Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Sao Paulo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sao Paulo or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or San Jose, 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: Sao Paulo or San Jose?
Sao Paulo
With a population of around 11 million, and 20 million in the metropolitan area, Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil. It's also one of the wealthiest cities in the southern hemisphere, although you don't have to look far to see the income disparities and inequalities that exist. The city is diverse and culturally rich, with excellent food, music, and entertainment.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySao Paulo $52San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $52, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $90. 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 Sao Paulo and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSao Paulo $30San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSao Paulo $60San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo or San Jose? 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: Sao Paulo Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sao Paulo $5.90San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- airport transfer: $113
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to São Pedro Thermal Arrival Transfer: $38
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Águas de Lindoia-RoundTrip Transfer: $76
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Águas de Lindoia-Arrival Transfer: $38
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Sao Paulo APT-HTL(GRU): $61
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in São Paulo HTL-APT(GRU): $61
- Transfer from São Paulo to Port of Santos: $137
- Transfer GRU airport Guarulhos <> Sao Paulo / Hotel / CGH airport: $64
- Sao Paulo to Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) - Private Transfer: $38
- Sao Paulo Airport to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $175
- Sao Paulo Airport Transfers: Sao Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Business Car: $122
- Sao Paulo Airport GRU to Beach Resorts - Arrival Private Transfer: $87
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 from Juan Santamaria airport to Dominical and Uvita: $290
- 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 Airport or Guanacaste Hotels: $276
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Sao Paulo 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 daySao Paulo $15San Jose $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sao Paulo
For Sao Paulo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Traditional Brazilian or Paulistano Cooking Class with a Chef: $130
- Authentic Brazilian Cooking Experience in SP: Feijoada & Moqueca: $189
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
- Tropical Cooking Classes: $52
- 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
- Private Authentic Food Tour in San José: $84
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sao Paulo $4.05San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- Guarani Indigenous Village of São Paulo (private tour)-5 hours: $150
- 2 Hours Private São Paulo Museum of Modern Art Tour: $240
- 3H CITY TOUR (pick up / delivery within Sao Paulo city limits): $150
- 4-Hour Private Tour in Sao Paulo: $300
- 4-hour Sum-up Private Tour Of São Paulo Including Its Major Attractions : $134
- 4WD One Day Tour visiting Water Fall and the Big Stone from Sao Paulo: $260
- 5 Hour City Tour in São Paulo: $90
- 5-hour Pelé Private Tour: The King of Football : $162
- 5-hour Private Street Art Tour Of São Paulo – The Coolest Urban Art Scenes: $174
- 5-hour Private Tour Of São Paulo With Its Main Sights – Optional Airport Pickup: $162
- 5-hour private tour in São Paulo (departures from hotels and airport): $156
- 5h City Tour (pick up & delivery within SaoPaulo city): $249
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
- 2-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $33
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- 3 in 1 Eco Tour Rain Forest Aerial Tram, River Cruise & Nature Walk Private Tour: $299
- 6 in 1 RainForest Adventure From San Jose: $189
- A taste of Aquiares - 2 hours Coffee Tour: $42
- AERIAL TRAM TOUR - HALF DAY PASS Rainforest Adventures Braulio Ca: $78
- AWA Water Museum - Waterfall Adventure (Organic Food Experience): $98
- Arenal Combo Experience: Canopy & Rapell + Thermals: $65
- 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 Hanging Bridges & Baldi Hot Springs. Private Tour from San Jose: $285
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySao Paulo $3.52San Jose $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- Half Day Private Wine Tour from São Roque: $54
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
- Fine wine tastings in São Roque - Tour with local guides: $180
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 Sao Paulo and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sao Paulo is in South America and San Jose is in Central 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 Sao Paulo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sao Paulo 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 Sao Paulo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sao Paulo Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or San Jose?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and San Jose, 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 Sao Paulo or San Jose?
Sao Paulo 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 Sao Paulo or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and San Jose. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Sao Paulo is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sao Paulo in January average around 25°C (77°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sao Paulo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sao Paulo usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Josein July. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySao Paulo 25°C (77°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as San Jose. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In April, Sao Paulo is generally cooler than San Josein October. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 22°C (72°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in April than San Josein October. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSao Paulo 22°C (72°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Sao Paulo are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Sao Paulo is cooler than San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
In July, Sao Paulo usually receives more rain than San Josein January. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySao Paulo 19°C (66°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Sao Paulo during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In the spring, Sao Paulo is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sao Paulo in October average around 21°C (70°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F)in April.
Sao Paulo usually gets more rain in October than San Josein April. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSao Paulo 21°C (70°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Sao Paulo
| Sao Paulo | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.