Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Salto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Salto or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salto 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: Salto or San Jose?
Salto
Salto is in the citrus growing region of Northern Interior Uruguay, on the east bank of the Rio Uruguay. It is closely connected to the neighboring Argentinian city of Concordia that lies across the river on the western bank. Salto is Uruguay's second-largest city and the most northerly crossing point to Argentina. Salto is a very picturesque city that has a relaxing feel the entire year. However, people mostly come here for the nearby hot springs and the recreation area above the enormous Salto Grande hydroelectric dam.
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 daySalto $71San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Salto is $71, 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 Salto and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalto $30San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalto $60San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Salto and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Salto 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: Salto Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salto $22San 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 Salto or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Salto 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 daySalto $25San 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.Salto $18San 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 daySalto $13San 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 Salto and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Salto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Salto 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 Salto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salto 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 Salto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salto Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salto or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Salto. When comparing the sizes of Salto 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 Salto or San Jose?
Salto 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 Salto or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Salto as well as San Jose. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In the summer, Salto is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Salto in January average around 25°C (77°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Salto this time of the year. In the summer, Salto often gets more sunshine than San Josein July. Salto gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Salto receives a lot of rain in the summer. Salto usually gets less rain in January than San Josein July. Salto gets 116 mm (4.6 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 JulySalto 25°C (77°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Salto or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Salto 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, Salto is generally cooler than San Josein October. Daily temperatures in Salto average around 19°C (65°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Salto usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during autumn. Salto gets 182 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. It's quite rainy in Salto. In April, Salto usually receives less rain than San Josein October. Salto gets 131 mm (5.2 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 OctoberSalto 19°C (65°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Salto or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Salto during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Salto is much colder than San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Salto averages around 12°C (54°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, Salto often gets less sunshine than San Josein January. Salto gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Salto usually gets more rain in July than San Josein January. Salto gets 68 mm (2.7 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 July and JanuarySalto 12°C (54°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Salto or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Salto and San Jose. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Salto is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Salto in October average around 18°C (64°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 Salto, it's very sunny this time of the year. Salto usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during spring. Salto gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Salto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Salto usually receives more rain than San Josein April. Salto gets 117 mm (4.6 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 AprilSalto 18°C (64°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Salto
| Salto | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (65°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (54°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (54°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (69°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 119 mm (4.7 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.