Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Pokhara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Pokhara or San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Pokhara and San Jose can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Pokhara or San Jose?
Pokhara
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is strategically located near the popular Annapurna Circuit. The Annapurna Circuit, or the "Apple Pie Trail", is a popular trek through the Annapurna Valley that makes a circular route through stunning mountainous landscapes. Several other trekking options can be found in this region, too. Many people use Pohkara as a place to prepare or recover from their recently completed treks because it is less intimidating than the larger city of Kathmandu.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Pokhara Prices
Nepal PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPokhara $23San Jose $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Pokhara is $23, 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 Pokhara and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPokhara $3.70San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPokhara $7.40San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Pokhara and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Pokhara 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: Pokhara Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pokhara $7.21San Jose $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pokhara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Pokhara:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pokhara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pokhara:
- VIP Luxury Sofa Bus Transfer Between Pokhara and Kathmandu: $16
- Transfer to Lower Mustang (Jomsom): $205
- Private Transfer:- Pokhara to Chitwan (Sauraha) by car: $68
- Private Transfer: Pokhara Hotels to Pokhara Airport: $13
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu ↔ Pokhara by Car, Jeep & Hiace: $73
- Private Transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu: $120
- White Water Rafting Half Day with Hotel Transfers: $70
- Transfer To Kathmandu (VIP Sofa Tourist Bus) & Back: $12
- Paragliding and Rafting Adventure with Transfers: $129
- Paragliding Experience with Hotel Transfers: $139
- One way transfer To or From Chitwan: $73
- Kusma Swing Jumping Experience with Transfer: $150
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$2.72
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport transfer from SJO Airport to Los Sueños Marriott: $185
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to Arenal by Minivan: $205
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $50
- Braulio Carrillo 6 in 1 Full Day Pass with Optional Transfer: $112
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita, English Speaking Driver: $263
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Limon, English Speaking Driver: $210
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Monteverde, English Speaking Driver: $197
- Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) to San Jose - Private Transfer: $76
- Luxury transfer to Fortuna & Arenal from San José: $175
- One way Transfer from Arenal or La Fortuna to Conchal beach up to 5 passengers: $240
- One way Transfer from SJO airport or San José to Playa Dominical max 5 passenger: $240
- One-Way Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Uvita or Dominical: $290
Is it cheaper to fly into Pokhara or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Pokhara 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 dayPokhara $13San Jose $31
Typical Food Prices in Pokhara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pokhara:
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Dinner for Two$4.25
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Dessert (for 2)$2.84
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Pastries$1.42
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Dinner$6.03
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pokhara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pokhara.
- Nepali cultural dinner night in Pokhara: $21
- Nepali Nights: Dinner & Cultural Dance Delight in Pokhara: $26
- MoMo or Dal Bhat Cooking Class at Aama Kitchen in Pokhara: $29
- Nepalese Kitchen in Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class: $29
- 3 Hour MoMo cooking class: $31
- Nepali Cooking Class and Momo Making Workshop: $42
- Thakali food Cooking Class in Pokhara: $50
- 2 hours Momo cooking class in Pokhara: $60
- Nepali Cooking Class in Pokhara with a Local Family: $60
- 1 Day Momo making cooking class: $75
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: $34
- San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner, Cooking & Cocktail Class: $47
- San Jose Cooking Classes visit Central Market: $52
- Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour and National Museum : $65
- 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: $114
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pokhara $6.87San Jose $21
Tours and Activities in Pokhara
Here are a few actual costs in Pokhara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Private Trekking Tour to Australian Camp & Dhampus: $99
- Pokhara To Kathmandu Private Tour with Luxuries Car and Jeep: $100
- “Pokhara in a Day: Guided Tour of Natural Wonders & Sacred Sites": $75
- "Pokhara Day Bus Sightseeing 8 points": $20
- "Pokhara Pumdikot Tour: Eagle Eye Views of Stunning Pokhara": $29
- "Private Jeep Adventure: Scenic Drive to Dharapani from Pokhara": $200
- "Sunrise and Scenic Day Hike in A Perfect Adventure: $84
- 1-Day Private Dhampus Trekking Tour: $67
- 110 Meters Bungee Jumping Tour in Pokhara: $105
- 2 Day Private Panchase Trek Tour from Pokhara: $140
- 2 Iconic Suspension Bridge Tour in Pokhara: $29
- 2 Night 3 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara: $240
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Sarapiqui Frog Experience: Night Experience in the Jungle.: $30
- Private Guided Tour of Cheese in Canaan de Rivas: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- Sarapiqui Rainforest Night Walk : Wildlife & Adventure.: $35
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $35
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- San Jose : Private Custom Guided Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $36
- San Jose Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $36
- Corso Lecheria Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPokhara $6.20San Jose $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pokhara and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Pokhara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pokhara is in Asia 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 Pokhara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pokhara 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 San Jose would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Jose than you might in Pokhara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pokhara Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pokhara or San Jose?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 68% larger than the population of Pokhara. When comparing the sizes of Pokhara 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.
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.