A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yogyakarta vs. San Jose for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Yogyakarta or San Jose?

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

Should I visit Yogyakarta or San Jose? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is a historical, colorful, and youthful city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Yogyakarta travel costs.

San Jose

San Jose is a bustling, authentic, and traditional city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See San Jose travel costs.

Yogyakarta and San Jose: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Scenic old town
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Home to Borobudur Temple
Pros
  • Active nightlife
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
Things to Consider
  • Less museums and historical sights
  • Less family-friendly
  • Less popular with couples


Is there more to do in Yogyakarta or San Jose?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Yogyakarta than San Jose. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Yogyakarta is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, historical sights, and shopping, while San Jose attracts visitors for its big city activities. Yogyakarta is more touristy than San Jose and is known for its beautiful temples, divine food, and lively dance shows. It is also well known for Borobudur Temple. San Jose is famous for its colorful markets and vibrant nightlife, as well as its easy access to the rest of the country.

How is Yogyakarta different from San Jose?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Jose and Yogyakarta. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Yogyakarta or San Jose?

Yogyakarta
San Jose

Yogyakarta is very popular for its museums and history. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Yogyakarta from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The city is known for it's cultural sights and temples. Kraton Yogyakarta is the palace where the Sultan lives. You should also visit Taman Sari Water Castle and Prambanan Temple. But for many visitors, Yogyakarta is seen as the gateway to the famed Borobudur Temple. This is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It offers spectacular views and is best visited at sunrise.

San Jose offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Despite most people rushing through town, there are a number of museums, plazas, and interesting buildings that are worth checking out.


Is the Food Better in Yogyakarta or San Jose? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Yogyakarta
San Jose

Yogyakarta is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Yogyakarta. It's filled with street food stalls and cheap eateries where you can fill up on local Indonesian classics for a cheap price. Gudeg (stewed jackfruit), Satay, and Bakmi Jawa (Javanese noodles) are just some of the dishes that you must try.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in San Jose. Most people miss out on local cuisine during their time in Costa Rica, but the capital city offers the best opportunities to eat like a local. You can sample favorite local dishes such as chifrijo, gallo pinto, rondón, and casado. You should also wander through the Central Market and dine at one of the many local restaurants.

Is Yogyakarta or San Jose Better for Nightlife?

Yogyakarta
San Jose

The very good nightlife scene is relatively similar in Yogyakarta and San Jose.

Yogyakarta has a large number of nightlife venues. With a large student population, you'll find many bars and live music venues around town. You'll also find night markets and plenty of theaters and live shows that you can enjoy.

San Jose is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. This city has the best nightlife in all of Costa Rica. You'll find a diversity of clubs and bars that are fun to explore. Check out the reggae bars, dance clubs, and sports bars (where you can enjoy a soccer game) while you're in town.

Is Yogyakarta or San Jose Better for its Old Town?

Yogyakarta
San Jose

Yogyakarta is a very popular place for its historic old town. However, San Jose does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Yogyakarta to see the historical old town. Kota Gede is the city's old town. It's filled with silver shops, religious sites, and traditional architecture. You'll also find a traditional market in the heart of the old town where you can buy coconut, dry fish, and tofu, or simply browse the unique items.

San Jose does not have a historic old town.


Is the Shopping Better in Yogyakarta or San Jose?

Yogyakarta
San Jose

Yogyakarta is very popular for shopping. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Yogyakarta. The city is filled with craftsmen and a local art scene that makes it a wonderful shopping destination. There are countless markets and shops where you can pick up local handicrafts that highlight the city's culture.

San Jose is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There are a number of unique things you can buy in the city including jewelry, handbags, and wood workings. Make sure you check out the Central Market.

Is Yogyakarta or San Jose Better for Families?

Yogyakarta
San Jose

Yogyakarta is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, San Jose is lacking in good options for its family-friendly activities.

Yogyakarta is a family-friendly city. It's often overlooked by families, but the temples, culture, art scene, and friendly people all make this a surprisingly fun destination for those traveling with kids. You'll also find a number of adventure activities in the area as well.

San Jose doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Most people pass through the city quickly, but if you have a day or two to explore, you can visit the Children's Museum (Museo de los Niños), Spirogyra Butterfly Gardens, or explore the Central Market.

Is Yogyakarta or San Jose Better for Couples?

Yogyakarta
San Jose

Yogyakarta is a nice place to visit for romance. However, San Jose is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Yogyakarta is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with fun activities for couples such as a visit to Taman Pelangi at night, taking a walk along Jalan Malioboro, and taking in a traditional dance performance.

Most people don't think of San Jose as a couple's destination. While Costa Rica is a popular honeymoon destination, the capital city is often overlooked for the beaches and rainforests around the country.


Is Yogyakarta or San Jose Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Yogyakarta
San Jose

Yogyakarta and San Jose are both very good destinations for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Yogyakarta. Backpackers who want to experience Indonesia's culture and friendly population will love a visit to this lively city. There are plenty of hostels and other travelers to meet, but there's also a uniquely Indonesian vibe to the city.

San Jose is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. Backpackers appreciate the affordability of the city and the wide range of hostels that you can choose from. The city also offers an authentic glimpse of life in Costa Rica.

Is Yogyakarta or San Jose Better for Students?

Yogyakarta
San Jose

Both Yogyakarta and San Jose are nice destinations for students.

