Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Venice?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Venice or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Venice and San Jose can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Venice or San Jose?
Venice
The canals of Venice are one of the most popular and emulated destinations in the world. In it's hay day, Venice was at the center of politics, exploration, arts and architecture. Today that history is still very much alive and well. The city is unlike any other in the world. The best way to immerse yourself in Venice is to get yourself lost in the alleyways. It's actually quite easy to do and you'll find yourself stumbling into the most interesting places, hidden away from the crowds of Piazzo San Marco.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Italy, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, 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 dayVenice €229San Jose €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Venice is €229, 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 Venice and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVenice €120San Jose €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVenice €240San Jose €92
Compare Hotels in Venice and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Venice 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: Venice Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Venice €27San Jose €18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Venice
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Venice:
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Venice 12 Hour Transport Pass€16
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Vaporetto Ride€6.50
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1 Day Travel Card€18
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7 Day Transport Card (for Two)€101
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Venice
Also for Venice, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Verona Airport (VRN): One Way Transfer to Venice Cruise Port: $377
- Water Taxi Transfer Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta: $34
- VCE Airport and Venice Port 1-Way Private Transfer: $156
- Transfer from Cruise Terminal to Marco Polo Airport: $189
- Transfer from Airport to Trieste Cruise Terminal: $796
- Shared Water Taxi Transfer to Marco Polo Airport: $38
- Private Transfer from Train Station by Water Taxi: $293
- Private Boat Transfer from Cruise Terminal to Hotel: $344
- One-Way Transfer to Florence Airport or Hotel: $1,028
- Marco Polo Airport Water Taxi Transfer: $40
- Bus Transfer between Marco Polo Airport and City: $11
- Boat Transfer to/from Marco Polo Airport w/ 3 Routes: $16
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
- Transfer SJO Airport TO & FROM Dominical OR Uvita (One Way): $290
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Tambor beach: $276
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport or Guanacaste Hotels: $276
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269
- Private Transfer from San Jose downtown to Liberia Airport: $267
- 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
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to La Fortuna Arenal: $259
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Liberia: $257
Is it cheaper to fly into Venice or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Venice 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 dayVenice €65San Jose €17
Typical Food Prices in Venice
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Venice:
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Panini Sandwich€4.00
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Gelato€6.00
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Artichoke & Mushroom Pizza€7.90
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Expresso€1.95
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Slice of Pizza€2.23
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Three Course Dinner (for Two)€79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Venice
For Venice, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $30
- Hard Rock Cafe Venice with Set Lunch or Dinner: $32
- Tiramisu Cooking Class on Line from Venice: $35
- Street Food Tour with a Local Guide and Tastings: $47
- Small Group Venice Street Food Tour with Expert Local Guide: $48
- Venice Street Food Tour with Local Guide with Local Food Market Visit: $48
- Street Food Tour of Venice in 2.5 hours: $48
- Eating Venice Street Food Tour with Guided Tasting and Sightseeing: $48
- Guided City Highlights and Street Food Tour: $52
- Venetian Dinner: $62
- Twilight Food Tour with Cicchetti and Spritz Tasting: $64
- Venetian Dinner: $68
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.Venice €101San Jose €20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Venice
For Venice, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Venice Boat Ride€15
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Bell tower of St. Mark Entrance Fee€8.00
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Gondola Ride (for Group)€80
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Secret Itinerary Tour- Doge's Palace€16
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The Jewish Museum Admission€3.00
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The Glass Museum in Murano€8.00
Tours and Activities in Venice
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Venice.
- From Vicenza Private Tour: $283
- Peggy Guggenheim collection Venice private tour: $75
- Private Grand Canal 1-Hour Boat Tour: $263
- Small-group Saint Mark’s Basilica Skip-the-line Tour: $54
- Venice Top-Attractions Walking Tour for Kids & Families & Child-Friendly Guide: $240
- Private 2-Hour Doge's Palace Tour: $217
- Friendinvenice, how to experience the true Venice, private tour: $126
- 2 Hours Private Boat Tour in the Lagoon at Sunset with Aperitif: $104
- 2-Hour Venice with Kids and Family Friendly Private Guided Tour: $274
- 2hr Night Kayak Tour in premium tour with sunset: $128
- 3 Hours Venice walking tour: $93
- 3 Hours Walking Tour in Venice Small Group: $81
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 dayVenice €24San Jose €16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Venice
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Venice:
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1/2 Liter Wine€5.20
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Beer€4.90
Sample the Local Flavors in Venice
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Venice:
- Venice Food and Wine Tasting Tour with a Local Guide: $8.74
- Guided Tour and wine tasting 5 wines to discover the Conegliano Valdobbiadene: $27
- Guided Visit and Wine Tasting at the Winery in Veneto: $27
- Wine Tasting in Venice: $38
- private tour in the city and wine tasting: $51
- Wine tasting Asolo Prosecco at Tenuta Baron: $59
- Food and Wine Tasting Bar Tour & Evening Guided Tour: $72
- Venetian Style Carnival Pub Crawl: $80
- Venetian Style Carnival Pub Crawl: $82
- Eat, drink and repeat: Wine tasting tour in Venice: $98
- Authentic Neighborhood Cicchetti Food & Wine Tour: $106
- A Venetian Evening - Wine Tasting & Tapas tour with a Local guide: $109
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 Venice and San Jose, we can see that Venice is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Venice is in Europe 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 Venice would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Venice 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 Venice Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Venice or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 24% larger than the population of Venice. When comparing the sizes of Venice 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 Venice or San Jose?
Venice 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 Venice or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Venice and San Jose. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Venice this time of year. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Venice is cooler than San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Venice in July average around 23°C (73°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F).
In Venice, it's very sunny this time of the year. Venice usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Venice gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Venice usually receives less rain than San Jose. Venice gets 61 mm (2.4 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 JulyVenice 23°C (73°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Venice or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Venice as well as San Jose. Many travelers come to Venice for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In October, Venice is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Venice average around 14°C (57°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Venice often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Venice gets 134 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Venice usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Venice gets 67 mm (2.7 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 OctoberVenice 14°C (57°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Venice or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Venice are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Venice in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Venice can get quite cold in the winter. Venice is much colder than San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Venice averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. Venice usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Venice gets 88 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Venice usually receives more rain than San Jose. Venice gets 58 mm (2.3 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 JanuaryVenice 3°C (37°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Venice or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Venice during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Venice for the natural beauty during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In the spring, Venice is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Venice in April average around 13°C (55°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F).
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Venice often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Venice gets 154 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
Venice usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Venice gets 60 mm (2.4 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 AprilVenice 13°C (55°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Venice
| Venice | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (41°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (67°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (47°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 50 mm (1.9 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.