Which place is cheaper, Manaus or San Jose?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Jose or Manaus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or Manaus, 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 Manaus?
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.
Manaus
Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Brazil, and The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Jose $90Manaus $59
The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $90, while the average daily cost in Manaus is $59. 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 Manaus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Jose $49Manaus $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Jose $98Manaus $84
Compare Hotels in San Jose and Manaus
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Manaus? 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 Manaus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Jose $19Manaus $7.94
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:
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport to SanJose City: $39
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Transfer from SJO Airport to Jaco or vice versa: $125
- Transfer TO or FROM SJO Airport to Monteverde Area. Private, NOT SHARED: $215
- Transfer TO & FROM SJO Airport to Esterillos - Bejuco Not Shared.: $180
- Transfer SJO Airport to Hotels nearby or Vice versa Private 6 PAX: $45
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- Transfer Airport Area to Jaco Hotels Private One Way Transport: $150
- Shuttle & transfer rides to Jaco beach: $137
- Shared transfer to Manuel Antonio: $70
- San Jose Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to Monteverde- Roundtrip Private Transfer: $175
- San Jose Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to Monteverde - Arrival Private Transfer: $87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from the airport to any place in Manaus City: $40
- Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $40
- Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $72
- Serviço de transfer privativo do Porto -> aeroporto de Mana: $20
- Private Transfers Services Airport -Hotel 24h: $19
- Private Transfer 24h Airport to Hotel in Manaus: $15
- Private Transfer - Airport - Hotel / Hotel - Airport: $34
- Private 24-hour transfer from the Hotel to the Airport in Manaus: $16
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into San Jose or Manaus?
Prices for flights to both Manaus 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 $18Manaus $12
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 & Cocktails Classes: $57
- 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
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus
For Manaus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
- Food Tour: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Jose $21Manaus -
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Street Food Walking Tour in Downtown San Jose: $60
- 6 in 1 RainForest Adventure From San Jose: $189
- AERIAL TRAM TOUR - HALF DAY PASS Rainforest Adventures Braulio Ca: $78
- AWA Water Museum - Waterfall Adventure (Organic Food Experience): $98
- Arenal Volcano Eco Tour & Baldi Hot Springs Private Tour from San Jose: $285
- Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose: $159
- Arenal Volcano Horseback Riding & Baldi Hot Springs. Private Tour: $295
- Arenal Volcano National Park Sloth Tour: $100
- Arenal Volcano Skytram & Baldi Hot Springs Private Tour from San Jose: $295
- Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs Full Day Tour from San Jose: $194
- Awesome Class 3 Balsa River Rafting 5-Hour Tour in La Fortuna: $90
- Beach Day Tour in Pacific Ocean. Private Tour from San Jose: $275
Tours and Activities in Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adventure: 4-hour hike in the Amazon rainforest: $150
- Amazon Experience: meet a native village and swim with porpoises: $80
- Amazon Jungle Experience with Overnight: $300
- Amazon Jungle: 3- or 4-Day Tour at Ipanema River Guest House: $200
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- Amazon Private Safari by Tuhiri Eco Tour - Leaving Manaus: $199
- Amazon River Stand Up Paddling Tour: $124
- Amazon and Negro Rivers Experience with Night Exploration Tour: $300
- City Tour Plus Amazon River Tour: $100
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $50
- City Tour no Centro Histórico de Manaus com um fotógrafo: $90
- City-tour privado no centro histórico de Manaus: $97
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Jose $17Manaus $2.84
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 Manaus, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Manaus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Jose is in Central America and Manaus 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 Manaus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manaus 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 Manaus.
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 Manaus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Jose or Manaus?
Manaus has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of San Jose and Manaus, 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 Manaus?
Manaus 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 Manaus in the Summer?
Both Manaus and San Jose are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In the summer, San Jose is around the same temperature as Manaus. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Jose in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Manaus averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.
San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Manaus during summer. San Jose gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Manaus receives 114 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Manaus. It's quite rainy in San Jose. In July, San Jose usually receives less rain than Manausin January. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 264 mm (10.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySan Jose 28°C (82°F)Manaus 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Manaus in the Autumn?
Both Manaus and San Jose during the autumn 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 October, San Jose is generally around the same temperature as Manausin April. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 27°C (81°F), and Manaus fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In the autumn, San Jose often gets more sunshine than Manausin April. San Jose gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manaus receives 112 hours of full sun.
Manaus 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 less rain in October than Manausin April. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 311 mm (12.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSan Jose 27°C (81°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Manaus in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and Manaus. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
San Jose is around the same temperature as Manaus in the winter. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Manaus fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Manaus this time of the year. In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Manaus during winter. San Jose gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Manaus receives 214 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, San Jose usually receives less rain than Manausin July. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 85 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySan Jose 27°C (81°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Manaus in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to San Jose as well as Manaus. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, San Jose is around the same temperature as Manaus. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Jose in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Manaus averages at about 29°C (84°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. In the spring, San Jose often gets more sunshine than Manausin October. San Jose gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manaus receives 171 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Manaus. San Jose usually gets less rain in April than Manausin October. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 113 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSan Jose 29°C (85°F)Manaus 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Manaus and San Jose
| San Jose | Manaus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 264 mm (10.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 311 mm (12.3 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.6 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.