Which place is cheaper, San Jose or San Fernando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Fernando or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando 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: San Fernando or San Jose?
San Fernando
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Fernando $153San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $153, 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 San Fernando and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Fernando $74San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Fernando $148San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando 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.San Fernando $50San 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 from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tortuguero: $300
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $299
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $280
- 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 to Cahuita With 2 Stops: $272
- 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 from San Jose Airport welcome service to La Fortuna Arenal: $259
- Private Transfer Airport or San Jose hotels to Puerto Viejo Limon: $259
Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and San Fernando 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 daySan Fernando $48San 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 : $34
- Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
- San Jose By Night Tour: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktails Classes: $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
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Fernando $28San 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:
- Poas Volcano National Park Tour and Bird watching in Costa Rica: $205
- Street Food Walking Tour in Downtown San Jose: $60
- 2-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $33
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- 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 & Baldi Hot Springs one day tour from San Jose: $199
- Arenal Volcano Eco Tour & Baldi Hot Springs Private Tour from San Jose: $285
- Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Fernando $22San 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 San Fernando and San Jose, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando 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 San Fernando Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Fernando or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando 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 San Fernando 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 San Fernando or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando 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. San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Fernando usually receives more rain than San Jose. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Fernando usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. San Fernando gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Fernando is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Fernando 27°C (81°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as San Jose. San Fernando 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. San Fernando receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Fernando usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 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 San Fernando this time of the year. In the autumn, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than San Jose. San Fernando gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
San Fernando is around the same temperature as San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, San Fernando usually receives more rain than San Jose. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 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. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. San Fernando gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, San Fernando is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Fernando in January average around 26°C (78°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Fernando 26°C (78°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and San Fernando during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
San Fernando usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 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 San Fernando. In the spring, San Fernando often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, San Fernando is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and San Fernando
| San Fernando | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 252 mm (9.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 225 mm (8.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 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.