Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Vientiane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vientiane or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane 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: Vientiane or San Jose?
Vientiane
You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.
While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos, 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 dayVientiane $15San Jose $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $15, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $89. 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 Vientiane and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $6.00San Jose $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $12San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane 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: Vientiane Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $2.08San Jose $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $29
- Vientiane Private Airport and Hotel Transfers: $9.00
- Vientiane Airport Transfer: Wattay airport to hotel - Private transfer: $15
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Private Transfer in Laos: $5.00
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$2.71
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
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- 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
- Transfer Costa Rica SJO Airport To OR From Hotels nearby Private : $45
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Private Transfer from San Jose City to Puntarenas Cruise Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $64
- Private transfer from SJO Intl Airport to downtown Hotels: $65
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Vientiane 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 dayVientiane $6.30San Jose $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.
- Private Evening Food Tour of Laos: $70
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.Vientiane $3.53San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- 2 Days Private Tour in Vientiane and Vang Vieng: $90
- Explore Vientiane and Local Villages Biking Tour: $184
- From Hue: Hue to Vientiane Bus tickets: $61
- Full Day Private Tour in Vientiane with Pickup: $142
- Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $81
- Half Day Private Tour in City Highlights: $120
- Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $67
- Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Vientiane: $82
- Private Tour: Full-day Cycling The City Streets Vientiane with Buddha Park: $174
- Private Tour: Full-day Vientiane's Must-See Sights and River Sunset with Lunch: $101
- Private Tour: Half-day City Guided Tour of Vientiane: $113
- Private Tour: Vientiane City Tour Full Day with Buddha Park: $145
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 Farm of Hacienda Orosi: $11
- Entrance ticket to the Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $30
- Sarapiqui Frog Tour: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- San Jose Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
- Corso Lecheria Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.34San 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 Vientiane and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Vientiane 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 Vientiane would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vientiane 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 San Jose would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Jose than you might in Vientiane.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vientiane Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 70% larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane 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 Vientiane or San Jose?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Vientiane or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Vientiane during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually gets more rain in July than San Jose. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Vientiane often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
Vientiane is around the same temperature as San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Vientiane usually receives less rain than San Jose. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Vientiane is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vientiane in October average around 28°C (83°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as San Jose. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Vientiane usually gets less rain in January than San Jose. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the winter, Vientiane often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
In January, Vientiane is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 24°C (75°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Vientiane usually receives more rain than San Jose. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's very hot in Vientiane this time of the year. Vientiane is around the same temperature as San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 31°C (88°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Vientiane
| Vientiane | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.