Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Tallinn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tallinn or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tallinn 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: Tallinn or San Jose?
Tallinn
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. It has a population of more than 430,000 people and is a charming, yet cosmopolitan place to visit. The Old Town is at the center of the city's tourism, and the beauty and architecture is very impressive. The city's close proximity to Helsinki makes it a popular day trip from Finland, but cheap plane flights have also encouraged visitors from around Europe to spend several days in this city. In particular, summer months can become quite crowded.
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 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, 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 dayTallinn €95San Jose €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Tallinn is €95, while the average daily cost in San Jose is €85. 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 Tallinn and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTallinn €47San Jose €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTallinn €94San Jose €92
Compare Hotels in Tallinn and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Tallinn 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: Tallinn Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tallinn €12San Jose €18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tallinn
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tallinn:
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Tram Around Town for Two€1.66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tallinn
Also for Tallinn, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer: $43
- Highlights Shore Excursion with Return Transfer: $48
- Beginner Archery Class with Transfer: $81
- Airport Transfer Service: $48
- Tallinn hotels to Tallinn Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $16
- Tallinn Return Airport Transfers: $68
- Tallinn Limo Airport Transfer: $75
- Tallinn Lennart Meri Airport (TLL): Transfer to Tallinn Port: $102
- Tallinn Highlights Shore Excursion With Port Return Transfer: $65
- Tallinn Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Tallinn hotels: $102
- Tallinn Cruise Port to Tallinn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
- Tallinn Arrival Private Airport Transfer in Minivan: $118
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€24
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Local Bus€2.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers to Occidental Papagayo - Secrets Resort, Round-Trip: $130
- Transfer to Los Sueños Marriot Playa Herradura from San Jose or Airport: $215
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport to SanJose City: $39
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) to Quepos Cruise Port: $72
- Transfer TO & FROM SJO Airport to Esterillos - Bejuco Not Shared.: $180
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- Transfer Costa Rica SJO Airport To OR From Hotels nearby Private : $45
- Transfer Airport area to Manuel Antonio Hotels Private One Way: $185
- Transfer Airport Area to Jaco Hotels Private One Way Transport: $150
- Shuttle & transfer rides to Jaco beach: $137
- Shared transfer to Manuel Antonio: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Tallinn or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Tallinn 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 dayTallinn €36San Jose €17
Typical Food Prices in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two€7.68
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Dessert€1.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tallinn TV Tower evening dinner (2-course meal): $56
- Tallinn TV Tower evening dinner (3-course meal): $64
- Tallinn Russian Dinner: $84
- Tallinn Food Tour: $116
- Tallinn 3-Hour Estonian Food Tour: $127
- Tallinn Food Tour with Round-trip Transfer Port-City: $137
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tallinn €5.63San Jose €20
Tours and Activities in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Legends and Landmarks: A Tallinn Walking Adventure": $22
- 120 Degrees daily guided walking tour: $27
- 2 Hour Tales of Tallinn Private Car Tour: $66
- 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Tallinn: $49
- 3-Hour Private Tour of Tallinn: $294
- 3-Hour Private Tour of Tallinn: $188
- 5 Hour Deluxe Shore Excursion in Tallinn from Cruise Port: $48
- 5 Hour Majestic Tallinn Tour from Cruise Port: $45
- Accessible tour in Tallinn: $743
- Aegna Island: Self-Guided Discovery Tour: $8.60
- Alcohol Tasting Tour In Tallinn: $65
- All-in-One Tallinn - See stunning Estonian Capital from a Cruise Ship or Hotel: $78
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Explore San Jose on Foot: Food Delights and Sights Tour: $47
- Street Food Walking Tour in Downtown San Jose: $60
- 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 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
- Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Springs Tour from San Jose: $142
- Arenal Volcano Horseback Riding & Baldi Hot Springs. Private Tour: $295
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTallinn €15San Jose €16
Sample the Local Flavors in Tallinn
Also in Tallinn, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Mad Monk’s Pub Crawl Tallinn: $22
- Tallinn Pub Crawl (Ex The Epic Bar Crawl): $27
- Tallinn Exclusive Pub & Bar Crawl - Free Drinks, Local Guide: $42
- Tallinn Brewery Fiesta: $72
- Tallinn Guided Bar Crawl: $124
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 comparing the travel costs between Tallinn and San Jose, we can see that Tallinn is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Tallinn is in Europe and San Jose is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tallinn Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tallinn or San Jose?
Tallinn has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Tallinn 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 Tallinn or San Jose?
Tallinn 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 Tallinn or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Tallinn are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Tallinn because of the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Tallinn is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Tallinn average around 17°C (62°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tallinn. Tallinn usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Tallinn gets 279 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In July, Tallinn usually receives less rain than San Jose. Tallinn gets 79 mm (3.1 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 JulyTallinn 17°C (62°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Tallinn during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Tallinn this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Tallinn is much colder than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tallinn averages around 7°C (44°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Tallinn often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Tallinn gets 92 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Tallinn usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Tallinn gets 70 mm (2.8 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 OctoberTallinn 7°C (44°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Tallinn and San Jose. Many travelers come to Tallinn for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Tallinn. In the winter, Tallinn is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tallinn in January average around -5°C (22°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. Tallinn usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Tallinn gets 25 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Tallinn usually receives more rain than San Jose. Tallinn gets 45 mm (1.8 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 JanuaryTallinn -5°C (22°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Tallinn as well as San Jose. Many visitors come to Tallinn in the spring for the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Tallinn can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Tallinn is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Tallinn average around 4°C (39°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In the spring, Tallinn often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Tallinn gets 186 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
Tallinn usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Tallinn gets 36 mm (1.4 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 AprilTallinn 4°C (39°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Tallinn
| Tallinn | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (22°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | -6°C (22°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (29°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (39°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (58°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (44°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (34°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | -3°C (27°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.