Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn 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.
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Should you visit San Jose or Puerto Madryn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?
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.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best Camping Tours in Argentina, and The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina.
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San Jose Prices
Costa Rica PricesPuerto Madryn Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Jose $103Puerto Madryn $61
The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $103, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $61. 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 Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Jose $49Puerto Madryn $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Jose $98Puerto Madryn $82
Compare Hotels in San Jose and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Puerto Madryn? 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: San Jose Hotel Prices and Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Jose $19Puerto Madryn $2.53
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:
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $42
- Puerto Madryn Airport Private Transfer: $216
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $138
Is it cheaper to fly into San Jose or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn 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
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Food Meals for one daySan Jose $31Puerto Madryn $7.60
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Jose $21Puerto Madryn $45
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
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- 3 hour 4x4 tour around Puerto Madryn: $110
- Cruise Shore Exc. Ea San Lorenzo (Penguins) Lunch Included: $159
- Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $159
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Box Lunch Included: $105
- Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $95
- Cruise Shore Excursion Pta Tombo (penguins): $105
- Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - From Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $120
- Cruise Shore Punta Loma and city overview: $83
- Day trip in an all-terrain vehicle: 4x4 adventure + lunch at a Patagonian ranch: $160
- Dolphin Watching Adventure: $105
- El Doradillo Whale Watching Half-Day Tour from Puerto Madryn: $60
- Exclusive Full Day Tour Penguin Colony in Punta Tombo from Madryn: $200
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Jose $16Puerto Madryn $12
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 San Jose and Puerto Madryn, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Jose is in Central America and Puerto Madryn is in South 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 Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn.
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 Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Jose or Puerto Madryn?
San Jose has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of San Jose and Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to San Jose as well as Puerto Madryn. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, San Jose is generally a little warmer than Puerto Madrynin January. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Jose usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Madrynin January. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySan Jose 28°C (82°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Madryn and San Jose are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
San Jose is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in San Jose. In October, San Jose usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin April. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in San Jose is December to April. The hurricane season in San Jose is May to November.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSan Jose 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
Both Puerto Madryn and San Jose during the winter 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 winter, San Jose is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Jose in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 7°C (45°F)in July.
In Puerto Madryn, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Jose. In the winter, San Jose often gets more sunshine than Puerto Madrynin July. San Jose gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun.
San Jose usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Madrynin July. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySan Jose 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit San Jose or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and Puerto Madryn. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In April, San Jose is generally much warmer than Puerto Madrynin October. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 29°C (85°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
In April, San Jose usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin October. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. December to April in San Jose is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in San Jose.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSan Jose 29°C (85°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and San Jose
| San Jose | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
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.