Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Nagano?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nagano 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 Nagano 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: Nagano or San Jose?
Nagano
Nagano city and its surrounding prefecture of Japan is a temple region built around Zenkoji, a 7th century Buddhist temple that overlooks the city. Nagano was also home to the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, with some facilities still existing around town. And then there is the forested mountain Togakushi area to the northwest, which is another draw of Nagano, known for its shrines and status as the home of the Togakure Ninja School.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Japan, The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, 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 dayNagano $90San Jose $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Nagano is $90, 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 Nagano and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNagano $61San Jose $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNagano $122San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Nagano and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Nagano 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: Nagano Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nagano $9.80San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagano
Also for Nagano, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Between Station & Snow Monkey Park: $687
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:
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tortuguero: $300
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tambor beach: $276
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport or Guanacaste Hotels: $276
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269
- Private Transfer from San Jose downtown to Liberia Airport: $267
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Samara Beach: $265
- Private Transfer: $260
- Private Transfer Airport or San Jose hotels to Puerto Viejo Limon: $259
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to La Fortuna Arenal: $259
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Liberia: $257
Is it cheaper to fly into Nagano or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Nagano 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 dayNagano $22San 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.Nagano $8.17San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Nagano
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nagano.
- 4 Day - From Nagano to Kanazawa: Ultimate Central Japan tour: $809
- Food & Cultural Walking Tour around Zenkoji temple in Nagano: $88
- Full-Day Tour: Matsumoto Castle & Kamikochi Alpine Valley: $183
- Izakaya Food Night Tour in Nagano: $101
- Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour: $49
- Private Snow Monkey Tour: From Nagano City / Ski Resorts: $1,381
- Snow Monkey & ZinkoJi With Sake Tasting Private Tour: $556
- Welcome to Private Tour with a Local: $55
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 dayNagano -San 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 comparing the travel costs between Nagano and San Jose, we can see that Nagano 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 Nagano is in Asia 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 Nagano Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nagano or San Jose?
Nagano has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Nagano 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 Nagano or San Jose?
Nagano 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 Nagano or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nagano and San Jose. Most visitors come to Nagano for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Nagano is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Nagano average around 25°C (77°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Nagano usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during summer. Nagano gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nagano gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Nagano usually receives more rain than San Jose. Nagano gets 222 mm (8.8 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 JulyNagano 25°C (77°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Nagano or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Nagano as well as San Jose. The autumn months attract visitors to Nagano because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Nagano is much colder than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nagano averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Nagano often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. Nagano gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Nagano receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nagano usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Nagano gets 227 mm (9 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 OctoberNagano 16°C (60°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Nagano or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Nagano are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nagano this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Nagano in the winter. In the winter, Nagano is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nagano in January average around 2°C (36°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nagano. Nagano usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Nagano gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Nagano. In January, Nagano usually receives more rain than San Jose. Nagano gets 446 mm (17.5 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 JanuaryNagano 2°C (36°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Nagano or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Nagano during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nagano for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In April, Nagano is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Nagano average around 11°C (52°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Nagano often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Nagano gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
Nagano usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Nagano gets 94 mm (3.7 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 AprilNagano 11°C (52°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Nagano
| Nagano | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 446 mm (17.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 2°C (36°F) | 275 mm (10.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 16°C (62°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 222 mm (8.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 232 mm (9.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 227 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 10°C (50°F) | 339 mm (13.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 440 mm (17.3 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.