Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Paris?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Paris 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.
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
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 Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is €232, 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 Paris and San Jose in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Paris 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Jose are as follows:
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Paris 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For San Jose, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paris and San Jose, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paris 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris 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 Paris Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Paris has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Paris 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.
Paris has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Jose experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Paris and San Jose. Many travelers come to Paris for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Paris is cooler than San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Paris, it's very sunny this time of the year. Paris usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Paris gets 241 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. In July, Paris usually receives less rain than San Jose. Paris gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Paris as well as San Jose. Many visitors come to Paris in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In the autumn, Paris is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Paris in October average around 13°C (56°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Paris often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Paris gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Paris usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Jose and Paris are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Paris for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Paris can be very cold during winter. In January, Paris is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 5°C (40°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. Paris usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Paris gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Paris usually receives more rain than San Jose. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both San Jose and Paris during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Paris because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Paris is much colder than San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Paris often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Paris gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
Paris usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Paris gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Paris | San Jose | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 5°C (40°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
May | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
Aug | 20°C (67°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
Nov | 8°C (47°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |