Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo 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.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or Puerto Viejo, 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 a bustling, authentic, and traditional city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See San Jose travel costs.
Puerto Viejo is a relaxed, mellow, and authentic town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Puerto Viejo is a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Puerto Viejo travel costs.
Both Puerto Viejo and San Jose have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. San Jose is better known for its museums and attractions, shopping, and big city activities, while Puerto Viejo is more popular for its scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Puerto Viejo is more touristy than San Jose and is known for its surfing, snorkeling, and seafood. San Jose is well known for its colorful markets and vibrant nightlife, as well as its easy access to the rest of the country.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Puerto Viejo and San Jose. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
San Jose is very good for its museums and history. However, Puerto Viejo is lacking in options for its museums and landmarks.
If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around San Jose. Despite most people rushing through town, there are a number of museums, plazas, and interesting buildings that are worth checking out.
Puerto Viejo offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There aren't any real museums in the area, but there are a couple of art galleries.
Both San Jose and Puerto Viejo offer notable local cuisine and restaurants.
There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around San Jose. Most people miss out on local cuisine during their time in Costa Rica, but the capital city offers the best opportunities to eat like a local. You can sample favorite local dishes such as chifrijo, gallo pinto, rondón, and casado. You should also wander through the Central Market and dine at one of the many local restaurants.
Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Puerto Viejo. Many restaurants have a local atmosphere and serve typical Costa Rican food or seafood. You'll find no shortage of rice and beans!
The excellent nightlife scene is relatively similar in San Jose and Puerto Viejo.
San Jose has a large number of nightlife venues. This city has the best nightlife in all of Costa Rica. You'll find a diversity of clubs and bars that are fun to explore. Check out the reggae bars, dance clubs, and sports bars (where you can enjoy a soccer game) while you're in town.
Puerto Viejo is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a laid back town during the day and at night there's a chill but lively atmosphere. You'll find a few bars and clubs that have live music, and it's not hard to find something interesting to do.
Puerto Viejo is a nice place to visit for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, San Jose is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Puerto Viejo has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. You'll find the best snorkeling in Cahuita National Park, where you'll see coral and colorful fish. There's a dive shop in town as well, but most people enjoy the snorkeling in the area more.
San Jose is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Puerto Viejo is a very popular place for its beaches. However, San Jose is not a beach destination.
You'll have a great beach vacation in Puerto Viejo. The beaches in the area are beautiful and offer great waves for surfing and patches of coral reef for snorkeling. Many of the beaches are lined with forest and have a more laid back and less developed atmosphere than the beaches on the Pacific side.
San Jose is not a beach destination.
Puerto Viejo is a nice place to visit for its hiking trails. However, San Jose is not a hiking destination.
Puerto Viejo has hiking trails worth exploring. The hike through nearby Cahuita National Park is a highlight for many visitors. It wanders along the coastline and takes about three hours to walk. You'll likely see some wildlife during your walk.
San Jose is not a hiking destination.
San Jose is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.
Many visitors explore the shopping areas in San Jose. There are a number of unique things you can buy in the city including jewelry, handbags, and wood workings. Make sure you check out the Central Market.
Puerto Viejo is a great destination for shopping. You can wander through the town center and enjoy shopping at the local boutiques that sell clothes and other touristy items.
Puerto Viejo is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, San Jose is not a destination known for its beauty.
Puerto Viejo is a gorgeous place to visit. The beaches are beautiful and lined with rainforests. There's also easy access to the beautiful Cahuita National Park.
San Jose is not a destination known for its beauty.
Puerto Viejo is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, San Jose is lacking in good options for its family-friendly activities.
Puerto Viejo is a very family-friendly destination. With its easy access to Cahuita National Park and many wildlife experiences, this is a great destination for the kids. Kids can see sloths and monkeys, or enjoy snorkeling and hanging out on a chill beach.
San Jose doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Most people pass through the city quickly, but if you have a day or two to explore, you can visit the Children's Museum (Museo de los Niños), Spirogyra Butterfly Gardens, or explore the Central Market.
Puerto Viejo is a very popular place for romance. However, San Jose is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.
Puerto Viejo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, which has a more laid back and less touristy atmosphere. While you won't find the larger resorts and tourist amenities in this area, couples who enjoy hiking and a local vibe will love their time here.
Most people don't think of San Jose as a couple's destination. While Costa Rica is a popular honeymoon destination, the capital city is often overlooked for the beaches and rainforests around the country.
San Jose and Puerto Viejo are both excellent destinations for backpackers.
San Jose is very popular with the backpacker crowd. Backpackers appreciate the affordability of the city and the wide range of hostels that you can choose from. The city also offers an authentic glimpse of life in Costa Rica.
Puerto Viejo is a great city to visit for backpackers. There's a local atmosphere and enough hostels and budget accommodation to keep backpackers happy. It's also easy to explore and makes the perfect place to chill out for a few days.
San Jose is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Puerto Viejo is not popular with students.
Plenty of students visit San Jose. Many students come to Costa Rica to study the country's amazing environment and unique ecological systems. San Jose makes a good base as its easy to travel to other parts of this small country.
Puerto Viejo is not popular with students.
Visitors will find notable public transit in both San Jose and Puerto Viejo.
San Jose has some public transit options. There are local buses that travel through the city during the daytime hours.
You'll find some public transit in Puerto Viejo, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses that travel the longer distances, but most people walk or bike around town.
Puerto Viejo is a very popular place for its walkability. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.
Puerto Viejo is very walkable. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot.
San Jose is a somewhat walkable place. It can feel a bit chaotic, but it's relatively easy to get around on foot.
For even more information, also check out Is San Jose Worth Visiting? and Is Puerto Viejo Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both San Jose and Puerto Viejo. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Puerto Viejo than in San Jose. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for San Jose, and 2-3 days is enough time in Puerto Viejo.
Families should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than San Jose. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Puerto Viejo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than San Jose. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Puerto Viejo that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than San Jose if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Puerto Viejo.
In San Jose, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this colorful city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. In one day, you should have a good grasp of this city.
The town of Puerto Viejo offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
San Jose is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.
Puerto Viejo is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Puerto Viejo, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the traditional destination of San Jose. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.
Puerto Viejo is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
San Jose is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Puerto Viejo is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.
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 Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $103, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $169. 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 Puerto Viejo in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Puerto Viejo? 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:
Also for Puerto Viejo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo 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:
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For Puerto Viejo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Jose and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Jose would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Jose 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 Puerto Viejo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Viejo than you might in San Jose.
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 Puerto Viejo Expensive?.
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.
Both Puerto Viejo 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. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Puerto Viejo is September to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. It's quite rainy in San Jose. In July, San Jose usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. San Jose gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Jose is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
Both Puerto Viejo 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.
December to April is the dry season in San Jose. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in San Jose. September to October is the dry season in Puerto Viejo. November to January is the rainy season in Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo 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 more rain in October than Puerto Viejo. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, San Jose often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejo. San Jose gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.
San Jose is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and Puerto Viejo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, November to January is the rainy season in Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, San Jose usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during winter. San Jose gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, San Jose is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Jose in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 25°C (77°F).
The spring brings many poeple to San Jose as well as Puerto Viejo. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.
Also, December to April in San Jose is the dry season. Also, May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season. It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. San Jose usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejo. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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 Puerto Viejo. San Jose gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun.
In April, San Jose is generally a little warmer than Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 29°C (85°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
San Jose | Puerto Viejo | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 in) |