Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Saint John's?
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 Saint John's or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's or San Jose? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Saint John's or San Jose?
Saint John's
If you've been to St. John's, Antigua, you were likely on a cruise - which means you likely did not have enough time to truly experience the magic of this tiny island getaway.
St. Johns is the capital of the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Located on Antigua, this tropical city lives up to its status as a tropical paradise. With 365 beaches on the island, you can enjoy the luxury of lounging in the sand every day of 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 Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Saint John's Prices
Antigua and Barbuda PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $272San Jose $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $272, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $103. 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 Saint John's and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's 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: San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17San Jose $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
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Local Bus$1.52
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Taxi From Airport$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:
- VIP Meet and Greet Fast Track on Arrival at Antigua Airport - without Transfers : $77
- VATS Antigua Airport Transfers: $100
- Round-Trip Transfer between Antigua Airport and Antigua Hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from St. John's Port to Antigua Island Hotels: $55
- Private Transfer from Antigua island hotels to St. John's Port: $55
- Private Transfer from Antigua Airport (ANU) to St. John's Port: $40
- Private Transfer from Antigua & Barbuda V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to island: $118
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers & Tour in Antigua & Barbuda: $200
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport to St. James's Club & Villas: $83
- Private Round Trip Transfer From Antigua Airport To NonSuch Bay: $99
- Private Antigua Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hammock Cove: $90
- Private Airport Transfers to Antigua and Barbuda: $60
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: $200
- Airport transfer from SJO Airport to Los Sueños Marriott: $170
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to Arenal by Minivan: $169
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $40
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio by Minivan: $169
- Braulio Carrillo 6 in 1 Full Day Pass with Optional Transfer: $112
- Costa Rica SJO Airport TO Downtown Hotel Private Transfer Shuttle: $25
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita, English Speaking Driver: $252
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Limon, English Speaking Driver: $199
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Monteverde, English Speaking Driver: $189
- Direct transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna, English Speaking Driver: $161
- Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Private Transfer: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Saint John's 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 daySaint John's $117San Jose $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint John's
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint John's.
- City Lime Food Tour: Taste our culture on Antigua's only food tour in the city!: $105
- Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $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: $34
- Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
- San Jose By Night tour Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $53
- Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour and National Museum : $65
- San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner : $70
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $78
- Private Authentic Food Tour in San José: $84
- Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $92
- Dinner with Private Show in Tiquicia Traditional Nights : $95
- Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $108
- City Tour and Dinner at the Best Lookout in San Jose: $149
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103San Jose $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint John's
Here are a few typical costs in Saint John's for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Museum of Antigua & Barbu$3.00
Tours and Activities in Saint John's
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John's for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 6-Hours Tour East Coast of Antigua: Stingray City, Lunch & Beach: $195
- Adventure Antigua - Eli's Original Eco Tour: $134
- Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation: $203
- Adventure Power Boat Tour Antigua and Private Laviscount Island: $182
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $110
- Antigua Island Tour: $199
- Antigua Island Tour And Darkwood Beach: $129
- Antigua Reef Riders Self-Drive Boat and Snorkeling Tour: $180
- Antigua Round Island Tour: $85
- Antigua Seafood Lunch Cruise From St. John's: $172
- Antigua Shore Excursion: Round Island Tour: $110
- Antigua Sunset Catamaran Cruise From St. John's: $133
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 Guided Tour of Cheese in Canaan de Rivas: $30
- Sarapiqui Frog Experience: Night Experience in the Jungle.: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Britt Classic Coffee Tour : $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- San Jose : Private Custom Guided Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $34
- San Jose Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $34
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18San Jose $17
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- Exclusive Pub Crawl in San Jose : $35
- Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $37
- Bar Crawl in San Jose in a Deluxe Party Bus: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and San Jose, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands 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 Saint John's would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John's 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 Saint John's Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's 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 Saint John's 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 Saint John's or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as San Jose. Saint John's 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. Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the summer. Saint John's usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In the summer, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (81°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's 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. The hurricane season in San Jose is May to November. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In October, Saint John's usually receives less rain than San Jose. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Saint John's is around the same temperature as San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Saint John's during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Saint John's usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 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 Saint John's. In the winter, Saint John's often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Saint John's is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John's in January average around 24°C (76°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's 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. Saint John's gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Saint John's usually receives more rain than San Jose. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during spring. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Saint John's is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 26°C (78°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Saint John's
| Saint John's | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.