Which place is cheaper, Caracas or San Jose?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Jose or Caracas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or Caracas, 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 Caracas?
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.
Caracas
Caracas is the capital city of Venezuela, and also the country's largest city. It's in the northern portion of the country and is close to the Caribbean. While Caracas may not be a major travel destination in Venezuela, it can offer interesting insight into the country's urban character. It has a great art, culinary, and music culture that truly bring the city to life. The beautiful Mount Avila overlooks the city and separates the city from the Caribbean Sea. Many locals and visitors alike head to the mountain as a quick escape. You can reach it by taking a cable car that carries you up to the SWaraira Repano Park at the very top.
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 Jose $90Caracas $0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $90, while the average daily cost in Caracas is $0.00. 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 Caracas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Jose $49Caracas -
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Jose $98Caracas $0.00
Compare Hotels in San Jose and Caracas
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Caracas? 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 Jose $19Caracas -
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 San Jose or Caracas?
Prices for flights to both Caracas 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 $18Caracas -
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.San Jose $21Caracas -
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 daySan Jose $17Caracas -
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 Jose and Caracas, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Caracas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Jose is in Central America and Caracas is in South 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 Caracas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Caracas 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 Caracas.
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 Caracas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Jose or Caracas?
Caracas has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of San Jose and Caracas, 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 Caracas?
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 San Jose or Caracas in the Summer?
Both Caracas 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Caracas year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. San Jose usually gets more rain in July than Caracas. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Caracas receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Caracas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, San Jose often gets less sunshine than Caracas. San Jose gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caracas receives 242 hours of full sun.
In the summer, San Jose is around the same temperature as Caracas. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Jose in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Caracas averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Jose 28°C (82°F)Caracas 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Caracas in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and Caracas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round. Caracas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Jose usually receives more rain than Caracas. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Caracas receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Caracas this time of the year. San Jose usually receives less sunshine than Caracas during autumn. San Jose gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Caracas receives 208 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, San Jose is generally around the same temperature as Caracas. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 27°C (81°F), and Caracas fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Jose 27°C (81°F)Caracas 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Caracas in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Jose as well as Caracas. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Caracas throughout the year.
San Jose usually gets less rain in January than Caracas. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Caracas receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Caracas. 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 Caracas. San Jose gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caracas receives 233 hours of full sun.
San Jose is around the same temperature as Caracas in the winter. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Caracas fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Jose 27°C (81°F)Caracas 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Caracas in the Spring?
Both Caracas 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. Plenty of visitors come to Caracas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, San Jose usually receives around the same amount of rain as Caracas. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Caracas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Caracas during spring. San Jose gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Caracas receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, San Jose is a little warmer than Caracas. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Jose in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Caracas averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Jose 29°C (85°F)Caracas 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Caracas and San Jose
| San Jose | Caracas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.