Which place is cheaper, Lima or San Jose?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or Lima, 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.
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.
Lima, the capital city of Peru, is likely to be your point of entry for the country. Lima was founded in 1535 and was the seat of the Spanish rule for 300 years. It's a surprisingly modern city despite its rich history, but many beautiful churches and colonial architecture remain today. There are also large slum areas that highlight the poverty that exists in the city. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of about 8.5 million people, many of whom came from the Andes Mountains in search of work. Unfortunately the work opportunities are limited and the poverty is obvious as you arrive in Lima.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $90, while the average daily cost in Lima is $77. 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 Lima in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Lima? 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Jose are as follows:
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
Prices for flights to both Lima 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.
For San Jose, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Jose and Lima, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Jose is in Central America and Lima 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 Lima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lima 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 Lima.
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 Lima Expensive?.
Lima has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of San Jose and Lima, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to San Jose as well as Lima. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Jose usually gets more rain in July than Lima. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, San Jose often gets more sunshine than Lima. San Jose gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
San Jose is much warmer than Lima in the summer. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Both Lima 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. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. In October, San Jose usually receives more rain than Lima. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. San Jose gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, San Jose is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Jose in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Lima averages at about 19°C (66°F).
Both Lima 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
San Jose usually gets more rain in January than Lima. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. In the winter, San Jose often gets more sunshine than Lima. San Jose gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
In January, San Jose is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 27°C (81°F), and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and Lima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, San Jose usually receives more rain than Lima. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Lima during spring. San Jose gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
San Jose is a little warmer than Lima in the spring. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
San Jose | Lima | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |