How much does a trip to San Jose Cost?
The Cost of a Trip to San Jose
Typically, the daily expenses for a trip to San Jose for one person fall between $38 and $232, while for two people, it can range from $75 to $463. These price ranges are based on the average daily cost of $90 (₡45,579) which is calculated from the expenses of previous travelers. These numbers include expenses for food, accommodation, sightseeing, and local transportation. Keep in mind that prices can vary depending on your overall travel style, level of luxury, and the activities you choose. If you book standard hotels, eat at typical restaurants, and take in the main attractions, your budget should stay close to this average cost. Below, we provide a breakdown of travel expenses by category, as well as a general price range for accommodation and activities for your visit. Please bear in mind that individual attractions and hotels may vary in price, although they generally adhere to the price ranges discussed in this article.
How much money should you budget for your trip to San Jose?
If you're planning an Independent trip to San Jose, budget travelers should plan to spend around $38 (₡19,062) per day for their trip. This average includes hostels and budget hotels, affordable meal options, local transportation, and activities. If you're on a mid-range budget, plan for around $90 (₡45,579) a day which covers the cost of typical hotels, normal restaurants, and a variety of popular attractions. Luxury travelers should allow for $232 (₡117,194) a day, which would cover higher-end hotels, nicer restaurants, and more private tour options. All of these price ranges are based on our extensive travel cost data for San Jose from other travelers, along with hotel and tour data from travel companies.
Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
| Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $19 | $49 | $132 |
| Local Transportation1 | $7 | $20 | $59 |
| Food2 | $7 | $18 | $44 |
| Water2 | $2 | $2 | $2 |
| Entertainment1 | $8 | $21 | $53 |
| Souvenirs1 | $13 | $30 | $62 |
| Communication2 | $9 | $21 | $46 |
| Living Expenses2 | $1 | $4 | $10 |
| Alcohol2 | $7 | $17 | $37 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | $29 | $36 | $50 |
How much does a weekend trip to San Jose cost?
On average, travelers spend around $270 per person during a three-day trip to San Jose. This average includes expenses for sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. To align with this average price range, consider opting for mid-range hotels and dining at mid-level restaurants, while also allocating funds for entry tickets to popular attractions. For those seeking a more budget-friendly approach, it is possible to find lower-cost accommodations, dine at less expensive restaurants, and explore free activities. Also, many visitors choose to spend a higher travel budget, as San Jose offers a range of high-end hotels and restaurants for those seeking a more luxurious experience.
National Theatre of Costa Rica, San Jose
How much does a five day trip to San Jose cost?
With five days in San Jose, you can expect to spend about $451 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.
How much does a one week trip to San Jose cost?
Most visitors spend between $264 and $1,622 for a one week trip to San Jose, with the average being $631. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in San Jose. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.
Hotel Prices in San Jose
Based on our calculations from available hotels in the San Jose, the average price for a hotel room is $57 per night. To save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by amenities and location. Check out more details from our analysis of hotel prices in San Jose here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.
Hotels by star rating in San Jose
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 2 | $76 |
| 4 stars | 10 | $97 |
| 3 stars | 40 | $68 |
| 2 stars | 17 | $30 |
| 1 star | 6 | $24 |
| No rating | 3 | $17 |
Should you do a tour in San Jose?
Many visitors enjoy the convenience of booking tours and activities while they visit, and San Jose has a wide array of things to do. These activities often include knowledgable guides and unique experiences. Tours range in price from $21 for the Entrance ticket to the Hacienda Orosi to $325 for the Day trip from San Jose to Monteverde Cloud Forest & Sky Adventure Park.
- White Water Rafting Canyoning Combo Maquique Adventure: $165
- Horseback our Hacienda - 4 hours Coffee Tour: $65
- Queveri Horseback Riding Tours: $65
- Kayak Jungle Tour - Sarapiquí River - Costa Rica: $75
- Full-Day Bajos del Toro Hiking Experience: $230
- Awesome Class 3 Balsa River Rafting 5-Hour Tour in La Fortuna: $90
- Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Day tour: $119
- Small Group Cultural Walking Tour in San Jose Costa Rica: $42
More for San Jose
If you're planning a trip to San Jose, Costa Rica, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
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.
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