Which place is cheaper, David or San Jose?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit San Jose or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or David, 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 David?
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.
David
In the Pacific West of Panama, David is the capital city of Chiriqui province. The city's population of almost 150,000 is among the wealthiest in the country. There is a well established middle class and unemployment remains low in the area. The area has grown rapidly in recent years with growing commercial and banking sectors. The city is well connected to the rest of the country by the Pan American Highway.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.
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San Jose Prices
Costa Rica PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Jose $113David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $113, while the average daily cost in David is $39. 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 David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Jose $54David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Jose $108David $24
Compare Hotels in San Jose and David
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or David? 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 David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Jose $21David $12
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$28
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Local Bus$3.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to San Jose Airport (SJO): $26
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO): $26
- Costa Rica San Jose Airport (SJO) Private Transfer to San Jose: $42
- Private One-way Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport to San Jose: $44
- Private Transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna de Arenal: $46
- Transfer from San Jose to Arenal-La Fortuna San Carlos: $48
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $50
- Private San José Airport Transfer to San José Hotels: $50
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO): $53
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $58
- Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Private Transfer: $58
- Private Airport Transfer Liberia Costa Rica – Stress Free!: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into San Jose or David?
Prices for flights to both David 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 $34David $17
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 including Markets: $35
- Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $35
- San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $49
- Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
- San José Market-to-Table Tour: Cooking Class with a Local Chef: $58
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $80
- San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner: $80
- Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $92
- City Tour and Dinner at the Best Lookout in San Jose: $149
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Jose $23David $4.37
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of San Jose Highlights: $5.50
- Guided Tour of Alajuela: $20
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- San Jose Birdwatching Nature and Cultural Experience: $28
- Ticket to Tenorio Volcano National Park: $28
- Private Guided Tour of Cheese in Canaan de Rivas: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- San Jose Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $34
- Rainforest Day Experience Day Tour in Costa Rica: $35
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $35
- Sarapiqui Rainforest Night Walk : Wildlife & Adventure.: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Jose $18David -
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- San Jose Exclusive Bar Crawl with Drinks and Club Entrys: $28
- Wine Tour and Tasting: $95
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Jose and David, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to David would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in David 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 David.
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 David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Jose or David?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of San Jose and David, 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.
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.