How Much Does San Jose Cost per Day
A full breakdown of San Jose prices: daily budgets by tier, every itemised cost from the guide, and where the money actually goes.
The short answer
Budget travellers in San Jose spend around USD 45 a day. Mid-range travel runs closer to USD 100, and a splurge day lands around USD 220. USD per day, San Jose specifically. These are planning-range estimates built from general Central Valley price levels, not a single verified receipt, treat them as a starting budget rather than exact figures.
Daily cost breakdown
- Stay
- Food
- Transport
- Activities
| Tier | Stay | Food | Transport | Activities | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | USD 20 | USD 12 | USD 5 | USD 8 | USD 45 |
| Mid-range | USD 55 | USD 25 | USD 12 | USD 15 | USD 107 |
| Splurge | USD 140 | USD 55 | USD 25 | USD 40 | USD 260 |
Hostel dorm bed CRC 10,000 (~USD 20), casado lunch CRC 3,500 (~USD 7), museum entry CRC 8,800 (~USD 17), Uber rides CRC 5,000 (~USD 10), dinner soda CRC 4,000 (~USD 8).
Every priced item in this guide
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Museo del Oro Precolombino | CRC 8,800 (foreign adult); CRC 6,950 (foreign student) |
| Mercado Central | free to enter |
| Basilica de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles (Cartago) | free |
| Barrio Escalante food street | varies by restaurant |
| Sarchi (day trip) | free to visit, oxcarts/crafts cost extra |
| Casado | CRC 3,000-6,000 |
| Gallo pinto | CRC 2,000-3,500 |
| Chifrijo | CRC 3,500-5,500 |
| Costa Rican coffee | CRC 1,200-2,500 |
| Empanadas | CRC 800-1,500 |
| Olla de carne | CRC 4,000-6,500 |
How to spend less
- Eat at a soda (small local diner) instead of Barrio Escalante restaurants, a casado runs a third of the price
- Museo del Oro and Teatro Nacional are both free on May 18 (International Museum Day)
- Take the bus instead of a taxi between the airport area and downtown if you're not carrying much luggage, it's a fraction of the cost
- Skip a rental car for the city days, add it only once you're heading out to volcano/coffee day trips or the coast