Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Wuyuan?
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 Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan and San Jose can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Wuyuan or San Jose?
Wuyuan
Wuyuan, China is a small city in the Jiangxi Province in the south central area of the country. The city acts as a transport hub for the province, with many main bus routes running through it. Wuyuan also acts as the main thoroughfare when traveling to local remote villages in the area. It is best to know some Mandarin as this region does not see many non-Mandarin speaking tourists, which also means you should expect some very friendly attention!
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Wuyuan Prices
China PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWuyuan $73San Jose $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Wuyuan is $73, 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 Wuyuan and San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWuyuan $26San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWuyuan $52San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Wuyuan and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Wuyuan 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: San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Wuyuan $13San Jose $19
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 Jose or Airport with welcome service to Montezuma: $300
- San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Limon: Private Transfer : $299
- One-Way Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Uvita or Dominical: $290
- Private Transfer San Jose SJO Airport to Puerto Viejo by Minivan: $283
- Transfer from San Jose Airport CR (SJO) to Arenal La Fortuna Hotels: $279
- Private Transfer SJO Airport to Puerto Viejo/Cahuita/Manzanillo: $271
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Monteverde: $270
- Private transfer from San Jose Airport welcome service to Manuel Antonio Quepos: $269
- Private transfer from San Jose or Airport with welcome service to Samara Beach: $265
- Direct Transfer From San Jose to Cahuita, English Speaking Driver: $263
- Private Ground Transfer SJO - Monteverde: $256
- Private VIP Transfer from San Jose Airport to Fortuna (1-9 ppl): $250
Is it cheaper to fly into Wuyuan or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose and Wuyuan 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 dayWuyuan $35San Jose $31
Typical Food Prices in Wuyuan
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Wuyuan:
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Gummy Candy$0.28
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Cookies$0.70
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.Wuyuan $19San Jose $21
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-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- ATV Off Road Poas Volcano Adventure and Hiking for two persons.: $130
- AWA Water Museum - Waterfall Adventure (Organic Food Experience): $98
- Adventure Park: $190
- Adventure Zip Lining at the Cloud Forest from San José: $138
- 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
- Arenal Volcano Experience Full-Day Tour from San Jose: $159
- Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Springs Tour from San Jose: $142
- Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs Full Day Tour from San Jose: $195
- Birding Watching tour from San José: $190
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWuyuan $14San Jose $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wuyuan and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Wuyuan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Wuyuan Expensive? and Is San Jose Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Wuyuan or San Jose?
Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan or San Jose in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Wuyuan and San Jose. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Wuyuan is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Wuyuan average around 30°C (85°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
San Jose receives a lot of rain in the summer. Wuyuan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Wuyuan usually receives more rain than San Jose. Wuyuan gets 192 mm (7.6 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyWuyuan 30°C (85°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Wuyuan or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Wuyuan as well as San Jose. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Wuyuan is cooler than San Jose in the autumn. The daily temperature in Wuyuan averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite rainy in San Jose. Wuyuan usually gets less rain in October than San Jose. Wuyuan gets 82 mm (3.2 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. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in San Jose.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberWuyuan 20°C (68°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Wuyuan or San Jose in the Winter?
Both San Jose and Wuyuan 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.
In the winter, Wuyuan is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the winter temperatures in Wuyuan in January average around 6°C (43°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In January, Wuyuan usually receives more rain than San Jose. Wuyuan gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryWuyuan 6°C (43°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Wuyuan or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose and Wuyuan during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
In April, Wuyuan is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Wuyuan average around 18°C (64°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Wuyuan. Wuyuan usually gets more rain in April than San Jose. Wuyuan gets 238 mm (9.4 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. Also, May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilWuyuan 18°C (64°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Wuyuan
| Wuyuan | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 8°C (46°F) | 123 mm (4.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 18°C (64°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (79°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (78°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 8°C (47°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.