Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Vilnius?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vilnius or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Vilnius and San Jose. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Vilnius or San Jose?
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital and largest city in the country of Lithuania. It has a population of more than 500,000 residents and is located in the valley between the Neris River and the Vilnia River in the southeastern part of the country. Visitors come to the city for its beautiful Old Town, impressive architecture, and fascinating culture. In 2009 it was named the European Capital of Culture along with the city of Linz, in Austria.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Lithuania, 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 dayVilnius €94San Jose €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Vilnius is €94, 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 Vilnius and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVilnius €42San Jose €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVilnius €84San Jose €92
Compare Hotels in Vilnius and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Vilnius 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: Vilnius Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vilnius €8.30San Jose €18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vilnius
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vilnius:
- Jewish Heritage Sites Private Tour with Transfer: $215
- Hot Air Balloon Ride with Hotel Transfer: $215
- Airport Bus Transfer to/from Central Bus Station: $3.23
- Vilnius Private 1-Way Airport Transfer: $54
- Vilnius Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Warsaw: $36
- Vilnius Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Riga: $24
- Vilnius Airport Transfer: $52
- Vilnius Airport (VNO): Bus Transfer to/from Gdansk: $52
- Transfer from Kaunas Airport to Vilnius: $215
- Riga: Bus Transfer to/from Vilnius: $20
- Riga / Tallinn / Vilnius. Transfer Between Baltic States: $645
- Private Vilnius Airport Arrival Transfer: $27
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:
- 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 Vilnius or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Vilnius 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 dayVilnius €40San Jose €17
Typical Food Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of dining costs in Vilnius are as follows:
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Dinner for Two€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vilnius
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vilnius.
- Private National Dinner with Folk Show: $60
- Dinner in local family: $74
- Flavors of Vilnius - Private Walking Food Tour: $191
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.Vilnius €9.72San Jose €20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Vilnius are as follows:
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Walking Tour€5.79
Tours and Activities in Vilnius
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vilnius are as follows:
- “Ghostly Tales of Vilnius” Walking Tour: $86
- "Ghostly Tales of Vilnius" Walking Tour: $171
- (Post) Soviet Vilnius Private Walking Tour: $108
- 1-Day Pilgrim Tour from Vilnius: $387
- Automuseum Entry Ticket: $22
- Automuseum Entry Ticket: $22
- Bachelorette Party Adventure's Organization: $34
- Bike Tour of Vilnius Highlights "Iconic Landmarks & Hidden Gems": $32
- Day tour out of Paneriai holocaust park,Trakai castle, medieval Kernave: $208
- Discover Vilnius Tour: $269
- Dzukija National Park and Grutas Park: Full-Day Tour: $215
- Explore Old Town and Uzupis Guided Walking Tour: $77
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 dayVilnius €6.38San Jose €16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Vilnius
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Vilnius from other travelers:
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Beer€4.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Vilnius
Also in Vilnius, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Beer degustation at Bear & Boar Brewery Taproom: $43
- Vilnius Private Pub & Bar Crawl Tour & Hidden Gems: $46
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 Vilnius and San Jose, we can see that Vilnius 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 Vilnius 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 Vilnius Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vilnius or San Jose?
Vilnius has a larger population, and is about 62% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Vilnius 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 Vilnius or San Jose?
Vilnius 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 Vilnius or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Vilnius during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Vilnius in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In July, Vilnius is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Vilnius average around 18°C (65°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Vilnius. In the summer, Vilnius often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Vilnius gets 219 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. Vilnius usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Vilnius gets 78 mm (3.1 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 JulyVilnius 18°C (65°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vilnius and San Jose. Most visitors come to Vilnius for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Vilnius is much colder than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vilnius averages around 8°C (46°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Vilnius usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Vilnius gets 94 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. In October, Vilnius usually receives less rain than San Jose. Vilnius gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVilnius 8°C (46°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vilnius as well as San Jose. The winter months attract visitors to Vilnius because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
The weather in Vilnius can be very cold. In the winter, Vilnius is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vilnius in January average around -5°C (23°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In the winter, Vilnius often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Vilnius gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Vilnius usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Vilnius gets 41 mm (1.6 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 JanuaryVilnius -5°C (23°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Vilnius are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Vilnius this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Vilnius is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Vilnius average around 7°C (45°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. Vilnius usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Vilnius gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Vilnius usually receives more rain than San Jose. Vilnius gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVilnius 7°C (45°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Vilnius
| Vilnius | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (26°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (33°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (65°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (56°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (29°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.