Which place is cheaper, Montanita or San Jose?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Jose or Montanita?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or Montanita, 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 Montanita?
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.
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Jose $90Montanita $96
The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $90, while the average daily cost in Montanita is $96. 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 Montanita in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Jose $49Montanita $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Jose $98Montanita $82
Compare Hotels in San Jose and Montanita
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Montanita? 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 $19Montanita $39
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 from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tortuguero: $300
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: $299
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $280
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tambor beach: $276
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Samara Beach: $265
- Private Transfer: $260
- Private Transfer Airport or San Jose hotels to Puerto Viejo Limon: $259
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Liberia: $257
- Private Ground Transfer SJO - Monteverde: $256
Is it cheaper to fly into San Jose or Montanita?
Prices for flights to both Montanita 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 $18Montanita $28
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Jose $21Montanita $31
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Jose $17Montanita $7.86
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 comparing the travel costs between San Jose and Montanita, we can see that Montanita is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though San Jose is in Central America and Montanita is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Montanita Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit San Jose or Montanita?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit San Jose or Montanita in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Jose usually receives more rain than Montanita. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during summer. San Jose gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Jose is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 28°C (82°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Jose 28°C (82°F)Montanita 25°C (78°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Montanita in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Jose as well as Montanita. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Jose usually gets more rain in October than Montanita. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, San Jose often gets more sunshine than Montanita. San Jose gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun.
San Jose is around the same temperature as Montanita in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Jose 27°C (81°F)Montanita 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Montanita in the Winter?
Both Montanita and San Jose are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, San Jose usually receives less rain than Montanita. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during winter. San Jose gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, San Jose is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Jose in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Jose 27°C (81°F)Montanita 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Montanita in the Spring?
Both Montanita and San Jose during the spring 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 Montanita year-round.
San Jose usually gets less rain in April than Montanita. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. In the spring, San Jose often gets more sunshine than Montanita. San Jose gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun.
In April, San Jose is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 29°C (85°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Jose 29°C (85°F)Montanita 27°C (81°F)
Typical Weather for Montanita and San Jose
| San Jose | Montanita | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.