Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Rabat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rabat or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Rabat and San Jose can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Rabat or San Jose?
Rabat
While not high on the tourist destination list, Rabat is a quiet gem of a city with stunning colonial architecture and palm-lined streets. This political capital is a laid-back, pleasant alternative to the more cosmopolitan Casablanca.
Located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg, Rabat plus the city of Temera are home to a combined metropolitan population of 2.6 million.
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 2-Week Tours in Morocco, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Morocco, 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 dayRabat $43San Jose $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Rabat is $43, 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 Rabat and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRabat $27San Jose $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRabat $54San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Rabat and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Rabat 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: Rabat Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rabat $2.10San Jose $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rabat
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Rabat:
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Taxi to Sale$3.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rabat
Also for Rabat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Rabat to Tangier: $145
- Transfer Rabat to Salé: $22
- Transfer Rabat to Fes: $116
- Transfer Rabat to Essaouira: $264
- Transfer Private From Rabat to Tetouan: $231
- Private Transfer from Rabat To Fez: $207
- Private Transfer From Fez To Rabat: $207
- Private Airport Transfer to or from Casablanca: $176
- Private Airport Transfer to or from Casablanca: $139
- Guided City Tour with Transfers: $118
- 1-Way Private Transfer to or from Rabat Airport: $31
- Rabat to Casablanca Private Transfer: $65
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:
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tortuguero: $300
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- 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 or Guanacaste Hotels: $276
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269
- Private Transfer from San Jose downtown to Liberia Airport: $267
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Samara Beach: $265
- Private Transfer: $260
- Private Transfer Airport or San Jose hotels to Puerto Viejo Limon: $259
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to La Fortuna Arenal: $259
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Liberia: $257
Is it cheaper to fly into Rabat or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Rabat 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 dayRabat $12San Jose $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rabat
For Rabat, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Small Group Cooking Classes with Tour of Rabat : $45
- Join Best Moroccan Cooking Class with Chef Khadija ( Over 35 years Experience ): $49
- Cooking Class in a Family Home: $66
- Walking Food Tour: $76
- Rabat Food Tour in the Old Town: $76
- Rabat Food Tour Like a Local: $76
- Rabat Family Cooking Class: $76
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class in Rabat with a Local Family: $110
- Private Market Tour and Authentic Moroccan Cooking Lesson with a Rabat Local: $120
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.Rabat $2.83San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Rabat
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rabat.
- 4WD adventure Todra Gorge to Dades Valley - Aventures Verticales Maroc: $63
- 9-Day Tour to Imperial Cities and Desert: $1,400
- Best of Rabat Tour (half-day): $78
- Fes Full Day Private Tour from Rabat: $250
- Fes Full-Day Private Tour from Rabat with hotel pickup : $132
- From Casablanca:9Days Unforgettable Desert Tour To Marrakesh: $1,924
- From Fez : Rabat : Day Trip (Shared Group Tour): $103
- From 4 Days 3 Nights Sahara Desert Tour: $720
- From Tangier Guided Day Tour by High-Speed Train: $105
- Gems of Rabat Walking Tour: $115
- Luxury Morocco: 5-Day Private Guided Tour from Casablanca: $1,397
- Private Boat Exploration Tour In Rabat: $83
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Explore San Jose on Foot: Food Delights and Sights Tour: $47
- Street Food Walking Tour in Downtown San Jose: $60
- 3 in 1 Eco Tour Rain Forest Aerial Tram, River Cruise & Nature Walk Private Tour: $299
- 6 in 1 RainForest Adventure From San Jose: $189
- A taste of Aquiares - 2 hours Coffee Tour: $42
- AERIAL TRAM TOUR - HALF DAY PASS Rainforest Adventures Braulio Ca: $78
- AWA Water Museum - Waterfall Adventure (Organic Food Experience): $98
- Arenal Volcano Eco Tour & Baldi Hot Springs Private Tour from San Jose: $285
- Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose: $159
- Arenal Volcano Hanging Bridges & Baldi Hot Springs. Private Tour from San Jose: $285
- Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Springs Tour from San Jose: $142
- Arenal Volcano Horseback Riding & Baldi Hot Springs. Private Tour: $295
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRabat -San 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: $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 Rabat and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Rabat much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rabat is in Africa 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 Rabat would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rabat 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 Rabat.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rabat Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rabat or San Jose?
Rabat has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Rabat 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 Rabat 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 Rabat or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rabat and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Rabat 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, Rabat usually receives less rain than San Jose. Rabat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Rabat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Rabat usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Rabat gets 315 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Rabat is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Rabat average around 23°C (73°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRabat 23°C (73°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Rabat or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Rabat as well as San Jose. Rabat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Rabat usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Rabat gets 44 mm (1.7 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 Rabat this time of the year. In the autumn, Rabat often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Rabat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
Rabat is cooler than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rabat averages around 20°C (67°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRabat 20°C (67°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rabat or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Rabat are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Rabat throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Rabat usually receives more rain than San Jose. Rabat gets 81 mm (3.2 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. Rabat usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Rabat gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Rabat is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rabat in January average around 13°C (56°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRabat 13°C (56°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rabat or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Rabat during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Rabat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Rabat usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Rabat gets 62 mm (2.4 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 Rabat. In the spring, Rabat often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. Rabat gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Rabat is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Rabat average around 16°C (60°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRabat 16°C (60°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Rabat
| Rabat | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (56°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (69°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (67°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (62°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (57°F) | 102 mm (4 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.