Which place is cheaper, Seattle or San Jose?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Jose or Seattle?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or Seattle, 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 Seattle?
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.
Seattle
Situated on the Puget Sound in the state of Washington, Seattle is the largest city in the United States Pacific Northwest. It's a beautiful city surrounded by the water and mountains and filled with evergreen trees. It's also the home of some famous American institutions including Starbucks Coffee, Amazon, and Microsoft. The population of almost 700,000 continues to grow. As of 2014, the city was considered the fastest growing major city in the United States. The entire metropolitan area has about 3.6 million residents, making it the 15th largest metro area in the US. The natural beauty, growing economy, and educational base give Seattle a youthful vibe that keep the city young and energetic.
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 from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Jose $89Seattle $205
The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $89, while the average daily cost in Seattle is $205. 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 Seattle in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Jose $48Seattle $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Jose $96Seattle $240
Compare Hotels in San Jose and Seattle
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Seattle? 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 Seattle Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Jose $19Seattle $30
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$2.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport to SanJose City: $39
- Private One-way Juan Santamaria Airport Transfer to from San Jose: $41
- Transfer Costa Rica SJO Airport To OR From Hotels nearby Private : $45
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Private Transfer from San Jose City to Puntarenas Cruise Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $64
- Private transfer from SJO Intl Airport to downtown Hotels: $65
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seattle
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Seattle:
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Lightrail from Airport (for 2)$5.50
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Roundtrip Ferry to Bainbridge Island (for 2)$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seattle
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seattle:
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Seattle Airport (SEA)- Seattle Downtown: $86
- Smith Cove Terminal: Private Transfer to Seattle hotels: $310
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $149
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $74
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) - Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle Hotels Arrival Private Transfer : $74
- Smith Cove Terminal to Seattle Airport (SEA) - Departure Transfer: $74
- One-Way Private Transfer from Seattle Airport: $76
- Seattle, WA: Seaplane transfer to Vancouver, BC: $265
- Seattle Tacoma Airport(SEA): Transfer to Smith Cove Terminal: $310
- Seattle Tacoma Airport to Summit at Snoqualmie Arrival Transfer: $153
- Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA): Private Transfer to Seattle: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into San Jose or Seattle?
Prices for flights to both Seattle 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 $18Seattle $51
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 & Cocktail Class: $57
- San Jose Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour and visit Gold Museum : $60
- 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
- Dinner + Typical Show in the best viewpoint of the City: $99
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Typical Food Prices in Seattle
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seattle are as follows:
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Expresso & cookie at Pier 70$7.00
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Cashews at Pike Place Market$6.00
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6 Mini Donuts at Pike Place Market$3.25
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Chinese Lunch in International District (for 2)$21
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Breakfast at Lowel's in Pike Place Market (for 2)$32
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Breakfast at French Cafe (for 2)$37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seattle
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seattle.
- Secret Food Tours Seattle: $65
- Seattle Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market- 2 Hours: $67
- Eat Around the World Seattle Food Tour: $69
- International District Food Tour: $69
- Street Food Tour of South Lake Union: $75
- Secret Food Tours: Seattle Pike Place Market: $85
- Pike Place Market Food Tour: $99
- Small Group Cooking Class: $138
- Private Seattle Cooking Class with a Chef in Her Home: $198
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Jose $21Seattle $16
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Entrance Ticket to the Farm of Hacienda Orosi: $11
- Entrance ticket to the Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $30
- Sarapiqui Frog Tour: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- San Jose Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
- Corso Lecheria Tour: $40
Tours and Activities in Seattle
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seattle are as follows:
- 3 Hour Seattle City Tour: $90
- 2 Hour Seattle City Snapshots Tour: $85
- 2 Hour Sound Tour: $98
- 2-Hour Seattle Sailing Harbor Tour: $45
- 3 Hours Electric Bike Tour of Seattle's Waterways, Nature and Neighborhoods: $87
- 5-hour Seattle and Suburbs Attractions Tour: $185
- Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour: $29
- Best of Seattle Small Group Walking Tour W/ Space Needle: $244
- Boeing Factory Tour with Guided Transport from Seattle: $125
- Chef Guided Happy Hour Tour - Cocktails, Bubbles and Bites: $140
- CitySightseeing Seattle Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Bookable Extras: $43
- Customized Mount Rainier Tour from Seattle: $195
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Jose $16Seattle $16
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Seattle
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Seattle:
- Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $38
- Where the Hops Grow! Yakima Brewery Tour : $40
- Woodinville Wine Country: Downtown Wine Tasting Pass: $65
- Woodinville Wine Country: Artisan Hill Wine Tasting Pass: $65
- Brewery and Restaurant Tour of Historic Seattle Neighborhood: $109
- Bon Vivant Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour : $120
- From Snoqualmie Falls & Woodinville Wine Tasting: $262
- Snoqualmie Falls + Wine Tasting: All-Inclusive Small-Group Tour: $263
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Jose and Seattle, we can see that Seattle 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 Seattle is in North 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 Seattle would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seattle 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 Seattle Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Jose or Seattle?
Seattle has a larger population, and is about 70% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of San Jose and Seattle, 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 Seattle?
Seattle 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 Seattle in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to San Jose as well as Seattle. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Seattle this time of year.
In July, San Jose is generally a little warmer than Seattle. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 28°C (82°F), and Seattle fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seattle. In the summer, San Jose often gets less sunshine than Seattle. San Jose gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 313 hours of full sun.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Jose usually gets more rain in July than Seattle. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Jose 28°C (82°F)Seattle 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit San Jose or Seattle in the Autumn?
Both Seattle 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. Also, many travelers come to Seattle for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
San Jose is much warmer than Seattle in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Seattle fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).
San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Seattle during autumn. San Jose gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 143 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. In October, San Jose usually receives more rain than Seattle. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Jose 27°C (81°F)Seattle 54°F (12°C)
Should I visit San Jose or Seattle in the Winter?
Both Seattle 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. Furthermore, many visitors come to Seattle in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
In the winter, San Jose is much warmer than Seattle. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Jose in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Seattle averages at about 42°F (5°C).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. In the winter, San Jose often gets more sunshine than Seattle. San Jose gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 67 hours of full sun.
Seattle gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Jose usually gets less rain in January than Seattle. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 5.4 inches (136 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Jose 27°C (81°F)Seattle 42°F (5°C)
Should I visit San Jose or Seattle in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and Seattle. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Seattle for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, San Jose is generally much warmer than Seattle. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 29°C (85°F), and Seattle fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Seattle this time of the year. In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Seattle during spring. San Jose gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Jose usually receives less rain than Seattle. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Jose 29°C (85°F)Seattle 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Seattle and San Jose
| San Jose | Seattle | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 42°F (5°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (47 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 6 inches (152 mm) |
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.