Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Zurich?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zurich 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 Zurich 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: Zurich or San Jose?
Zurich
Zurich has the biggest connection for trains in Switzerland. It also has the country's biggest and busiest airport. Because of its importance as a transportation center, it is likely to be the first place you visit in Switzerland. It is the financial capital of the country (although, contrary to what you may have thought, not the political capital). It has many international companies, and is home to the country's stock exchange.
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 Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, 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 dayZurich $271San Jose $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Zurich is $271, 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 Zurich and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZurich $171San Jose $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZurich $342San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Zurich and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Zurich 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: Zurich Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zurich $36San Jose $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Zurich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
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City Pass (2)$29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
- Zurich:Transfer and Ticket to Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum: $110
- Transfer from/to Hotel - Airport: $161
- Private Transfer to/from Zurich Airport: $109
- One-Way Private Airport Transfer: $133
- 1-Way Private Transfer from the airport to Zurich: $190
- Zurich Private Airport and Hotels Transfer, One-way or Round-Trip: $148
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to/from Zurich City: $110
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to/from Lucerne: $254
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to Greater Zurich Area: $110
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer from Greater Zurich Area: $110
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer Zurich Airport to Lucerne: $320
- Zurich Airport: Private Lucerne Transfer by Mercedes: $395
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 Zurich or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Zurich 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 dayZurich $62San Jose $18
Typical Food Prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
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Breakfast for 2$13
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.Zurich $36San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
- (STTZ01) - Zurich Open Top Bus Sightseeing Tour : $24
- 007-Elegance: Exclusive Private Tour Schilthorn from Zürich: $633
- 3 Hours Private Tour Around Zurich: $222
- 3 in 1: Zurich Walking Tour - Cruise on the Lake - Cable Car Ride to Felsenegg: $100
- Alpine Majesty: Private Tour to Mount Titlis from Zürich: $656
- Alpine Majesty:Zürich to Jungfraujoch Exclusive Private Tour: $808
- Beer Tasting Tour in Zurich: $128
- Best Intro Tour of Zurich with a Local: $155
- Best of Zürich & Surroundings: Walking Tour, Cable Car and Ferry: $89
- Best of Zürich: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.95
- Best of Zurich Tour with Felsenegg Cable Car and Ferry Ride : $73
- Bike Private Tour with Pickup and Drop off From Zurich: $115
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 dayZurich $30San Jose $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Zurich
Also in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour with Shots and Snacks: $33
- Informative wine tasting with Italian appetizers in the secure wine cellar: $155
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 Zurich and San Jose, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zurich 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 Zurich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zurich 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 Zurich Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zurich or San Jose?
Zurich has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Zurich 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 Zurich or San Jose?
Zurich 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 Zurich or San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose and Zurich during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Zurich in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In July, Zurich is generally cooler than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 21°C (70°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Zurich. In the summer, Zurich often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Zurich gets 241 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. Zurich usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 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 JulyZurich 21°C (70°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Zurich or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and San Jose. Most visitors come to Zurich for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Zurich is much colder than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Zurich usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Zurich gets 120 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, Zurich usually receives less rain than San Jose. Zurich 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 OctoberZurich 13°C (56°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zurich or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zurich as well as San Jose. The winter months attract visitors to Zurich because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
The weather in Zurich can be very cold. In the winter, Zurich is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zurich in January average around 3°C (37°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, Zurich often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 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 JanuaryZurich 3°C (37°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zurich or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Zurich are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Zurich 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, Zurich is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 12°C (53°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in San Jose. Zurich usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Zurich usually receives more rain than San Jose. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 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 AprilZurich 12°C (53°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Zurich
| Zurich | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.