Which place is cheaper, Baltimore or San Jose?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Jose or Baltimore?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or Baltimore, 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 Jose or Baltimore?
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.
Baltimore
Baltimore is a large, industrial city and popular tourist destination in the state of Maryland. It is about an hour outside of Washington, D.C. and is a hub of tourism and entertainment for the area. It has a vibrant nightlife, comfortable climate, and is a great place to visit when you're in the area. The city proper has a population of about 600,000 and the metropolitan area has 2.7 million. Its economy is centered around science, technology, engineering and math and it has many undergraduate and graduate schools including the world renowned Johns Hopkins University.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Jose $89Baltimore $184
The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $89, while the average daily cost in Baltimore is $184. 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 Jose and Baltimore in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Jose $48Baltimore $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Jose $96Baltimore $186
Compare Hotels in San Jose and Baltimore
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Baltimore? 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 and Baltimore Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Jose $19Baltimore $21
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$2.71
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Baltimore
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Baltimore:
- Private transfer To or Form Bethesda and Dulles International Airport: $209
- Private Arrival Transfer from Baltimore Washington Airport BWI: $60
- Oakland to San Francisco Airport (SFO)-Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Departure Private Transfer Baltimore to Baltimore Airport BWI - Business Vehicle: $111
- Private Transfer to BWI or Washington DC/Airports: $160
- Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer: $93
- Baltimore City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer: $63
- BWI Airport: Transfer to Baltimore or Washington DC: $150
- Arrival Private Transfer Baltimore Airport BWI to Baltimore by Business Vehicle: $111
- Airport transfer to or from Silver Spring, MD & Reagan Airport(DCA): $200
- Airport Transfer Baltimore/Washington International Airport BWI to Washington,DC: $240
- Airport Transfer BWI Airport to Baltimore Downtown Area Only: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into San Jose or Baltimore?
Prices for flights to both Baltimore and San Jose 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 Jose $18Baltimore $46
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
Typical Food Prices in Baltimore
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Baltimore:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2) in Fells Point$76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Baltimore
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Baltimore.
- Federal Hill Food Tour: $71
- Little Italy and Jonestown Food Tour: $73
- Fells Point Food Tour in Baltimore: $74
- Inner Harbor Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner: $76
- Christmas Eve Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $84
- Christmas Day Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $84
- Baltimore Signature Dinner Cruise: $101
- Baltimore Buffet Dinner/Dance Cruise of the Inner Harbor: $119
- Baltimore Father's Day Buffet Dinner Cruise : $126
- Baltimore New Year's Eve Buffet Dinner Cruise: $251
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Jose $21Baltimore $18
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
Tours and Activities in Baltimore
Here are a few actual costs in Baltimore for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Antietam National Battlefield Self-Guided Driving Tour: $15
- Assateague Island Cruise Departs from Ocean Pines: $45
- Baltimore Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- Baltimore Father's Day Buffet Brunch Cruise Tour: $105
- Baltimore Ghosts By US Ghost Adventures: $24
- Baltimore Harbor Tour: $28
- Baltimore Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate: $92
- Baltimore Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Baltimore Signature Lunch Cruise: $76
- Baltimore Walking Foodie Tour in Fells Point: $99
- Baltimore's Cruise ship Tour-shuttle service: $25
- Baltimore's Historical Sightseeing Tour: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Jose $16Baltimore $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
Sample the Local Flavors in Baltimore
Also in Baltimore, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Original Fells Point Haunted Pub Tour by Baltimore Ghost Tours: $33
- Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- From Patapsco Region Wine Tour with Lunch: $175
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Jose and Baltimore, we can see that Baltimore is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Jose is in Central America and Baltimore is in North 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 Baltimore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Baltimore 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 Jose Expensive? and Is Baltimore Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Jose or Baltimore?
Baltimore has a larger population, and is about 82% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of San Jose and Baltimore, 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 Jose or Baltimore?
Baltimore 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 San Jose or Baltimore in the Summer?
Both Baltimore and San Jose during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Baltimore because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, San Jose is around the same temperature as Baltimore. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Jose in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Baltimore averages at about 78°F (25°C).
In Baltimore, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, San Jose often gets less sunshine than Baltimore. San Jose gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Baltimore receives 283 hours of full sun.
Baltimore gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. San Jose usually gets more rain in July than Baltimore. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Jose 28°C (82°F)Baltimore 78°F (25°C)
Should I visit San Jose or Baltimore in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and Baltimore. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Baltimore this time of year.
In October, San Jose is generally much warmer than Baltimore. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 27°C (81°F), and Baltimore fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
San Jose usually receives less sunshine than Baltimore during autumn. San Jose gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Baltimore receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Jose usually receives more rain than Baltimore. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Jose 27°C (81°F)Baltimore 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit San Jose or Baltimore in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Jose as well as Baltimore. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Baltimore for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Baltimore. San Jose is much warmer than Baltimore in the winter. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Baltimore fluctuates around 32°F (0°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. In the winter, San Jose often gets more sunshine than Baltimore. San Jose gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Baltimore receives 153 hours of full sun.
San Jose usually gets less rain in January than Baltimore. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Jose 27°C (81°F)Baltimore 32°F (0°C)
Should I visit San Jose or Baltimore in the Spring?
Both Baltimore and San Jose are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Baltimore in the spring for the activities around the city.
In the spring, San Jose is much warmer than Baltimore. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Jose in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Baltimore averages at about 54°F (12°C).
It's quite sunny in Baltimore. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Baltimore during spring. San Jose gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Baltimore receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Jose usually receives less rain than Baltimore. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Baltimore receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Jose 29°C (85°F)Baltimore 54°F (12°C)
Typical Weather for Baltimore and San Jose
| San Jose | Baltimore | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 32°F (0°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 35°F (2°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 78°F (25°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 76°F (25°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 69°F (21°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 37°F (3°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
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.