Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Mumbai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Mumbai or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mumbai 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: Mumbai or San Jose?
Mumbai
Mumbai is the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state. It is still occasionally referred to as Bombay, but most people know it now as Mumbai. It's the commercial capital of the country and is a major port city. It's also famous for Bollywood, which is the movie capital of the country and famous for it's music filled Bollywood flicks that have become popular around the world. Mumbai is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in India and has some of the most liberal views of an otherwise conservative country. Many immigrants and expats live in Mumbai and it's easy to see the blend of cultures.
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 from Mumbai, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
-
Mumbai Prices
India PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMumbai $83San Jose $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Mumbai is $83, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $103. 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 Mumbai and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMumbai $32San Jose $49
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMumbai $64San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Mumbai and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Mumbai 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: Mumbai Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mumbai $7.37San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai
Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to & fro Airports,Cruise Terminal,Hotels or any whichway, one way/time: $69
- Transfer from Mumbai Airport to Hotel: $55
- Private Transfer: Mumbai Airport to Hotel: $35
- Private Transfer from Mumbai to your Accommodation in Pune: $24
- Private Transfer from Mumbai hotels to Mumbai Cruise Port: $168
- Private Transfer from Mumbai Int Airport (BOM) to Mumbai Port: $162
- Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Hotels: $81
- Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Hotels: $168
- Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Airport (BOM): $62
- Private Transfer Mumbai Airport by Innova Crysta: $25
- One way Private transfer from Mumbai Airport to Hotel: $39
- Mumbai Private Airport Transfer to Hotel Easy & Safe: $24
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 from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Montezuma: $300
- San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Limon: Private Transfer : $299
- San Jose to Guanacaste: Private Transfer : $299
- Private Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita With 2 Stops: $298
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Liberia: $297
- Transfer one way from San Jose or Airport to Hotel RIU Guanacaste : $295
- Private Transfer San Jose SJO Airport to Puerto Viejo by Minivan: $283
- Private Transfer: San José Apto to Puerto Viejo / Cahuita (Limón): $280
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $280
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Private Transfer: San José Airport to Puerto Viejo / Cahuita : $275
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Cahuita: $272
Is it cheaper to fly into Mumbai or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Mumbai 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 dayMumbai $42San Jose $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai
For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Street Food Tour with Mumbai Sightseeing Tour including AC vehicles: $19
- Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai: $20
- Mumbai Food Tour: $20
- Small Group Authentic Mumbai Virtual Cooking Class with Dessert: $20
- Mumbai Street Food Tour with Evening Bazaar Walk: $29
- Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home: $31
- Bombay Express Mumbai Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
- Mumbai Street Food Tour: $42
- Daily Mumbai Street Food Tour : $52
- Private Mumbai Market Tour and Cooking Class With an Expert: $52
- Private Vegetarian Indian Cooking Class in Mumbai: $53
- Private Market Tour and Vegetarian Cooking Class in Mumbai: $64
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 including Markets: $29
- San Jose Cooking Classes visit Central Market: $52
- San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner, Cooking & Cocktail Class: $59
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $78
- San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner : $80
- Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $92
- Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $113
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mumbai $2.52San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Mumbai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.
- Dharavi Authentic Slum Tour: $120
- Kanheri Caves Heritage Tour: $45
- Mumbai by Night Guided Tour : $50
- Private Full-Day Mumbai Sightseeing Tour with Dharavi Slums: $41
- "Private Mumbai City Sightseeing Tour": $46
- "Private Mumbai Dharavi Slum Tour": $9.24
- "Private Mumbai Kanheri Caves Tour : A Buddhist Settlement": $46
- 3 Day Private Tour in Aurangabad: $290
- 3 Hours Early Morning in South Mumbai Heritage Bicycle Tour : $46
- 3-Hour Private Guided Tour in Bollywood from Mumbai: $226
- 7 Hour Mumbai City Sightseeing Tour By Navv Om Namaha Shivaya: $116
- All In One Combo Tour of Mumbai City, Dabbawalas, Dhobhi Ghat, Slums & Bollywood: $150
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 in 1 Volcano Irazu + San Jose City Tour: $187
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- 3-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $40
- A taste of Aquiares - 2 hours Coffee Tour: $42
- ATV Off Road Poas Volcano Adventure and Hiking for two persons.: $130
- Action Packed Class 4 Rafting Adventure : $95
- Adventure Park: $190
- Adventure Zip Lining at the Cloud Forest from San José: $138
- Airtime Zipline Adventure in Arenal: $60
- Arenal Combo Experience: Canopy & Rapell + Thermals: $65
- Arenal Hanging Bridges and Hot Springs Private Tour from San Jose: $295
- Arenal Volcano & Baldi Hot Springs one day tour from San Jose: $199
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMumbai $3.50San Jose $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:
- Bombay Party (Bar Crawl): $25
- South Bombay Pub Crawl: $37
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- Exclusive Pub Crawl in San Jose : $30
- Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $39
- 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 Mumbai and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Mumbai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mumbai is in Asia 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 Mumbai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mumbai 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 Mumbai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mumbai Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mumbai or San Jose?
Mumbai has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Mumbai 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 Mumbai 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 Mumbai or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mumbai and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mumbai year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. Mumbai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Mumbai usually receives more rain than San Jose. Mumbai gets 640 mm (25.2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Mumbai usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during summer. Mumbai gets 73 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
Mumbai is around the same temperature as San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Mumbai averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyMumbai 28°C (82°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Mumbai or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Mumbai as well as San Jose. Mumbai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Also, December to April in San Jose is the dry season. Also, the hurricane season in San Jose is May to November. It's quite rainy in San Jose. Mumbai usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Mumbai gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mumbai this time of the year. In the autumn, Mumbai often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Mumbai gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Mumbai is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mumbai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMumbai 29°C (84°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mumbai or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Mumbai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mumbai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Mumbai usually receives more rain than San Jose. Mumbai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mumbai. Mumbai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during winter. Mumbai gets 270 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Mumbai is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Mumbai average around 24°C (75°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMumbai 24°C (75°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mumbai or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Mumbai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mumbai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
December to April is the dry season in San Jose. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in San Jose. Mumbai usually gets less rain in April than San Jose. Mumbai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 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 Mumbai. In the spring, Mumbai often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Mumbai gets 284 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
Mumbai is around the same temperature as San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Mumbai averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilMumbai 29°C (84°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Mumbai
| Mumbai | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 560 mm (22 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 640 mm (25.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 520 mm (20.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 10 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.