A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Plzen vs. San Jose for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Plzen or San Jose?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Plzen and San Jose can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Plzen or San Jose?

Plzen

Renowned as the home of the pilsner beer, Plzen is a city located in the West Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Beyond beer, it also features a number of impressive landmarks some of which include St. Bartholomew's Cathedral and the Great Synagogue.

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 Czech Republic, The Best Cultural Tours in Czech Republic, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Plzen?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Plzen is $142, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $103. 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 Plzen and San Jose in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Plzen $70
    San Jose $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Plzen $140
    San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Plzen and San Jose

Looking for a hotel in Plzen 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.

Hotels in Plzen


Hotels in San Jose


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: Plzen Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Plzen $9.51
    San Jose $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plzen

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Plzen:

  • Private Transfer from Pilsen(Plzen) to Prague: $296
  • Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague with 2 hours for sightseeing: $127
  • Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague: $96

Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Jose

Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Jose are as follows:


  • Taxi from SJO
    $25
  • Local Bus
    $2.72

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose

Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private transfer from San José airport to San José hotels: $29
  • Private San José Airport Transfer to San José Hotels : $40
  • Private Transfer from City - San Jose Airport (SJO): $43
  • Private One-way Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport to San Jose: $44
  • Private One-way Transfer from San Jose to Juan Santamaria Airport: $45
  • Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
  • Private Transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna de Arenal: $46
  • Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
  • San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $58
  • Private transfer from San Jose-Heredia-Alajuela Hotels to International Airport: $60
  • Transfer 1 to 3 Pax Juan Santamaria Airport to SJO Hotels : $60
  • Private transfer from SJO Intl Airport to downtown Hotels: $65

Is it cheaper to fly into Plzen or San Jose?

Prices for flights to both San Jose and Plzen 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Plzen $61
    San Jose $31

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 including Markets: $29
  • San Jose Cooking Classes visit Central Market: $52
  • San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner, Cooking & Cocktail Class: $59
  • Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $78
  • San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner : $80
  • Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $92
  • Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $113
  • Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Plzen $25
    San Jose $21

Tours and Activities in Plzen

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Plzen are as follows:

  • An Audio Tour of the City of Beer: Pilsen's History and Legends: $8.99
  • Experience Pilsen through Digital Audio Guide in English: $11
  • Pilsen Private Walking Tour: $250

Tours and Activities in San Jose

For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of San Jose Highlights: $4.62
  • Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
  • Private Guided Tour of Cheese in Canaan de Rivas: $30
  • Sarapiqui Frog Experience: Night Experience in the Jungle.: $30
  • Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
  • Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
  • 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
  • San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
  • Historical Tour and Old Houses by Dota: $35
  • San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $35
  • Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
  • Sarapiqui Rainforest Night Walk : Wildlife & Adventure.: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Plzen $27
    San Jose $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Plzen

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plzen:

  • Pilsen Highlights Small-Group Tour and Pilsner Brewery Tour including Lunch and Beer Tasting: $118

Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:

  • Exclusive Pub Crawl in San Jose : $30
  • Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $39
  • 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 Plzen and San Jose, we can see that Plzen is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Plzen 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 Plzen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Plzen 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 Plzen Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Plzen or San Jose?

San Jose has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Plzen. When comparing the sizes of Plzen 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 Plzen or San Jose?

Plzen 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 Plzen or San Jose in the Summer?

Both San Jose and Plzen during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.

Plzen is cooler than San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Plzen averages around 20°C (67°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Plzen. In the summer, Plzen often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Plzen gets 212 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. Plzen usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Plzen gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Plzen 20°C (67°F) 
    San Jose 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Plzen or San Jose in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Plzen and San Jose. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Plzen is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Plzen in October average around 11°C (51°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Plzen usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Plzen 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, Plzen usually receives less rain than San Jose. Plzen gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in San Jose is the dry season. May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Plzen 11°C (51°F) 
    San Jose 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Plzen or San Jose in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Plzen as well as San Jose. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.

It's quite cold in Plzen in the winter. In January, Plzen is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Plzen average around -1°C (31°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In the winter, Plzen often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Plzen gets 45 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.

Plzen usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Plzen gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Plzen -1°C (31°F) 
    San Jose 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Plzen or San Jose in the Spring?

Both San Jose and Plzen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Plzen is much colder than San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Plzen averages around 11°C (51°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in San Jose. Plzen usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Plzen gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Plzen usually receives more rain than San Jose. Plzen gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in San Jose is December to April. The hurricane season in San Jose is May to November.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Plzen 11°C (51°F) 
    San Jose 29°C (85°F)

Typical Weather for San Jose and Plzen

Plzen San Jose
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -1°C (31°F) 25 mm (1 in) 27°C (81°F) 8 mm (0.3 in)
Feb 2°C (35°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 28°C (83°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 6°C (42°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 29°C (84°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Apr 11°C (51°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 29°C (85°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
May 15°C (59°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 29°C (83°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jun 18°C (64°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jul 20°C (67°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
Aug 19°C (67°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 26°C (79°F) 289 mm (11.4 in)
Sep 16°C (61°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 328 mm (12.9 in)
Oct 11°C (51°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 254 mm (10 in)
Nov 5°C (41°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Dec 1°C (34°F) 23 mm (0.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)