Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Petra or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and San Jose can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or San Jose?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Petra Prices
Jordan PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $153San Jose $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $114. 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 Petra and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59San Jose $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118San Jose $108
Compare Hotels in Petra and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Petra 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: Petra Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23San Jose $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private Transfers from Petra Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $176
- Private Transfer from Petra to Sheikh Hussein Border Crossing: $195
- Private Transfer from Petra to Aqaba Cruise Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional: $99
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
- Petra Private Transfer To Jerusalem: $290
- Petra Private Transfer To Aqaba: $100
- Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
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$28
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Local Bus$3.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to San Jose Airport (SJO): $26
- Private One-way Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport to San Jose: $44
- Private Transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna de Arenal: $46
- Transfer from San Jose to Arenal-La Fortuna San Carlos: $48
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $50
- Private San José Airport Transfer to San José Hotels: $50
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO): $53
- Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Private Transfer: $58
- Scenic Coach Transfers San José to Arenal AM & back at 19:00 hrs: $58
- Private Airport Transfer Liberia Costa Rica – Stress Free!: $65
- Private transfer from SJO Intl Airport to downtown Hotels: $65
- Shared transfer to Manuel Antonio: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Petra 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 dayPetra $66San Jose $34
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Authentic Jordanian Cooking, Taste of Comfort With Family: $28
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains.: $50
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150
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 including Markets: $33
- Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $35
- San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $42
- San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner: $80
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47San Jose $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
- Discover Petra in a Day Guided Tour of the Lost Nabatean City: $200
- From Petra : Wadi Rum Private 8 - hours roundtrip tour .: $190
- Guided 3 Hour Tour of Petra's Iconic Landmarks: $60
- Half-Day Private Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Trial Tour: $200
- Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
- Petra Highlights Guided Golf Cart Tour with Hotel Pickup: $169
- Private 2-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $210
- Private 3-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $270
- Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup .: $75
- Private 3-Hour Petra Tour: Treasury, Siq & Ancient City: $75
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Guided Tour of Alajuela: $20
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Private Guided Tour of Cheese in Canaan de Rivas: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Britt Classic Coffee Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- Sarapiqui Frog Experience: Night Experience in the Jungle.: $33
- San Jose Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $34
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $35
- Hacienda Doka Coffee Experience Tour: $35
- San Jose Birdwatching Nature and Cultural Experience: $35
- 3-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15San Jose $18
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and San Jose, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra 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 Petra Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra 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 Petra or San Jose?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Petra or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Petra during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Petra. In the summer, Petra often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
The heat can be very extreme in Petra. In the summer, Petra is a little warmer than San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Petra in July average around 33°C (91°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in San Jose is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in San Jose. San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Petra usually receives less rain than San Jose. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Petra is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 27°C (80°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Petra or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Petra as well as San Jose. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Petra usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the winter, Petra often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Petra is much colder than San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 15°C (59°F) in January, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Petra or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in San Jose is December to April. May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season. In April, Petra usually receives less rain than San Jose. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Petra is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Petra in April average around 25°C (76°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Petra
| Petra | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 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.