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Affordable Places to Stay in San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose | Central America | Costa Rica | Destinations | Travel Guides

Ever wonder how we snag comfy crashpads without blowing the budget? Research, research, RESEARCH (with a capital R!). Finding a decent, affordable places to stay in San Jose took some digging.  “Affordable” is subjective, of course. This ain’t a list of bare-bones hostels, but a curated selection of budget-friendly accommodations we unearthed for our stay in San Jose. Our mission? Nightly rates under $50! And if it had a washer, it was an even better steal!

We prioritized functionality and value. We sifted through listings, filtering for:

  • private bathrooms (shared showers? No thanks!),
  • ground-floor rooms or just a few stairs (aging knees unite!),
  • strong Wi-Fi (ideally included),
  • a kitchen or kitchenette for those light night munchies and early morning coffee,
  • and guest ratings consistently above 8 (a good night’s sleep is essential!)

And let’s not forget the golden rule: location, location, location! We’re walkin here – so we aimed for spots within walking distance of eats, museums, and all the good stuff, or with easy access to public transport (our budget-friendly BFF).

Our Short-list of Affordable Places to Stay in San Jose, Costa Rica

And so, in no particular order, ok, well the first one is first because that’s where we stayed and loved it, but (clear throat)…. in no particular order here are a few comfy, wallet-friendly places to stay in San Jose Costa Rica:

  • Studio8 Lujan Apartament #7 – Guest Rating: 8.9 
  • Cando Living Apartments – Guest rating 8.5
  • Casa Lima B&B – Guest Rating 8.3
  • BEE Suites Escalante – Guest Rating 9.3
  • SkyGarden Nunciatura Luxury Apartment – Guest Rating 9.3
  • Costa Verde Inn – Guest Rating 8.6
  • Studio8 Lujan Apartament 1 – Guest Rating 9.1
  • Studio8 Lujan Apartament #6 – Guest Rating 8.5

You may have noticed that there are several “Studio8” listings included in this list.  This just happens to be where we stayed, in #7. Studio8 is a small apartment complex with gated access, kitchens, and a washer, located within walking distance of San Jose and from what we saw any of the apartments in the building would have met our needs.  

So there you have it, our current shortlist of affordable places to stay in San Jose. Ultimately, the best place to stay depends on your priorities and travel style. But hey, with our shortlist as a guide, you’re well on your way to conquering San Jose without burning a hole in your budget. Now, get out there and explore!

PS: Please keep in mind that the prices listed for each place met our criteria at the time and all of these places were valid options for us at the time we booked our stay. Your results may vary based on your travel dates and availability.

Still looking for a place to stay in San Jose? We’ve added this interactive map to help guide you!

Traveling Soon?

Checkout these helpful resources!

  • Looking for Budget-Friendly Accommodations? – We suggest Booking.com and Expedia
  • Need help finding the best deals on flights? – We suggest Skyscanner and DailyDropPro
  • Want to rent a car? – We suggest DiscoverCars.com
  • Traveling by bus? – We suggest Busbuds!
  • