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

Should you visit San Jose or Easter Island?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or Easter Island, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: San Jose or Easter Island?

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.

Easter Island

Although Easter Island is considered a territory of Chile, it is actually located far out in the Pacific, almost halfway to Tahiti. Easter Island is well known, despite being one of the most isolated islands on Earth, because of the mysterious giant stone busts which date back centuries. There are 887 monumental statues, called moai, that were built by the Rapa Nui people. There remains much mystery around the historic Polynesian culture which created the stones, as well as the specific meaning for them.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best Adventure Tours to Chile, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Easter Island or San Jose?

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 San Jose is $103, while the average daily cost in Easter Island is $98. 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 San Jose and Easter Island in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Jose $49
    Easter Island $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Jose $98
    Easter Island $88
Compare Hotels in San Jose and Easter Island

Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Easter Island? 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 San Jose


Hotels in Easter Island


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: San Jose Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Jose $19
    Easter Island $2.58
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:

  • Transfers to Occidental Papagayo - Secrets Resort, Round-Trip: $111
  • Transfer one way from San Jose or Airport to Hotel RIU Guanacaste : $295
  • Transfer from San Jose Int'l Airport to San Jose City (Roundtrip): $120
  • Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
  • Transfer from SJO Airport to Jaco or vice versa: $125
  • Transfer from SJO Airport or surrounding to Manuel Antonio: $229
  • Transfer TO or FROM SJO Airport to Esterillos - Bejuco Not Shared: $180
  • Transfer SJO Airport to La Fortuna or hotels: $225
  • Transfer 1 to 3 Pax Juan Santamaria Airport to SJO Hotels : $60
  • Shared transfer to Manuel Antonio: $70
  • San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Limon: Private Transfer : $299
  • San Jose to Manuel Antonio: Private Transfer : $219

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Easter Island

Also for Easter Island, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Arrival Transfer: Mataveri Airport to Easter Island Hotels: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into San Jose or Easter Island?

Prices for flights to both Easter Island and San Jose 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
    San Jose $31
    Easter Island $43

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Easter Island

For Easter Island, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Easter Island Dinner Show with Transport : $143
  • Rapa Nui Dinner Show on Easter Island: $145

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Jose $21
    Easter Island $40

Tours and Activities in San Jose

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

  • 2 in 1 Volcano Irazu + San Jose City Tour: $187
  • 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
  • 3-Hour Downtown San Jose Walking Tour: $40
  • A taste of Aquiares - 2 hours Coffee Tour: $42
  • ATV Off Road Poas Volcano Adventure and Hiking for two persons.: $130
  • Action Packed Class 4 Rafting Adventure : $95
  • Adventure Park: $190
  • Adventure Zip Lining at the Cloud Forest from San José: $138
  • Airtime Zipline Adventure in Arenal: $60
  • Arenal Combo Experience: Canopy & Rapell + Thermals: $65
  • Arenal Hanging Bridges and Hot Springs Private Tour from San Jose: $295
  • Arenal Volcano & Baldi Hot Springs one day tour from San Jose: $199

Typical Entertainment Prices in Easter Island

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Easter Island's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Bike Rental
    $8.38

Tours and Activities in Easter Island

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

  • Easter Island Private 4WD Tour Anakena Beach: $250
  • Half Day Private Tour: Caves and Volcanic Refuges: $150
  • T6-The CULT OF THE BIRD-MAN (non-cruise visitors): $90
  • 2 Day Small Group Tour in Moai Monuments and Historic Pathways: $300
  • 2 Days Highlights Tour in Easter Island Moai and Nature: $210
  • Adventures in Rapa Nui: High quality tourism with Easter Island Your Tour.: $200
  • Easter Island Full-Day Tour: Ahu Tongariki, Rano Raraku and Anakena Beach: $147
  • Easter Island Moai Archaeology Tour: Ahu Akivi, Ahu Tahai and Puna Pauâ Quarry.: $82
  • Moai Full Day Private Tour: $219
  • Poike Volcano Private Hiking Tour with Guide: $280
  • Rapa Nui Stargazing Tour: $140
  • Full Day Anakena Tour Rapa Nui Villages and Moai Sites: $210

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Jose $16
    Easter Island $5.34

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 comparing the travel costs between San Jose and Easter Island, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though San Jose is in Central America and Easter Island is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Jose Expensive? and Is Easter Island Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Jose or Easter Island?

San Jose has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Easter Island. When comparing the sizes of San Jose and Easter Island, 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 San Jose or Easter Island?

Easter Island 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 San Jose or Easter Island in the Summer?

Both Easter Island and San Jose are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.

San Jose is a little warmer than Easter Island in the summer. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Easter Island fluctuates around 24°C (74°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Easter Island. San Jose usually receives less sunshine than Easter Island during summer. San Jose gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Easter Island receives 272 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in San Jose. In July, San Jose usually receives more rain than Easter Islandin January. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    San Jose 28°C (82°F) 
    Easter Island 24°C (74°F)

Should I visit San Jose or Easter Island in the Autumn?

Both Easter Island and San Jose during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, San Jose is a little warmer than Easter Island. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Jose in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Easter Island averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.

In the autumn, San Jose often gets less sunshine than Easter Islandin April. San Jose gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Easter Island receives 185 hours of full sun.

Easter Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. San Jose usually gets more rain in October than Easter Islandin April. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in San Jose. Also, the hurricane season in San Jose is May to November.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    San Jose 27°C (81°F) 
    Easter Island 22°C (72°F)

Should I visit San Jose or Easter Island in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and Easter Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.

In January, San Jose is generally a little warmer than Easter Islandin July. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 27°C (81°F), and Easter Island fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).

In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Jose usually receives more sunshine than Easter Island during winter. San Jose gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Easter Island receives 148 hours of full sun in the winter.

Easter Island receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, San Jose usually receives less rain than Easter Islandin July. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    San Jose 27°C (81°F) 
    Easter Island 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit San Jose or Easter Island in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to San Jose as well as Easter Island. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

San Jose is much warmer than Easter Island in the spring. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Easter Island fluctuates around 20°C (67°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Easter Island. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. In the spring, San Jose often gets more sunshine than Easter Islandin October. San Jose gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Easter Island receives 224 hours of full sun.

San Jose usually gets less rain in April than Easter Islandin October. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in San Jose is the dry season. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in San Jose.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    San Jose 29°C (85°F) 
    Easter Island 20°C (67°F)

Typical Weather for Easter Island and San Jose

San Jose Easter Island
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (81°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 24°C (74°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Feb 28°C (83°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 24°C (75°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Mar 29°C (84°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 24°C (75°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Apr 29°C (85°F) 28 mm (1.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
May 29°C (83°F) 226 mm (8.9 in) 20°C (69°F) 153 mm (6 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 226 mm (8.9 in) 19°C (67°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 164 mm (6.5 in) 18°C (65°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Aug 26°C (79°F) 289 mm (11.4 in) 19°C (65°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 328 mm (12.9 in) 19°C (66°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 254 mm (10 in) 20°C (67°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 121 mm (4.8 in) 21°C (69°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 22°C (72°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)