Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Terre-de-Haut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Terre-de-Haut or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or San Jose? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Terre-de-Haut or San Jose?
Terre-de-Haut
Les Saintes (also known as Iles des Saintes) is a small archipelago of Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean. The islands here are best known for their tropical beauty, untouched beaches, and bayside villages. Only two of the nine are inhabited.
Terre-de-Haut of Les Saintes is the most popular island to visit. It is known for the Pain de Sucre, a small bay lined with coconut trees and an ideal location for snorkeling, in addition to white sandy beaches like the Plage de Pompierre. There is also a nineteenth-century fort which can be reached on foot for striking views of the surrounding area.
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 Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTerre-de-Haut €140San Jose €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Terre-de-Haut is €140, 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 Terre-de-Haut and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTerre-de-Haut €68San Jose €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTerre-de-Haut €136San Jose €92
Compare Hotels in Terre-de-Haut and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Terre-de-Haut 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: Terre-de-Haut Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Terre-de-Haut €44San Jose €18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Terre-de-Haut
Also for Terre-de-Haut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Deshaies or Trois Riviers to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $92
- Guadeloupe to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport - Private Departure Transfer: $79
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:
- 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 Terre-de-Haut or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Terre-de-Haut 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 dayTerre-de-Haut €45San Jose €17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Terre-de-Haut
For Terre-de-Haut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Grilled Lobster and Fish Private Cooking Tour with Lunch Included: $231
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.Terre-de-Haut €20San Jose €20
Tours and Activities in Terre-de-Haut
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Terre-de-Haut.
- Private Shooting Tour Around Soufrière: $106
- Sailing and Snorkeling Day Tour to Les Saintes: $133
- Small Day Cruise (Ilet caret, mangrove, coral reef: $103
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 dayTerre-de-Haut €44San Jose €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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Terre-de-Haut and San Jose, we can see that Terre-de-Haut is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Terre-de-Haut is in Caribbean Islands 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 Terre-de-Haut would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Terre-de-Haut 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 Terre-de-Haut Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Terre-de-Haut or San Jose?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Terre-de-Haut and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Terre-de-Haut year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. Terre-de-Haut gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Terre-de-Haut usually receives less rain than San Jose. Terre-de-Haut gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Terre-de-Haut, it's very sunny this time of the year. Terre-de-Haut usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Terre-de-Haut gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Terre-de-Haut is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 27°C (81°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTerre-de-Haut 27°C (81°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Terre-de-Haut as well as San Jose. Terre-de-Haut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Terre-de-Haut receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Terre-de-Haut usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Terre-de-Haut gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Terre-de-Haut this time of the year. In the autumn, Terre-de-Haut often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Terre-de-Haut gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
Terre-de-Haut is around the same temperature as San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Terre-de-Haut averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTerre-de-Haut 27°C (80°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Terre-de-Haut are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Terre-de-Haut throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than San Jose. Terre-de-Haut gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Terre-de-Haut gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Terre-de-Haut is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in January average around 24°C (76°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTerre-de-Haut 24°C (76°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Terre-de-Haut during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Terre-de-Haut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Terre-de-Haut gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Terre-de-Haut. In the spring, Terre-de-Haut often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. Terre-de-Haut gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Terre-de-Haut is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 26°C (78°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTerre-de-Haut 26°C (78°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Terre-de-Haut
| Terre-de-Haut | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 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.