Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Piriapolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Piriapolis or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis 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: Piriapolis or San Jose?
Piriapolis
Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.
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 Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, 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 dayPiriapolis $67San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $67, 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 Piriapolis and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPiriapolis $27San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPiriapolis $54San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis 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: Piriapolis Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Piriapolis $31San Jose $19
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$25
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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 San José Airport - La Fortuna: $180
- Airport transfer from SJO Airport to Los Sueños Marriott: $170
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to Arenal by Minivan: $177
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $35
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio by Minivan: $158
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita, English Speaking Driver: $240
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Limon, English Speaking Driver: $192
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Monteverde, English Speaking Driver: $180
- Direct transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna, English Speaking Driver: $153
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $135
- Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) to San Jose - Private Transfer: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Piriapolis 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 dayPiriapolis $23San Jose $18
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Piriapolis $5.89San Jose $21
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 Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Visit a Butterfly Chapel, Gardens, Coffee Tour with Typical Lunch: $30
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- 2-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $33
- Private Custom Guided Tour in San Jose: $33
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- Historical Tour and Old Houses by Dota: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPiriapolis $8.11San Jose $17
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 Piriapolis and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Piriapolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Piriapolis is in South 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 Piriapolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Piriapolis Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis or San Jose?
Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as San Jose. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In the summer, Piriapolis is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Piriapolis in January average around 23°C (73°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Piriapolis this time of the year. In the summer, Piriapolis often gets more sunshine than San Josein July. Piriapolis gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in January than San Josein July. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 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 January and JulyPiriapolis 23°C (73°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Piriapolis or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Piriapolis are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Piriapolis is generally much colder than San Josein October. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 17°C (63°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Piriapolis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during autumn. Piriapolis gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In April, Piriapolis usually receives less rain than San Josein October. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 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 April and OctoberPiriapolis 17°C (63°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Piriapolis or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Piriapolis during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Piriapolis is much colder than San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 10°C (50°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Piriapolis often gets less sunshine than San Josein January. Piriapolis gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Piriapolis usually gets more rain in July than San Josein January. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 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 July and JanuaryPiriapolis 10°C (50°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Piriapolis or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and San Jose. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Piriapolis is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Piriapolis in October average around 16°C (61°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. In Piriapolis, it's very sunny this time of the year. Piriapolis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during spring. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than San Josein April. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 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 October and AprilPiriapolis 16°C (61°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Piriapolis
| Piriapolis | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 11°C (52°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (50°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (52°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 67 mm (2.6 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.