Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Ocho Rios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ocho Rios or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios 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: Ocho Rios or San Jose?
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
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 dayOcho Rios $75San Jose $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $75, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $88. 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 Ocho Rios and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $52San Jose $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $104San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios 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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.48San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Ocho Rios : $29
- Runaway Bay Hotels Private Round Trip Transfers from MBJ: $160
- Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $50
- Riu Ocho Rios Private Airport Transfer: $79
- Riu Ocho Rios Jamaica Private Airport Transfer: $60
- Private Transfers to Runaway Bay or Ocho Rios (42O VIP Offered): $60
- Private Transfers To/From Ocho Rios & OCJ Airport Across Jamaica: $143
- Private Transfer to horseback,Bluehole,River rafting in OchoRios.: $70
- Private Transfer to Konoko Falls Botanical Gardens: $27
- Private Transfer to Beach Horse Back Ride and Swim: $40
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios Hotels: $120
- Private Transfer from Ian Fleming Airport to Ocho Rios: $20
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$2.66
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
- Private Transfer from San Jose downtown to Liberia Airport: $299
- 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 One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $280
- Private Transfer Airport or San Jose hotels to Puerto Viejo Limon: $280
- Private Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita With 2 Stops: $279
- 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 welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Samara Beach: $265
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Ocho Rios 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 dayOcho Rios $16San Jose $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- From Flavors of Jamaica Guided Food Tour: $89
- Taste of Jamaica Farm & Food Tour: $98
- Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $128
- Ocho Ros: Hillside Cooking Class, Jamaican Style: $130
- Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Runaway Bay: $138
- Taste of Jamaica Food Tour: $140
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: $32
- Cooking Classes Farm to Table visit Central Market: $55
- 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
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $76
- Dinner with Private Show in Tiquicia Traditional Nights : $95
- Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $106
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15San Jose $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.39
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$18
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting, and Horseback Ride Tour From Montego Bay: $118
- Blue Hole And Horseback Riding Combo Tour From Ocho Rios : $160
- Full-Day Tour to Blue Hole Falls with Horseback Ride from Montego Bay: $220
- Private Dunn's River and Blue hole tour from Ocho Rios : $80
- Private Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios : $30
- Shopping Tour From Runaway Bay Hotels : $65
- 3 Hours Private Ocho Rios Shopping Tour from Runaway Bay : $46
- 4 Hour ATV Tour in Yaaman Adventure Park with Jerk Chicken Lunch: $164
- ATV Tour from Runaway Bay : $200
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting and Horseback Riding Experience in Ocho Rios: $275
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting, Horseback Ride Guided Tour from Montego Bay: $135
- ATV, Horseback Riding and Bluehole Adventure Tour : $230
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Day Tour Ecotermales Hot Springs & Arenal Volcano from San José: $205
- Poas Volcano National Park Tour and Bird watching in Costa Rica: $217
- Street Food Walking Tour in Downtown San Jose: $60
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- 3-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $40
- AWA Water Museum - Waterfall Adventure (Organic Food Experience): $98
- Arenal Combo Experience: Canopy & Rapell + Thermals: $62
- Arenal Volcano & Baldi Hot Springs one day tour from San Jose: $199
- Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose: $159
- Arenal Volcano National Park Sloth Tour: $100
- Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs Full Day Tour from San Jose: $194
- BRIBRI Chocolate tour & Cahuita National park from San Jose: $244
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.59San 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: $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 Ocho Rios and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Ocho Rios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocho Rios Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocho Rios and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios 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. In July, Ocho Rios usually receives less rain than San Jose. Ocho Rios gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Ocho Rios, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ocho Rios usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Ocho Rios gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Ocho Rios is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ocho Rios in July average around 29°C (83°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyOcho Rios 29°C (83°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ocho Rios as well as San Jose. Ocho Rios 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, May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season. It's quite rainy in San Jose. Ocho Rios receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Ocho Rios gets 167 mm (6.6 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 Ocho Rios this time of the year. In the autumn, Ocho Rios often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Ocho Rios gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
In October, Ocho Rios is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 28°C (82°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberOcho Rios 28°C (82°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Ocho Rios are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ocho Rios throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Ocho Rios usually receives more rain than San Jose. Ocho Rios gets 18 mm (0.7 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 Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during winter. Ocho Rios gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
Ocho Rios is around the same temperature as San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryOcho Rios 26°C (79°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Ocho Rios during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ocho Rios 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. Also, the hurricane season in San Jose is May to November. Ocho Rios usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as San Jose. Ocho Rios gets 27 mm (1.1 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 Ocho Rios. In the spring, Ocho Rios often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. Ocho Rios gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Ocho Rios is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ocho Rios in April average around 26°C (80°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilOcho Rios 26°C (80°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Ocho Rios
| Ocho Rios | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.