Travel budget and cost of living in San Jose (Costa Rica) how much does a trip cost?
Planning a trip to San Jose? Calculate your travel budget quickly and for free with our tool. Get to grips with actual prices and the cost of living in San Jose in Costa Rica with our comprehensive and reliable information.
San Jose travel budget
San Jose: calculate your travel budget
Sample budgets for a trip to San Jose
These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in San Jose for 2 people.
Low budget
(backpacker)
Daily budget:
- $ 29 for 2 ppl.
- $ 15 per person
- $ 2.9 per person
- Free activities
Total budget:
$ 897* (556486 CRC)
Average budget
(traveller)
Daily budget:
- $ 66 for 2 ppl.
- $ 28 per person
- $ 9.4 per person
- $ 6.6 per person
Total budget:
$ 2126* (1318814 CRC)
High budget
(tourist)
Daily budget:
- $ 137 for 2 ppl.
- $ 47 per person
- $ 22 per person
- $ 14 per person
Total budget:
$ 4181* (2594018 CRC)
* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).
Cost of living in San Jose compared to Costa Rica in 2021
On average, the cost of living in San Jose in 2021 is 8% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).
See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in San Jose in 2021 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):
Explore each type of expense in detail:
Local prices in San Jose by expense type
Restaurant budget in San Jose

($ 5.3 to $ 16)
48% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 17 to $ 45)
0% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 6.6 to $ 11)
3% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.9 to $ 3.8)
42% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.6 to $ 6)
55% more than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.9 to $ 4.7)
26% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.3 to $ 2.9)
9% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.2 to $ 2.9)
1% less than in the United States (USA)

Hotel and accommodation budget in San Jose

($ 33 to $ 40)
67% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 26 to $ 66)
64% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 47 to $ 150)
51% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 100 to $ 308)
29% less than in the United States (USA)


( $ 165)
67% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 22 to $ 49)
70% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 47 to $ 140)
48% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 49 to $ 243)
28% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 39 to $ 94)
71% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 79 to $ 238)
21% less than in the United States (USA)

Supermarket food budget in San Jose

($ 1.2 to $ 2)
85% more than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.2 to $ 3.3)
24% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.6 to $ 2.9)
43% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 2.2 to $ 4.1)
38% more than in the United States (USA)


($ 3.3 to $ 12)
30% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 4.8 to $ 12)
4% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.9 to $ 7.5)
12% more than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.6 to $ 7.4)
29% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.4 to $ 5.6)
29% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.3 to $ 5.1)
2% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 0.7 to $ 2.9)
21% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.3 to $ 3.8)
51% more than in the United States (USA)


($ 6.6 to $ 17)
13% less than in the United States (USA)

Public and private transport budget in San Jose

($ 0.7 to $ 1.2)
65% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 45 to $ 85)
21% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.2 to $ 2.9)
23% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.2 to $ 1.4)
88% more than in the United States (USA)


($ 1.2 to $ 1.7)
60% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 4.8 to $ 90)
48% less than in the United States (USA)

Budget for living and housing in San Jose

($ 48 to $ 180)
46% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 0 to $ 0.1)
45% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 48 to $ 124)
10% more than in the United States (USA)


($ 378 to $ 1089)
53% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 284 to $ 872)
53% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 660 to $ 2178)
47% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 471 to $ 1851)
44% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 39 to $ 104)
74% more than in the United States (USA)


($ 189 to $ 634)
57% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 4521 to $ 18831)
40% less than in the United States (USA)

Leisure activity budget in San Jose

($ 5.6 to $ 12)
43% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 20 to $ 39)
109% more than in the United States (USA)

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in San Jose

($ 3.8 to $ 6.6)
42% less than in the United States (USA)


($ 35 to $ 104)
65% more than in the United States (USA)


($ 29 to $ 130)
52% more than in the United States (USA)


($ 77 to $ 189)
47% more than in the United States (USA)


($ 58 to $ 152)
15% more than in the United States (USA)

Plane ticket budget

(fair price: $ 648)

(fair price: $ 339)

(fair price: $ 397)

(fair price: $ 438)

(fair price: $ 457)

(fair price: $ 787)

(fair price: $ 863)

(fair price: $ 836)

(fair price: $ 1409)

(fair price: $ 1573)

(fair price: $ 1561)
About this information on the cost of living in San Jose
The information about the cost of living in San Jose shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including: Numbeo, Easyvoyage and Hotels.com.
The information about the cost of living in San Jose was updated on 14-01-2021.