Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Tulum?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tulum 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 Tulum 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: Tulum or San Jose?
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, 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 dayTulum $122San Jose $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $122, 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 Tulum and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $60San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $120San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Tulum and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Tulum 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: Tulum Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $28San Jose $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Xcaret to Tulum - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $76
- Transfer from Tulum airport to Bacalar: $233
- Horseback Riding in the Jungle w/ Transfers and Lunch: $100
- Tulum to Xcaret - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $76
- Tulum to Playa del Carmen - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $82
- Tulum to Mahahual - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $160
- Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $181
- Tulum to Cancun - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $121
- Tulum to Cancún Airport (CUN) - Private Departure Transfer: $70
- Tulum to Bacalar - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $153
- Tulum Hotels to Merida Rejon Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $113
- Roundtrip Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $269
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:
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $35
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose City to SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport: $39
- 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
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Transfer SJO Airport to Hotels nearby or Vice versa Private 6 PAX: $45
- Private San José Airport Transfer to San José Hotels : $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose City to Puntarenas Cruise Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Tulum 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 dayTulum $34San Jose $18
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$3.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $86
- Vegan Walking Food Tour with Tasting: $87
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch and Mezcal Tasting in a Local Home in Tulum: $87
- Tulum Vegan Food Tour: $90
- Gourmet Experience: 5 Course Dinner, Cocktail Class and Wine Pairing: $159
- Mayan Night Guided Tour, Cenote Swim and Mayan Dinner: $209
- Private Mayan Food Cooking Class and Cenote: $289
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more) : $299
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.Tulum $32San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Full Day Tour from Tulum to Rio Lagartos: $179
- Luxury Tour to Chichen Itza and 2 Cenotes Only From Tulum: $128
- Private Tour - The best Cenotes in Yucatan - Suytun & Oxman: $195
- Romantic tour in Tulum: $169
- Sian Ka'an Boat Tour: Full Day Experience: $179
- 2 Cenotes Guided Snorkeling Adventure in Tulum: $149
- 4-Hour Cenotes Tour with Hotel Pickup in Riviera Maya: $109
- 4x1 Mayan Experience! Tulum Ruins, Coba, Cenote + Transportation from Tulum City: $78
- 5 Hours Mayan Snorkeling Experience in Tulum: $90
- 5x1 Deluxe Tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote Transportation from Tulum: $88
- 5x1: Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Mayan Village Full Day Tour: $99
- ATV Adventure and Horseback Ride with Ziplines, Cenote from Tulum: $105
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 Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Visit a Butterfly Chapel, Gardens, Coffee Tour with Typical Lunch: $30
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- 2-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $33
- Private Custom Guided Tour in San Jose: $33
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- Historical Tour and Old Houses by Dota: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $25San Jose $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Tulum
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tulum:
- 30 Minutes Brewery Tour in Tulum: $39
- Wine Tasting at Pan y Vino Tulum: $58
- Beer Tasting and Brewery Tour: $69
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 Tulum and San Jose, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North 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 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 Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum 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 Tulum Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum 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 Tulum or San Jose?
Tulum 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 Tulum or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Tulum during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Tulum for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Tulum is around the same temperature as San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Tulum averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Tulum. In the summer, Tulum often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Tulum 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 Tulum. Tulum usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Tulum gets 145 mm (5.7 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 JulyTulum 28°C (83°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Tulum or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tulum and San Jose. The autumn months attract visitors to Tulum because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Tulum is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tulum in October average around 27°C (81°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In Tulum, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tulum usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Tulum gets 216 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. Tulum gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Tulum usually receives less rain than San Jose. Tulum gets 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. November to April in Tulum is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Tulum. June to October in Tulum is the hurricane season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTulum 27°C (81°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tulum or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Tulum as well as San Jose. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Tulum this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In January, Tulum is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Tulum average around 23°C (74°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tulum this time of the year. In the winter, Tulum often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Tulum gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Tulum usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Tulum gets 56 mm (2.2 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 JanuaryTulum 23°C (74°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tulum or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Tulum are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Tulum for the beaches and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Tulum is around the same temperature as San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Tulum averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tulum. Tulum usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during spring. Tulum gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Tulum usually receives more rain than San Jose. Tulum gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Tulum is November to April. The rainy season in Tulum is June to October. The hurricane season in Tulum is June to October.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTulum 27°C (81°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Tulum
| Tulum | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (78°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 72 mm (2.8 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.