Plenty of students visit Yogyakarta. There's a large number of students in the city, which makes this a fun place to study abroad.

San Jose is popular with students. Many students come to Costa Rica to study the country's amazing environment and unique ecological systems. San Jose makes a good base as its easy to travel to other parts of this small country.

Is Yogyakarta or San Jose Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Yogyakarta
San Jose

San Jose is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Yogyakarta is lacking in good options for its public transit.

San Jose has some public transit options. There are local buses that travel through the city during the daytime hours.

Public transit is generally limited in Yogyakarta. There's a public bus system known as Trans Jogja, which is used by both tourists and locals. You can also hire motorbikes, becak, or Ojek.


Is Yogyakarta or San Jose a more walkable city?

Yogyakarta
San Jose

Yogyakarta and San Jose are nice when it comes to walkability.

Yogyakarta is a somewhat walkable place. Many of the main sights are accessible on foot.

San Jose is a somewhat walkable city. It can feel a bit chaotic, but it's relatively easy to get around on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Yogyakarta Worth Visiting? and Is San Jose Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in San Jose or Yogyakarta?

How long in Yogyakarta or San Jose?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Yogyakarta or San Jose to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Yogyakarta than San Jose because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Yogyakarta, and 1-2 days is enough time in San Jose.

Families should spend more time in Yogyakarta than San Jose. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Yogyakarta, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Yogyakarta than San Jose. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Yogyakarta that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Yogyakarta than San Jose if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Yogyakarta.


  • How many days in Yogyakarta or San Jose? Ideal Length of Stay
    Yogyakarta 2-4 
    San Jose 1-2

One day in Yogyakarta or San Jose?

The city of Yogyakarta offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

With museums and nightlife around the authentic city of San Jose, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in San Jose, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Yogyakarta or San Jose?

Yogyakarta is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Yogyakarta, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

With nightlife and food around the destination of San Jose, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.


Five days in Yogyakarta or San Jose?

Yogyakarta is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

San Jose, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Yogyakarta or San Jose?

Yogyakarta is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

San Jose is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.


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


Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Yogyakarta?

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 Yogyakarta is $64, 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 Yogyakarta and San Jose in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yogyakarta $35
    San Jose $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yogyakarta $70
    San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Yogyakarta and San Jose

Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta 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 Yogyakarta


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: Yogyakarta Hotel Prices and San Jose Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yogyakarta $1.28
    San Jose $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta

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

  • YIA Airport Private Transfer: $12
  • YIA Airport Private Transfer: $28
  • Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfers: $94
  • Private Airport Transfer YIA: $22
  • Kulon Progo Waterfall Tour with Transfers: $37
  • Jomblang Cave Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $30
  • Borobudur ClimbUP Afternoon Guided and transfer: $26
  • Borobudur 5-hour Tour with Climb-up & Transfers: $25
  • Airport Transfer with Allowance of Delay & Bags: $30
  • ATV Riding Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $62
  • 5-Beach Full-Day Tour with Transfers & Entry Fee: $43
  • 3-Hour Bike Tour Through Villages with Transfers: $38

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or San Jose?

Prices for flights to both San Jose and Yogyakarta 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
    Yogyakarta $19
    San Jose $31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yogyakarta

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

  • Ramayana Show with Transfer, Entry Fee & Dinner: $13
  • Night Walking & Street Food Tour: $21
  • Guided City Walk and Food Tour: $23
  • Morning Walk and Food Tour: $23
  • Kotagede Night Food Tour: $27
  • Ramayana Ballet Performance with Optional Dinner: $28
  • Yogyakarta Historical Walking and Food Tour: $29
  • Yogyakarta Evening Walking and Food Tour: $30
  • Nighttime Walk and Food Tour: $32
  • Cooking Class with Market Visit and Hotel Pickup: $33
  • Prawirotaman Night Food Tour: $35
  • 3-hour Cooking Class with Market Tour: $35

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.
    Yogyakarta $15
    San Jose $21

Tours and Activities in Yogyakarta

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

  • Beautiful Sunrise and Exotic Jomblang Cave Tour: $67
  • "Java's Cultural Heritage: Borobudur and Prambanan Tour": $16
  • 1 Day Yogyakarta tour ( Borobudur temple, Merapi Lava Tour, Prambanan Temple): $76
  • 1 day Yogyakarta Tour Jomblang cave and Pindul Cave tubing: $72
  • 1 day tour borobudur temple,prambanan temple,plaosan temple: $40
  • 1-Day Yogyakarta Javanese Culture - PRIVATE TOUR with GUIDE: $198
  • 1-Day Yogyakarta Merapi Borobudur - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE: $183
  • 1-Day Yogyakarta Merapi Pengger Heha - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE: $140
  • 1-Day Yogyakarta Prambanan Breksi Ijo Temple - PRIVATE Tour with Guide: $184
  • 1Day Borobudur (Upper Level) and Prambanan Private Guided Tour: $149
  • 2 Days Tour to Mount Merbabu from Yogyakarta : $280
  • 2-Day Borobudur Tour with Merbabu Camping and Hiking: $332

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
    Yogyakarta $4.74
    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 Yogyakarta and San Jose, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. And not only is Yogyakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Yogyakarta 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 Yogyakarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yogyakarta 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 Yogyakarta.

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


Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or San Jose?

Yogyakarta has a larger population, and is about 90% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta 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.