How much do five days in San Jose cost?
Budget around €1160 per person for five days in San Jose (Costa Rica), flight included: €835 for the return ticket — the best fare actually observed, from Paris in January 2027 — and about €325 on the ground, that is €65 a day for simple accommodation, meals and local transport. This destination is affordable: prices on the ground stay below western European levels, especially for food and transport; accommodation is what varies with the season.
Budget by length of stay
| Length | Return flight | On the ground | Total budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | €835 | €195 | €1030 |
| 5 days | €835 | €325 | €1160 |
| 7 days | €835 | €455 | €1290 |
| 10 days | €835 | €650 | €1485 |
| 14 days | €835 | €910 | €1745 |
Per person, flight at the best observed fare (€835 from Paris), living costs at the country average (€65/day). The fare barely depends on the length of the trip if you stay flexible on dates; it is time on the ground that drives the bill.
By travel style (five days)
| Style | Per day | Five days on the ground | Total with flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoestring | €46 | €227 | €1062 |
| Standard | €65 | €325 | €1160 |
| Comfort | €117 | €585 | €1420 |
- Shoestring: hostel or a room in someone’s home, street food and markets, public transport.
- Standard: two- or three-star hotel or a rental, simple restaurants, the odd taxi and one paid visit a day.
- Comfort: well-located four-star hotel, good restaurants, taxis or a rental car, activities without counting.
Indicative split of a “standard” day in San Jose: accommodation ≈ €29, meals ≈ €23, transport and sundries ≈ €13.
The flight: which city to leave from?
| From | Best return fare | Month | Five-day budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | €835 | January 2027 | €1160 |
| Geneva | €848 | December 2026 | €1173 |
| Lyon | €1106 | December 2026 | €1431 |
Latest fare recorded for each city (recorded on Oct 3), best month for each. Click a city for its next 12 months.
When to go to San Jose to pay less
Five-day budget including the flight, for the months where a fare was recorded. Temperatures are monthly normals (Open-Meteo), not forecasts.
For the same budget, you could also go to…
- Nossi-BeMadagascar · €1162 for five days, flight from €987
- AbujaNigeria · €1157 for five days, flight from €907
- Buenos AiresArgentina · €1167 for five days, flight from €892
- SantiagoChile · €1171 for five days, flight from €846
- CaracasVenezuela · €1174 for five days, flight from €949
- MonterreyMexico · €1177 for five days, flight from €902
- New YorkUnited States · €1188 for five days, flight from €388
- CayenneFrench Guiana · €1129 for five days, flight from €704
Things to do in San Jose
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Frequently asked questions
How much do five days in San Jose cost?
Budget around €1160 per person for five days in San Jose, flight included: €835 for the return flight (best fare observed from Paris in January 2027) and about €325 on the ground (€65 a day for simple accommodation, meals and transport). On a shoestring you get down to €1062; in comfort you climb to €1420.
What daily budget should I plan for in San Jose?
About €65 per person per day for a “standard” trip (national average — Costa Rica: simple accommodation, three meals, local transport), €46 on a shoestring and €117 in comfort. Paid activities, insurance and shopping not included.
Is San Jose an expensive destination?
At €65 a day, San Jose is affordable: prices on the ground stay below western European levels, especially for food and transport; accommodation is what varies with the season.
How much is the plane ticket to San Jose?
The best return fare recorded in the last three days is €835 from Paris, up to €1106 from Lyon. The full 12-month calendar is on each route page.
Go further
Cheap flights to San Jose: every fare by city and month, weather and 90-day low · Every destination by budget · The map in “flight + trip” mode
Where do these prices come from?
The fares shown are real observed prices from recent flight searches (round trip, per person), refreshed continuously. They give a reliable snapshot of the market, but can change hour to hour: the final price is always verified with the booking partner when you book.
To go further, the Fareaway interactive map puts all these destinations on a world map: set your budget and dates and instantly see where you can go — including that month's weather, local cost of living and visa requirements.