Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Prague?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Prague or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Prague and San Jose. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Prague or San Jose?
Prague
Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic. It is also the largest city in the country and one of the largest cities in Central Europe. Prague has long enticed travelers for its beautiful architecture, impressive bridges, detailed cathedrals, and fascinating history. Prague is unique in that is remained almost completely undamaged during World War II. The medieval city center still feels like you've stepped back in time. Despite this historic atmosphere, there is still a lot of vibrant energy and you'll find many different live music venues, art galleries, modern restaurants, and unique festivals throughout the year.
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 Czech Republic, The Best Tours for Seniors to Czech Republic, 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 dayPrague $111San Jose $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Prague is $111, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $89. 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 Prague and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPrague $68San Jose $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPrague $136San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Prague and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Prague 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: Prague Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Prague $8.26San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Prague
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Prague:
- VIP Private Transfer from Prague Hotel to Prague Airport: $60
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Prague APT-HTL (PRG) : $36
- Transfer from Prague to Dresden: Private daytrip with 2 hours for sightseeing: $191
- Transfer from Prague to Cesky Krumlov: Private daytrip with 2h for sightseeing: $138
- Shared Departure Transfer: Prague Hotel to Prague Airport: $25
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Prague Airport to Hotels: $25
- Scenic Private Transfer from Prague to Vienna or Vienna to Prague: $257
- Private transfer from Prague to Vilshofen: $592
- Private transfer from Prague to Vienna with 2h stop in Mikulov: $141
- Private transfer from Prague to Munich: $700
- Private transfer from Prague to Budapest: $1,066
- Private transfer from Prague to Berlin with Terezin Concentration Camp stop: $284
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$2.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport to SanJose City: $39
- Private One-way Juan Santamaria Airport Transfer to from San Jose: $41
- Transfer Costa Rica SJO Airport To OR From Hotels nearby Private : $45
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Private Transfer from San Jose City to Puntarenas Cruise Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $64
- Private transfer from SJO Intl Airport to downtown Hotels: $65
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Prague or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Prague 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 dayPrague $26San Jose $18
Typical Food Prices in Prague
Some typical examples of dining costs in Prague are as follows:
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Fruit$4.30
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Lunch for One$13
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Bananas$0.61
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Cookies$0.34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Prague
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Prague.
- Anti Tour Prague - Self Guided Beer and Food Tour: $21
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Prague by Night: 2-Hour Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $47
- Sightseeing Boat Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $47
- Sightseeing Boat Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $52
- Prague Street Food Tour: $53
- Vltava River Evening Dinner Cruise: $54
- Folkloric Dinner Show with Unlimited Drinks: $57
- 2-Hour Dinner Cruise with Transfers: $58
- Folklore dinner: $58
- Vltava River Cruise with Dinner: $58
- Medieval Dinner with Unlimited Drinks: $59
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
- 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
- Dinner + Typical Show in the best viewpoint of the City: $99
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Prague $16San Jose $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Prague
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Prague are as follows:
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Opera Tickets$4.30
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Two Tickets for Charles Bridge Tower$6.02
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Image Theatre for Two$41
Tours and Activities in Prague
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Prague are as follows:
- Prague Escape Game Experience: $32
- The Private Prague All Inclusive Tour: $268
- "Best of Prague" custom-built private tour 7 hours : $199
- 1 hour Old timer Convertible Prague Sightseeing Tour: $137
- 1 hour Prague Panoramic Vltava River sightseeing Cruise: $17
- 1–Hour Vintage Car Tour: $129
- 1,5 hour oldtimer convertible Prague sightseeing tour: $164
- 1,5-Hour Prague Monasteries Segway Tour : $68
- 1.5 Hour SEGWAY Tour of Prague: $63
- 1000 years of history! Evening walking foodie tour: $146
- 180 Min Grand Private City Tour on E-Scooter: $95
- 2 Countries Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland tour from Prague: $169
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 Farm of Hacienda Orosi: $11
- Entrance ticket to the Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $30
- Sarapiqui Frog Tour: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- San Jose Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
- Corso Lecheria Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPrague $11San Jose $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Prague
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Prague from other travelers:
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A Bottle of Wine$6.83
Sample the Local Flavors in Prague
Also in Prague, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Staropramem Brewery Self-Guided Tour with Tasting: $13
- Clock Tower Bar Crawl with Drinks and Shots: $24
- Clock Tower Bar Crawl in Prague: $26
- 1 Hour Exclusive Moravian Wine Tasting in an Art Gallery : $28
- Pub Crawl in Prague: $32
- Pub Crawl and International Party: $34
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Entry: $34
- Pub Crawl with 2-Hour Open Bar at Drunken Monkey: $36
- Golden Burlesque Show & Live Music w/ Lady & The Devil: $37
- Golden BURLESQUE: $42
- Prague beer tour with brewery visit and tasting: $47
- Wine Tasting and Walking Tour of Prague: $49
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 Prague and San Jose, we can see that Prague is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Prague 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 Prague would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Prague 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 Prague Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Prague or San Jose?
Prague has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Prague 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 Prague or San Jose?
Prague 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 Prague or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Prague during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Prague in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In July, Prague is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Prague average around 19°C (66°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Prague. In the summer, Prague often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Prague gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Prague usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Prague gets 70 mm (2.7 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 JulyPrague 19°C (66°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Prague or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Prague and San Jose. Most visitors come to Prague for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Prague is much colder than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Prague averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Prague usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Prague gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Prague usually receives less rain than San Jose. Prague gets 42 mm (1.7 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 OctoberPrague 11°C (52°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Prague or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Prague as well as San Jose. The winter months attract visitors to Prague because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
The weather in Prague can be very cold. In the winter, Prague is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Prague in January average around 1°C (33°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In the winter, Prague often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Prague gets 49 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Prague usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Prague gets 42 mm (1.7 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 JanuaryPrague 1°C (33°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Prague or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Prague are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Prague this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Prague is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Prague average around 10°C (49°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. Prague usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Prague gets 145 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Prague usually receives more rain than San Jose. Prague gets 51 mm (2 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 AprilPrague 10°C (49°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Prague
| Prague | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 1°C (33°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 2°C (35°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (49°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (36°F) | 49 mm (1.9 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.