Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Nice?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nice 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 Nice 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: Nice or San Jose?
Nice
Nice, in the French Riviera, is one of the most popular destinations in France. It's located on the southeast coast along the Mediterranean Sea and is the second largest French city on the Mediterranean. It is an energetic city that attracts all types of vacationers from every age group and demographic. It's the 5th largest city in the country and is the capital of the Alpes Maritimes departement. The metropolitan area has a population of about 1 million.
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 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in 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 dayNice €131San Jose €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Nice is €131, 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 Nice and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNice €59San Jose €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNice €118San Jose €92
Compare Hotels in Nice and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Nice 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: Nice Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nice €25San Jose €18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nice
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nice:
- transfert Nice aéroport vers Isola 2000: $269
- transfert Nice aéroport /Fréjus /Saint Raphaël: $161
- Villefranche-sur-Mer-Port de la Santé: Transfer to Nice: $294
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port to Nice hotels- Arrival Transfer: $49
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port de la Santé to Nice hotels- Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port de la Santé to Cannes - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $171
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port de la Santé to Cannes - Arrival Private Transfer: $86
- Villefranche Port to Nice Intl Airport (NCE) - Departure Transfer: $49
- Villefranche Port to Cannes Mandelieu Airport Departure Transfer: $88
- Villefranche Port Round Trip Transfer to Monaco: $159
- Transfert privé aéroport de Nice-Côte d’Azur - Cannes: $156
- Transfer from Villefranche-sur-Mer-Port de la Santé to Cannes : $86
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:
- 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 Nice or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Nice 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 dayNice €49San Jose €17
Typical Food Prices in Nice
Some typical examples of dining costs in Nice are as follows:
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Slushee€2.50
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Strawberries€4.00
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Loaf of Bread€3.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nice
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nice.
- Nice Small-Group Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties & Wine Tasting: $84
- Viator Exclusive: Organic French Dinner in the Garden of Nice: $95
- Old Nice Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Viator Exclusive: Local Cooking Class & Dinner with View of Nice: $107
- 3.5-Hour Original Old Town Food Tour: $108
- Private French Cooking Class with a Fun Local Noel: $108
- Half-Day Walking Food Tour in Nice with Lunch: $115
- Half Day Afternoon Walking Food Tour with Dinner: $147
- Dinner in the vineyard French Riviera: $193
- Dinner in the Vineyard French Riviera: $206
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.Nice €12San Jose €20
Tours and Activities in Nice
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nice are as follows:
- Half Day Shared Tour in Eze, Monaco and Monte Carlo: $66
- Majestic Christmas tour in French Riviera: $235
- Monaco, Monte-Carlo and Eze Village Small Group Half-Day Tour: $59
- 3 Hour Walking Tour with a Local Licensed Guide in Monaco: $60
- 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Nice with a Licensed Guide: $33
- 3-Hour Segway Tour to Nice & Villefranche-sur-Mer: $81
- A Guided Walking Tour through the Charming Streets of Nice: $32
- A walk of wealth – guided tour in Monaco: $252
- All-Inclusive Food & History Tour in Old Nice with Local Guide: $142
- Amazing Private Walking Tour of Old Nice between Italy and France: $111
- Antibes Electric Bike Tour: $76
- Antibes Provencal Tasting Tour (Food & Drinks): $109
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 dayNice €17San Jose €16
Sample the Local Flavors in Nice
Also in Nice, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Nice Bar Crawl | Best Bars In 1 Night! VIP + FREE SHOTS: $6.03
- Pub Crawl Party with VIP Entry and Free Shots: $16
- Nice : International Party Pub / Bar Crawl Unlimited Ticket: $17
- Pub Crawl Nice with Drinking Games and Optional Drink special: $22
- Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $25
- Nice Bar Crawl | Infamous International Party!: $27
- Nice Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $45
- New Year's Eve Pub Crawl with Shots and VIP Club Entry: $53
- New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl Nice France: $54
- Provence Organic Wine Tasting Half Day Tour from Nice: $66
- Half-Day Saint Paul de Vence and Wine Tasting Tour: $83
- Half-Day Wine Tasting and Saint Paul de Vence Tour from Nice: $84
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 Nice and San Jose, we can see that Nice is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nice 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 Nice would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nice 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 Nice Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nice or San Jose?
Nice has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Nice 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 Nice or San Jose?
Nice 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 Nice or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Nice during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Nice for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In July, Nice is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Nice average around 23°C (73°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Nice usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Nice gets 16 mm (0.6 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 JulyNice 23°C (73°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Nice or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nice and San Jose. The autumn months attract visitors to Nice because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Nice is much colder than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nice averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nice gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Nice usually receives less rain than San Jose. Nice gets 108 mm (4.3 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 OctoberNice 17°C (63°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Nice or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Nice as well as San Jose. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Nice this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In the winter, Nice is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nice in January average around 9°C (48°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Nice usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Nice gets 83 mm (3.3 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 JanuaryNice 9°C (48°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Nice or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Nice are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Nice for the beaches and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Nice is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Nice average around 13°C (56°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
In April, Nice usually receives more rain than San Jose. Nice gets 62 mm (2.4 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 AprilNice 13°C (56°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Nice
| Nice | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 16°C (62°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (69°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 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.