Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or San Jose?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Jose or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or El Chalten, 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 El Chalten?
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.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Jose $90El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $90, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Jose $49El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Jose $98El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in San Jose and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or El Chalten? 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 El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Jose $19El Chalten $2.37
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:
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $35
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose City to SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport: $39
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport to SanJose City: $39
- Private One-way Juan Santamaria Airport Transfer to from San Jose: $41
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Transfer SJO Airport to Hotels nearby or Vice versa Private 6 PAX: $45
- Private San José Airport Transfer to San José Hotels : $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose City to Puntarenas Cruise Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into San Jose or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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 $18El Chalten $3.66
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 $21El Chalten $2.66
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
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Jose $17El Chalten $1.22
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 El Chalten, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Jose is in Central America and El Chalten 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 El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 El Chalten.
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 El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit San Jose or El Chalten?
El Chalten 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 El Chalten in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to San Jose as well as El Chalten. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Jose is around the same temperature as El Chalten in the summer. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Jose usually gets more rain in July than El Chaltenin January. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySan Jose 28°C (82°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Jose or El Chalten in the Autumn?
Both El Chalten and San Jose are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In the autumn, San Jose is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Jose in October average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten averages at about 21°C (70°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. It's quite rainy in San Jose. In October, San Jose usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin April. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSan Jose 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit San Jose or El Chalten in the Winter?
Both El Chalten and San Jose during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, San Jose is generally much warmer than El Chaltenin July. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
San Jose usually gets less rain in January than El Chaltenin July. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySan Jose 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit San Jose or El Chalten in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
San Jose is a little warmer than El Chalten in the spring. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in El Chalten this time of the year. In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Jose usually receives more sunshine than El Chalten during spring. San Jose gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, San Jose usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin October. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSan Jose 29°C (85°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and San Jose
| San Jose | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 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.