Which city is cheaper, San Jose or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Ignacio vs. San Jose for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit San Ignacio 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 Ignacio 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 Ignacio or San Jose?
San Ignacio
So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.
You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.
This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Ignacio $57San Jose $67
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $57, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $67. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Ignacio and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $15San Jose $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $30San Jose $70
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio 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 Ignacio Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $2.48San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- Shared Departure Transfer: San Ignacio Hotels to Belize International Airport: $70
- Shared Departure Transfer: San Ignacio Hotel to Belize International Airport: $60
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Belize International Airport to San Ignacio Hotels: $70
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$23
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Local Bus$2.45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer: San Jose Airport SJO to Puntarenas by Minivan: $105
- Departure Private Transfer: San Jose City to San Jose Airport SJO by Minivan: $29
- Low Cost Private Transfer From Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport to Mountain View City - One Way: $73
- Low Cost Private Transfer From Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport to San Francisco - One Way: $207
- Low Cost Private Transfer From Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport to San Jose City - One Way: $73
- Low Cost Private Transfer From Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport to San Leandro City - One Way: $154
- Low Cost Private Transfer From Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport to San Mateo City - One Way: $129
- Low Cost Private Transfer From Norman Y Mineta San Jose International Airport to Union City - One Way: $127
- Luxury transfer to Manuel Antonio from San José: $175
- Norman Y. Mineta San José Airport (SJC) to San José - Arrival Private Transfer: $75
- Norman Y. Mineta San José Airport (SJC) to San José - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $149
- One Way Private transfer from San Jose Intl Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $350
Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and San Ignacio 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 Ignacio $16San Jose $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- Xunantunich & Food Tour from San Ignacio: $135
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:
- Vip Evening Sightseeing Tour with Dinner: $66
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $66
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Ignacio $79San Jose $15
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATM Cave Tour from San Ignacio: $141
- ATV, Zipline and Cave Tubing Tour from San Ignacio: $250
- Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic: $140
- Actun Tunichil Muknal with Local Tour guide & Belizean Lunch: $115
- Barton Creek Tour: $87
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $72
- Caracol Maya Ruin Tour: $118
- Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch: $109
- Caracol Maya Site & Pools with Local Tour guide & Belizean Lunch: $115
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $100
- Cave Tubing Adventure: $93
- Cave Tubing and Zip line Adventure from San Ignacio: $160
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: The Childrens Museum Ticket in Costa Rica: $7.00
- San Jose Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Skip the Line: The National Museum Admission Ticket: $30
- San Jose Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $31
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $32
- San Jose Walking Tour: Food, History and Architecture: $38
- Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary Admission Ticket: $39
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $44
- Total San Jose Tour: Bites and Sights Including Columbian Gold Museum Visit: $54
- San Jose Craft Beer Walking Tour with food pairings by Carpe Chepe: $55
- Rainforest Canopy Tour from San Jose: $55
- Damas Island Boat Tour From Quepos: $56
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $14San Jose $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- San Jose Bar Hunt: Sweet San Jose Bar Crawl: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is San Ignacio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Ignacio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio.
When is the best time to visit San Ignacio or San Jose?
Both destinations experience a warmer tropical 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 San Ignacio or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as San Jose. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in July than San Jose. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 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 San Ignacio this time of the year. In the summer, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than San Jose. San Ignacio gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, San Ignacio is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Temperatures in San Ignacio average around 28°C (82°F), and San Jose stays around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Ignacio 28°C (82°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and San Ignacio are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. In October, San Ignacio usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Jose. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
San Ignacio usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. San Ignacio gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Ignacio is around the same temperature as San Jose in the autumn. The temperature in San Ignacio is usually 26°C (80°F) in October, and San Jose stays around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Ignacio 26°C (80°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and San Ignacio during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 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. In the winter, San Ignacio often gets less sunshine than San Jose. San Ignacio gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, San Ignacio is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Ignacio in January are around 24°C (74°F), and San Jose is about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Ignacio 24°C (74°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and San Jose. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
In April, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than San Jose. San Ignacio gets 52 mm (2 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 San Ignacio, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Ignacio usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during spring. San Ignacio gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Ignacio is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Temperatures in San Ignacio average around 27°C (80°F), and San Jose stays around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Ignacio 27°C (80°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and San Ignacio
| San Ignacio | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
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