Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Suzhou?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Suzhou or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Suzhou and San Jose can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Suzhou or San Jose?
Suzhou
Suzhou is a city in Jiangsu province famed for its beautiful gardens and traditional waterside architecture, featuring elaborate canals and bridges. Located on the Yangtze Delta, the city consists largely of waterways making Suzhou a kind of 'Venice of the Orient.' It is also a hub for scholars, artists, and skilled craftsmen.
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 The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Suzhou Prices
China PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySuzhou $127San Jose $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Suzhou is $127, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $103. 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 Suzhou and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSuzhou $39San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSuzhou $78San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Suzhou and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Suzhou 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: San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Suzhou $58San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Suzhou to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfer : $178
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Zhouzhuang Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Tongli Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
- Suzhou Gardens Entry Ticket with Optional Guide&Transfer Services: $8.00
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Zhouzhuang Water Town : $81
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town : $90
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Suzhou Chauffeur Service, Shanghai Airport Transfer: $240
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Zhouzhuang Water Town and Suzhou City: $58
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Tianping Mountain from Suzhou: $51
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64
- Private Day Tour: Gardens and Old Street in Suzhou with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $277
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 José airport to San José hotels: $29
- Private San José Airport Transfer to San José Hotels : $40
- Private Transfer from City - San Jose Airport (SJO): $43
- Private One-way Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport to San Jose: $44
- Private One-way Transfer from San Jose to Juan Santamaria Airport: $45
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Private Transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna de Arenal: $46
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $58
- Private transfer from San Jose-Heredia-Alajuela Hotels to International Airport: $60
- Transfer 1 to 3 Pax Juan Santamaria Airport to SJO Hotels : $60
- Private transfer from SJO Intl Airport to downtown Hotels: $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Suzhou or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Suzhou 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 daySuzhou $57San Jose $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Suzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Suzhou.
- Suzhou Alleyway Walking Food Tour: $55
- Suzhou Alleyway Food Tour: $63
- Half-Day Private Customized Suzhou Highlights with Lunch or Dinner Option: $123
- Private Suzhou Night Tour:Master of the Nets Garden, Ancient Canal with Dinner: $145
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 including Markets: $29
- San Jose Cooking Classes visit Central Market: $52
- San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner, Cooking & Cocktail Class: $59
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $78
- San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner : $80
- Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $92
- Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $113
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Suzhou $9.47San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Suzhou
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Suzhou are as follows:
- 1 Day Suzhou Private Tour - Create the Tour You Want: $300
- 4-Hour Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Tour: $114
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Customized Tour: $80
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Flexible Tour with Garden and Boat Ride Option: $125
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Tour: Humble Administrator’s Garden,Tiger Hill and Canal : $134
- 4-Hour Tongli Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride : $128
- 4-Hour Zhouzhuang Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride: $145
- Classic Suzhou Tour with Hotel or Railway Station Pickup: $269
- Essential Suzhou City Sightseeing Private Day Tour: $296
- Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Day Tour with Authentic Lunch: $167
- Full Day Luzhi Water Town Day Tour From Suzhou: $178
- Full-Day Suzhou Gardens Private Tour with Local Guide: $298
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of San Jose Highlights: $4.62
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Private Guided Tour of Cheese in Canaan de Rivas: $30
- Sarapiqui Frog Experience: Night Experience in the Jungle.: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
- Historical Tour and Old Houses by Dota: $35
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $35
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- Sarapiqui Rainforest Night Walk : Wildlife & Adventure.: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySuzhou $6.50San Jose $16
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- Exclusive Pub Crawl in San Jose : $30
- Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $39
- 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 Suzhou and San Jose, we can see that Suzhou is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Suzhou is in Asia 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 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 Suzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Suzhou 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 Suzhou Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Suzhou or San Jose?
Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Suzhou 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 Suzhou or San Jose?
Suzhou 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 Suzhou or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Suzhou during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Suzhou is around the same temperature as San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Suzhou averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Suzhou. In the summer, Suzhou often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Suzhou gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. Suzhou usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Suzhou gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySuzhou 28°C (83°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Suzhou or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Suzhou and San Jose. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Suzhou is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Suzhou in October average around 19°C (65°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Suzhou usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during autumn. Suzhou gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Suzhou usually receives less rain than San Jose. Suzhou gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in San Jose is the dry season. May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSuzhou 19°C (65°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Suzhou or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Suzhou as well as San Jose. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Suzhou in the winter. In January, Suzhou is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Suzhou average around 4°C (39°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In the winter, Suzhou often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Suzhou gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Suzhou usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Suzhou gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySuzhou 4°C (39°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Suzhou or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Suzhou are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Suzhou is much colder than San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Suzhou averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. Suzhou usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Suzhou gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Suzhou. In April, Suzhou usually receives more rain than San Jose. Suzhou gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in San Jose is December to April. The hurricane season in San Jose is May to November.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSuzhou 15°C (58°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Suzhou
| Suzhou | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 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.