Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Zagreb?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zagreb 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 Zagreb 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: Zagreb or San Jose?
Zagreb
Zagreb, in central Croatia, is the country's capital. It has a wonderful old town that has cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and a great atmosphere. Many people travel to Croatia specifically for its beaches and coastal towns, but if you overlook this lovely capital city, you'll miss a large part of the culture and personality that is Croatia.
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 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, 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 dayZagreb $82San Jose $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Zagreb is $82, 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 Zagreb and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZagreb $51San Jose $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZagreb $102San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Zagreb and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Zagreb 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: Zagreb Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zagreb $9.69San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagreb
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagreb:
- private transfer from Trogir/Split to Zagreb via Plitvice: $1,765
- Private Walking Tour with Funicular Ride & Transfers: $54
- Private Transfer to/from Zagreb Airport: $20
- Bus transfer from/to Rijeka: $7.00
- Zagreb to Split Group Transfer with Plitvice Lakes guided Tour: $152
- Zagreb to Rovinj private transfer or vice versa: $274
- Zagreb to Pula private one way transfer (or vice versa): $241
- Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes area - Private Transfer (or vice-versa): $164
- Zagreb to Franjo Tudman Airport(ZAG) - Departure Private Transfer: $16
- Zagreb to Budapest Private Transfer by Minivan: $537
- Zagreb city to Zagreb Airport private transfer: $88
- Zagreb Departure Private Transfers from Zagreb City to Zagreb Airport ZAG: $62
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 San José Airport - La Fortuna: $180
- Airport transfer from SJO Airport to Los Sueños Marriott: $170
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to Arenal by Minivan: $177
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport to Manuel Antonio by Minivan: $158
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Monteverde, English Speaking Driver: $181
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $136
- Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO) to Puntarenas city-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $167
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas city- Arrival Private Transfer: $83
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $64
- One way Transfer from SJO airport or San José to Playa Dominical max 5 passenger: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Zagreb or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Zagreb 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 dayZagreb $18San Jose $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zagreb
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zagreb.
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $74
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $75
- Private Authentic Croatian Cooking Class in Central Zagreb: $114
- Zagreb Walking Food Tour - Sightseeing - Dolac market visit: $137
- Private Authentic Market Tour and Cooking Class in the Heart of Zagreb: $144
- PRIVATE Half-Day Food Tour: The 10 Tastings of Zagreb With Locals: $196
- Wine & Food tour of Plešivica near Zagreb: $958
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.Zagreb $13San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Zagreb
Here are a few actual costs in Zagreb for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private eclectic experience of Rastoke and Plitvice Lakes National Park: $164
- Zagreb History Walking Tour: $32
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Zagreb City with Guide (up to 10): $153
- 2-Hour Unveiling A Captivating History Tour: $108
- 4 Day Touristic Adventure from Zagreb: $2,465
- 4-hour Private Zagreb & the Mountain Tour in a Yugo car: $115
- All-Inclusive Day Tour Zagreb-Rastoke-Plitvice Lakes-Split: $968
- Back to Yugoslavia Private City Tour in Old-Timer Yugo Car: $93
- Baroque Varaždin and Trakošćan Castle Private Tour: $177
- Beautiful Christmas in Zagreb - Walking Tour: $435
- Best of ISTRIA: Amphitheater PULA + ROVINJ + HUM or POREČ - fully Private Tour: $263
- Best of Zagreb Walking Tour: $73
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 dayZagreb $9.49San Jose $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Zagreb
Also in Zagreb, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Zagreb Pub Crawl: $16
- Zagreb:Private Bar Crawling and Alcohol Testing with a Guide: $32
- Zagreb Wine Tasting & Jarun Lake Tour: $75
- Private Zagreb Walking Tour and Wine Tasting From Zagreb: $103
- Taste Zagreb Heritage Wine Tasting with Traditional Lunch: $179
- Plesivica countryside Wine Tasting: $199
- Fairytale castle & delicious wine tasting and lunch: $202
- Private Wine Tasting Tour from Zagreb: $208
- Castles & Wine Tasting - Private Day Trip from Zagreb: $235
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 Zagreb and San Jose, we can see that San Jose 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 Zagreb 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 Zagreb Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zagreb or San Jose?
Zagreb has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Zagreb 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 Zagreb or San Jose?
Zagreb 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 Zagreb or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zagreb as well as San Jose. Many visitors come to Zagreb in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
In July, Zagreb is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Zagreb average around 22°C (72°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zagreb this time of the year. In the summer, Zagreb often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Zagreb gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Zagreb usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Zagreb gets 87 mm (3.4 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 JulyZagreb 22°C (72°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Zagreb or San Jose in the Autumn?
Both San Jose and Zagreb are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Zagreb for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Zagreb is much colder than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zagreb averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Zagreb usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Zagreb gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In October, Zagreb usually receives less rain than San Jose. Zagreb gets 70 mm (2.8 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 OctoberZagreb 13°C (55°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zagreb or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Zagreb during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Zagreb because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
The weather in Zagreb can be very cold. In the winter, Zagreb is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zagreb in January average around 1°C (35°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Zagreb often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Zagreb gets 54 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Zagreb usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Zagreb gets 53 mm (2.1 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 JanuaryZagreb 1°C (35°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zagreb or San Jose in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zagreb and San Jose. The activities around the city are the main draw to Zagreb this time of year. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Zagreb is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Zagreb average around 13°C (55°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. Zagreb usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Zagreb gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Zagreb usually receives more rain than San Jose. Zagreb gets 65 mm (2.6 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 AprilZagreb 13°C (55°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Zagreb
| Zagreb | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 1°C (35°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (69°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (71°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.