Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Oaxaca de Juarez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Oaxaca de Juarez or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Oaxaca de Juarez or San Jose? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Oaxaca de Juarez or San Jose?
Oaxaca de Juarez
Officially known as Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca is the capital and largest city in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It's a beautiful colonial city in the foothills of the Sierra Madre. The city has beautiful architecture and a variety of festivals as well as a tree lined square called El Zocalo. Oaxaca's economy is heavily dependent on tourism and it is a wonderful place to see Mexican art and handicrafts. There are many artists and artisans in Oaxaca and the contemporary art scene is on the rise. The artists combine the area's rich indigenous culture and tradition with a modern twist. While you're in the area you should definitely make a point of experiencing the area's wonderful museums, interesting architecture, charming hotels and unique twist on Mexican cuisine.
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 from Mexico City, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOaxaca de Juarez $46San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Oaxaca de Juarez is $46, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $90. 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 Oaxaca de Juarez and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOaxaca de Juarez $20San Jose $49
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOaxaca de Juarez $40San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Oaxaca de Juarez and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Oaxaca de Juarez 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: Oaxaca de Juarez Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $13San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also for Oaxaca de Juarez, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Xoxocotlan Airport: Private Transfer to Oaxaca City: $88
- Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca de Juárez-RoundTrip Transfer: $74
- Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca de Juárez-Arrival Transfer: $37
- Transfer from your Hotel in Oaxaca to the Oaxaca Airport: $14
- Transfer Private Vehicle from Huatulco City - Huatulco Airport (HUX): $27
- Transfer Airport Hotel n Oaxaca: $16
- Shared Transfer from Downtown Oaxaca to the Airport: $10
- Safe transfer, City of Oaxaca to the airport: $199
- Round private transfer Airport to hotel in Oaxaca: $59
- Private transfer from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido - new highway: $268
- Private and safe transfer from the airport to the hotel in Oaxaca: $50
- Private Transfer from the Airport to your Hotel/house .: $89
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 Tortuguero: $300
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $299
- transfer from Juan Santamaria airport to Dominical and Uvita: $290
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- 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 from San Jose Airport or Guanacaste Hotels: $276
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tambor beach: $276
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Oaxaca de Juarez or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Oaxaca de Juarez 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 dayOaxaca de Juarez $14San Jose $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oaxaca de Juarez
For Oaxaca de Juarez, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oaxaca Night Street Food Tour with Transfers and Tastings: $50
- Oaxaca: Night Street Food Tour with Transfers and Tastings: $52
- Oaxaca: Vegetarian Cooking Class: $70
- Oaxacan Vegetarian Cooking Class: $71
- Central de Abastos Market Food Tour : $72
- Flavors of Oaxaca: Cooking Class with No Set Menu and Local Market Tour: $77
- AUTHENTIC OAXACA FOOD TOUR, eat like a local.: $89
- Food tour to the Tlacolula Market: $90
- Traditional Oaxaqueña Cooking with Grandma's Recipes: $90
- Cooking classes from the Isthmus with a Tehuana: $92
- Traditional Oaxacan Cooking Class (includes transportation): $94
- Traditional Cooking Class in Teotitlan Valle: $96
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
- Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
- 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
- Private Authentic Food Tour in San José: $84
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oaxaca de Juarez $13San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Oaxaca de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Oaxaca de Juarez.
- Full Day Waterfall Adventure in Sierra Madre Mountains of Oaxaca: $80
- 5 Hours Guided Day of The Dead Evening Walking Tour in Oaxaca: $94
- A Piece Of Oaxaca: Guided Tour with Crafts Elaboration: $143
- Amazing Monte Alban and City tour Private Tour: $200
- Amazing experience in the mountain of San Jose del Pacifico: $80
- Ancestral Carnival Tour 2025: $199
- Archaeological sites Tour and Red Pottery in Tlacolula : $170
- Art Workshops and Chocolate Shops Tour: $60
- Artisanal Mezcal Culture Tour for Tasting and History: $107
- Bicycle Tour through Oaxaca learning about its Urban Art and History: $19
- Bike tour to the Tule Tree and the Gastronomic Market: $20
- Boil the water tour: $48
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Street Food Walking Tour in Downtown San Jose: $60
- 2-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $33
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- 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 Combo Experience: Canopy & Rapell + Thermals: $65
- 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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayOaxaca de Juarez $15San Jose $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Oaxaca de Juarez
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Oaxaca de Juarez:
- Hierve el Agua, Tule Tree, Mitla and Mezcal Distillery Tour: $45
- Only Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery tour: $50
- Only Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery Tour: $50
- From Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery: $52
- Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery (Small groups): $66
- Personalized Tour to Hierve el Agua and Mezcal Distillery: $107
- Artisanal Mezcal distillery in an authentic Zapotec village : $150
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 Oaxaca de Juarez and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Oaxaca de Juarez much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Oaxaca de Juarez is in North America 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 Oaxaca de Juarez would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Oaxaca de Juarez 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 Oaxaca de Juarez.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Oaxaca de Juarez Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oaxaca de Juarez or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Oaxaca de Juarez. When comparing the sizes of Oaxaca de Juarez 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.
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.