Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Rome?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rome 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 Rome 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: Rome or San Jose?
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
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 Luxury Tours to Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, 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 dayRome €170San Jose €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Rome is €170, 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 Rome and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRome €89San Jose €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRome €178San Jose €92
Compare Hotels in Rome and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Rome 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: Rome Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rome €21San Jose €18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)€2.00
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Train to the Airport€15
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Taxi to Airport€45
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)€10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- private transfer from Rome to the Port of Civitavecchia Cruis terminal: $109
- private transfer from Rome to Fiumicino airport: $55
- Welcome Private Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Hotel in Rome: $109
- Verona Airport (VRN) : One-Way Private Transfer to Ravenna: $710
- Van transfer service from / to airports in Rome: $131
- VIP Experience Private Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Rome: $76
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Rome APT-HTL (CIA): $61
- Trieste Port: One-Way Private Transfer to/from Rome Hotels: $2,551
- Transfers from all Airports to ancient city of Rome: $63
- Transfers from Fiumicino airport: $76
- Transfers From Fiumicino to Terracina: $154
- Transfers Ciampino airport To Rome: $46
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€24
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Local Bus€2.58
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 to Manuel Antonio by Minivan: $158
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Monteverde, English Speaking Driver: $181
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $136
- Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO) to Puntarenas city-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $167
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas city- Arrival Private Transfer: $83
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $64
- One way Transfer from SJO airport or San José to Playa Dominical max 5 passenger: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Rome or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Rome 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 dayRome €47San Jose €17
Typical Food Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)€14
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches€2.99
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Cafe e doce€4.00
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Pizza (Fast Food)€2.65
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)€32
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Cheese and bread€10
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Espresso€2.00
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Dinner€58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Award-Winning Roman Food Tours: $16
- Eat Pasta in Rome, Testaccio - Self-Guided Walking Food Tour: $17
- Vatican and Trionfale Farmers Market Food tour and Wine tasting : $32
- Vatican Street Food Tour around the Biggest Fresh Market in Rome: $32
- Roman Master Chef Cooking Class with Wine: $37
- Roman Dinner & History Tour: An Epic Journey Through Time: $37
- Tasty Trionfale Farmers Market Food Tour and Local Wines Tasting: $38
- Campo dei Fiori & Jewish Ghetto area Street Food Tour: $42
- Rome Food Tour : Street Food Testings with Local Guide: $43
- Painting and Pizza Party in Rome: $43
- Pub Crawl and Ultimate Party with Open Bar and Pizza: $43
- Tiber River Urban Rafting Tour with Roman Pizza: $43
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.Rome €36San Jose €20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)€69
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)€33
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Roma Pass€30
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)€20
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Segway Tour€75
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour: $89
- Colosseum and Ancient Rome Tour with Circus Maximus and Forums: $16
- Cruise into Rome?! Full-Day Rome Discovery from Civitavecchia : $97
- Doria Pamphilj Gallery Entry Ticket : $38
- Electric - Bike 3 hour Tour : $56
- Electric Bike Tour of City Centre with Gelato Highlights of Rome: $75
- Haunted Rome Walking Tour : $233
- Hidden Gems & Rome Catacomb Semi Private Tour 8 People Max. : $98
- Palatine Hill and Colosseum Tour in Rome: $86
- Premium Rome Walking Tour: from Colosseum to the Orange Gardens: $295
- Private Tour - Capuchin Crypt and Hidden Gems of Rome: $285
- Private Tour in Ferrari with Driver in Rome: $273
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 dayRome €18San Jose €16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine€6.50
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Pint of Beer€6.34
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Beer€10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Cabaret & Burlesque Show: $32
- Vatican Street Food and Wine Tour with Farmers Market: $38
- The Best Wine Tasting in Trastevere with food pairing and Gelato: $49
- Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks: $53
- Roman Night Life and Burlesque Show Tour: $54
- Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $55
- Agricultural Brewery Tour in the Roman Countryside: $55
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $60
- Pasta Making Class & Wine Tasting in a Trasteve Villa: $68
- E-Bike Night Tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $69
- Rome by Night-Ebike tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $70
- Taste of Tuscany: Food & Wine tour with Florentine Steak: $74
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 Rome and San Jose, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rome 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rome or San Jose?
Rome has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Rome 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 Rome or San Jose?
Rome 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 Rome or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rome as well as San Jose. Most visitors come to Rome for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In the summer, Rome is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rome in July average around 25°C (77°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rome this time of the year. In the summer, Rome often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Rome gets 338 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Rome usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Rome gets 19 mm (0.7 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 JulyRome 25°C (77°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Rome or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Rome are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Rome because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Rome is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 17°C (63°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Rome usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Rome gets 198 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 October, Rome usually receives less rain than San Jose. Rome gets 94 mm (3.7 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 OctoberRome 17°C (63°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rome or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Rome during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rome this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Rome is much colder than San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Rome averages around 8°C (47°F) in January, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Rome often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Rome gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Rome usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Rome gets 81 mm (3.2 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 JanuaryRome 8°C (47°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rome or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rome and San Jose. Many travelers come to Rome for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Rome is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rome in April average around 14°C (57°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. In Rome, it's very sunny this time of the year. Rome usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Rome gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Rome usually receives more rain than San Jose. Rome gets 50 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 AprilRome 14°C (57°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Rome
| Rome | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 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.