Which place is cheaper, Santiago 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 Santiago, 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.
Santiago is the capital city of Chile. It is centrally located in the long and narrow country, making it a good jumping off point to explore everywhere else. It's convenient location means that you can go skiing in the Andes one day, and hang out at the beach the next.
Santiago has a cool semi-arid climate that is similar to Mediterranean climates. The summers, which are between November and March, are warm and dry. The temperatures climb to around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The winters, between June and August, are humid with cold mornings. The daily highs are around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the lows stay a few degrees above freezing. Rain is more common in the winter months and the dry season is between December and March.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.
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 Santiago is $141. 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 Santiago in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Santiago? 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:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
Prices for flights to both Santiago 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 Santiago are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Jose and Santiago, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Jose is in Central America and Santiago 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 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 Santiago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santiago 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 Santiago Expensive?.
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of San Jose and Santiago, 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.
Santiago has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Jose experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer brings many poeple to San Jose as well as Santiago. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, San Jose is a little warmer than Santiago. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Jose in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Santiago averages at about 21°C (70°F)in January.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Jose usually gets more rain in July than Santiagoin January. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Santiago 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 October, San Jose is generally much warmer than Santiagoin April. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
It's quite rainy in San Jose. In October, San Jose usually receives more rain than Santiagoin April. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Santiago 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.
San Jose is much warmer than Santiago in the winter. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Santiago fluctuates around 9°C (48°F)in July.
San Jose usually gets less rain in January than Santiagoin July. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In the spring, San Jose is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Jose in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Santiago averages at about 15°C (59°F)in October.
In April, San Jose usually receives more rain than Santiagoin October. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
San Jose | Santiago | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |