Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Warsaw?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Warsaw 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 Warsaw 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: Warsaw or San Jose?
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital city of Poland. It has a population of 1.7 million, making it the country's largest city. Located on the Vistula River, it is a popular tourist destination for its interesting architecture and culture. The right bank of the river was the first area to become populated in the 9th or 10 century. Today, however, the city's central district is on the left bank of the river. The Old Town, where you will find many sights and attractions, is fully contained within the city center.
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 Poland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow, 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 dayWarsaw $94San Jose $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Warsaw is $94, 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 Warsaw and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWarsaw $52San Jose $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWarsaw $104San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Warsaw and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Warsaw 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: Warsaw Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Warsaw $4.68San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Warsaw
Also for Warsaw, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- from Warsaw to Krakow private transfer: $498
- Wilanow Palace and Gardens with Guide, Tickets and Transfers: $212
- Private Transfer to/from Krakow: $448
- Private Economy Transfer Airport -City 1-3 person: $67
- Gun Shooting Experience with Transfers: $84
- Extreme Shooting Range Experience with Transfers: $176
- Extreme Shooting Range Experience with Transfer: $175
- Economy Private Warsaw Okecie Airport Transfer: $57
- Chopin Airport Private Transfer: $82
- Chopin & Modlin Airport Transfers: $65
- Bus Transfer to/from Vilnus: $36
- Warsaw Private Transfer from Warsaw city centre to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW): $41
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:
- 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 Warsaw or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Warsaw 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 dayWarsaw $27San Jose $18
Typical Food Prices in Warsaw
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Warsaw:
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Dinner for Two$13
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Lunch for Two$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Warsaw
For Warsaw, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lunch or Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe with Skip-the-Line: $19
- Breakfast Market Food Tour in Warsaw: $56
- Warsaw's No 1 cooking class-Polish dumplings with liqueur tasting: $61
- Polish Dumplings Cooking Class: $62
- Traditional Polish Cooking Class in Warsaw: $79
- Traditional Polish Cooking Class with liquor tasting in Warsaw: $89
- Polish Food Tour: $93
- Taste of Poland - Old Town food tour and guided walk in one: $95
- 4-Hour Polish Food Tour: $110
- The 10 Tastings of Warsaw With Locals: Private Food Tour : $117
- EVERYDAY Warsaw Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $156
- Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $156
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.Warsaw $7.02San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Warsaw
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Warsaw.
- 1-day tour from Warsaw to Kazimierz Dolny : $229
- 2 Hour Super Segway City Tour of Warsaw: $67
- 2-Hour Breakfast Experience in a Home from Warsaw: $49
- 3 Hour VIP Warsaw Guided City Tour: $207
- 3-Hour Guided Cycling Tour of Warsaw: $38
- 5-Hour Private Walking Night Tour in Warsaw: $63
- 6 Hour Private Car Tour to Treblinka With Hotel Pickup: $307
- Architecture Walking Tour in Warsaw: $76
- Best of Warsaw Full-Day Private Tour with Private Transport: $154
- Best of Warsaw Full-Day Private Tour with Private Transport: $154
- Chopin's Warsaw - guided tour in a minivan with evening piano concert: $67
- Chopin’s Warsaw - City tour in the footsteps of Frédéric Chopin: $69
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 dayWarsaw $10San Jose $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Warsaw
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Warsaw:
- The Original Pub Crawl: $16
- #1 Pub Crawl Warsaw with Premium Open Bar: $20
- Pub Crawl with 1-Hour Open Bar: $20
- Warsaw Wine Tasting Private Tour with Wine Expert: $177
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 Warsaw and San Jose, we can see that Warsaw 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 Warsaw 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 Warsaw Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Warsaw or San Jose?
Warsaw has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Warsaw 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 Warsaw or San Jose?
Warsaw 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 Warsaw or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Warsaw and San Jose. Most visitors come to Warsaw for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Warsaw is cooler than San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Warsaw averages around 19°C (65°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Warsaw, it's very sunny this time of the year. Warsaw usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Warsaw gets 353 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, Warsaw usually receives less rain than San Jose. Warsaw gets 67 mm (2.6 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 JulyWarsaw 19°C (65°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Warsaw as well as San Jose. The autumn months attract visitors to Warsaw because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In the autumn, Warsaw is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Warsaw in October average around 9°C (49°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Warsaw often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Warsaw gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Warsaw usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Warsaw gets 38 mm (1.5 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 OctoberWarsaw 9°C (49°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Warsaw are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Warsaw this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Warsaw in the winter. In January, Warsaw is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Warsaw average around -3°C (27°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. Warsaw usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Warsaw gets 35 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Warsaw usually receives more rain than San Jose. Warsaw gets 22 mm (0.9 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 JanuaryWarsaw -3°C (27°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Warsaw during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Warsaw for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
Warsaw is much colder than San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Warsaw averages around 9°C (47°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Warsaw. In the spring, Warsaw often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose. Warsaw gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.
Warsaw usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Warsaw gets 32 mm (1.3 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 AprilWarsaw 9°C (47°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Warsaw
| Warsaw | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 3°C (37°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (47°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (65°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (49°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | -0°C (31°F) | 32 mm (1.3 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.