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

Should you visit Uppsala or San Jose?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Uppsala or San Jose, 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: Uppsala or San Jose?

Uppsala

Uppsala is a college town in Sweden, located about 40 minutes north of Stockholm. Home to two universities, Uppsala is the 4th largest city in Sweden and features a huge diversity in culture. The Fyris River divides the city into the historic and modern sides of the city, each one with their own unique culture and sights to see. The area features fairly cool weather year-round, with temperatures in the 30's Fahrenheit from November-April and May-October seeing temperatures in the 40's and 50's Fahrenheit. The best time to visit it from May-July when temperatures are at their highest and there's plenty of sunshine.

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 Tours for Seniors to Sweden, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Stockholm, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Uppsala?

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 Uppsala is $182, 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 Uppsala and San Jose in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Uppsala $102
    San Jose $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Uppsala $204
    San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Uppsala and San Jose

Looking for a hotel in Uppsala 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 Uppsala


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: Uppsala Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Uppsala $22
    San Jose $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Uppsala

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

  • Uppsala City to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) - Departure Private Transfer: $75

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 Jose or Airport with welcome service to Montezuma: $300
  • San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Limon: Private Transfer : $299
  • San Jose to Guanacaste: Private Transfer : $299
  • Private Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita With 2 Stops: $298
  • Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Liberia: $297
  • Transfer one way from San Jose or Airport to Hotel RIU Guanacaste : $295
  • Private Transfer San Jose SJO Airport to Puerto Viejo by Minivan: $283
  • Private Transfer: San José Apto to Puerto Viejo / Cahuita (Limón): $280
  • Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $280
  • Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
  • Private Transfer: San José Airport to Puerto Viejo / Cahuita : $275
  • Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Cahuita: $272

Is it cheaper to fly into Uppsala or San Jose?

Prices for flights to both San Jose and Uppsala 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
    Uppsala $63
    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.
    Uppsala $21
    San Jose $21

Tours and Activities in Uppsala

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Uppsala.

  • 3h Uppsala city walking tour, Cathedral, university buildings etc: $213
  • Adventure parc: $54
  • Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $108
  • Guided tour 90min at Old Uppsala mounds and old Uppsala church: $109
  • Medieval horror, undead and dark folklore walk Uppsala city - open tour: $101
  • Private 1h tour of famous Old Uppsala mounds and mediveal church: $151
  • Stockholm Viking History Full Day Tour to Sigtuna + Uppsala: $281
  • Swedish Lifestyle and Private Walking Tour of Uppsala: $140
  • The Best of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Uppsala Must See 2h city walk - 2h tour of all big attractions!: $108
  • Uppsala Private Guided Walking Tour: $280
  • Uppsala Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $6.40

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Uppsala $20
    San Jose $16

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 Uppsala and San Jose, we can see that Uppsala is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Uppsala 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 Uppsala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Uppsala 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 Uppsala Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Uppsala or San Jose?

San Jose has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Uppsala. When comparing the sizes of Uppsala 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 Uppsala or San Jose?

Uppsala 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 Uppsala or San Jose in the Summer?

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

Uppsala is much colder than San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Uppsala averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

In Uppsala, it's very sunny this time of the year. Uppsala usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during summer. Uppsala gets 260 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.

San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Uppsala usually receives less rain than San Jose. Uppsala gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Uppsala 18°C (64°F) 
    San Jose 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Uppsala or San Jose in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Uppsala is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Uppsala in October average around 8°C (46°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).

In the autumn, Uppsala often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Uppsala gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in San Jose. Uppsala usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Uppsala gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in San Jose is the dry season. Also, the hurricane season in San Jose is May to November.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Uppsala 8°C (46°F) 
    San Jose 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Uppsala or San Jose in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Uppsala. In January, Uppsala is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Uppsala average around -3°C (27°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite sunny in San Jose. Uppsala usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during winter. Uppsala gets 40 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Uppsala usually receives more rain than San Jose. Uppsala gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Uppsala -3°C (27°F) 
    San Jose 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Uppsala or San Jose in the Spring?

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

Uppsala is much colder than San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Uppsala averages around 5°C (41°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

In San Jose, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Uppsala often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Uppsala gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun.

Uppsala usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as San Jose. Uppsala gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in San Jose. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in San Jose.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Uppsala 5°C (41°F) 
    San Jose 29°C (85°F)

Typical Weather for San Jose and Uppsala

Uppsala San Jose
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -3°C (27°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 8 mm (0.3 in)
Feb -3°C (27°F) 27 mm (1.1 in) 28°C (83°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 0°C (33°F) 26 mm (1 in) 29°C (84°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Apr 5°C (41°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 29°C (85°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
May 11°C (52°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 29°C (83°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jun 16°C (61°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jul 18°C (64°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 26°C (79°F) 289 mm (11.4 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 328 mm (12.9 in)
Oct 8°C (46°F) 50 mm (2 in) 27°C (81°F) 254 mm (10 in)
Nov 3°C (37°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Dec -1°C (31°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)