaican Seafood Street Food Tour from Montego Bay, Falmouth: $130
- Sunset Boat Ride in the Falmouth Luminous Lagoon swim and Dinner : $149
- Houseboat Restaurant and Grill for Dinner Private Transportation : $157
- Private Beach Day and Street Food Tour from Montego Bay: $170
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Montego Bay Dinner and Nightlife Experience : $180
- Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience : $180
- Private Seafood Tour and Floyds Pelican Bar or Black River Safari: $185
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $190
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: $26
- San Jose City Tour Cooking Classes and Markets local food: $49
- San Jose By Night Tour: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $59
- 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: $70
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $76
- Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $99
- Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $108
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32San Jose $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montego Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:
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Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach$2.69
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$38
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$43
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- ATV Adventure to Seven Mile Beach and Ricks Cafe: $220
- Bioluminescence Lagoon tour from Montego Bay with Pick Up: $105
- Bird Sanctuary and animal farm Day Tour : $100
- Black River Day Adventure Tour: $92
- Blue Hole & Secrets Falls and White River Tubing Private Tour: $185
- Bob Marley and Dunn’s River Falls TOUR: $136
- Dirt Adventure ATV from Montego Bay: $160
- Dunn's River Falls Climb: Private Guided Tour: $98
- Dunns River & BlueHole Tour Includes Entry Fees: $289
- Falmouth to Bob Marley Nine Miles and Dunns River Falls Tour : $250
- Floyds Pelican Bar Private Tour : $155
- Jetski Experience Montego Bay : $145
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
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- San Jose : Private Custom Guided Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $34
- San Jose Historical Walking Tour with a Guide: $34
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- San Jose City Tour and central Market with local food : $35
- Corso Lecheria Tour: $40
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13San Jose $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Montego Bay
Also in Montego Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Montego Bay Pub Crawl To Negril and Rick's Cafe: $103
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $37
- 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 Montego Bay and San Jose, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands 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 Montego Bay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Montego Bay during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montego Bay 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. Montego Bay usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Montego Bay. In the summer, Montego Bay often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Montego Bay gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, Montego Bay is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 28°C (82°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontego Bay 28°C (82°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montego Bay and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montego Bay year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in San Jose is the dry season. The hurricane season in San Jose is May to November. San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montego Bay gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Montego Bay usually receives less rain than San Jose. Montego Bay gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Montego Bay, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montego Bay usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Montego Bay gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Montego Bay is around the same temperature as San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montego Bay averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontego Bay 27°C (81°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montego Bay as well as San Jose. Montego Bay attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Montego Bay usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Montego Bay gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 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 Montego Bay this time of the year. In the winter, Montego Bay often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Montego Bay gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Montego Bay is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montego Bay in January average around 24°C (75°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontego Bay 24°C (75°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montego Bay or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Montego Bay are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montego Bay throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in San Jose is December to April. May to November is the hurricane season in San Jose. In April, Montego Bay usually receives more rain than San Jose. Montego Bay gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montego Bay. Montego Bay usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Montego Bay gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Montego Bay is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Montego Bay average around 25°C (77°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontego Bay 25°C (77°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Montego Bay
| Montego Bay | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (77°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 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.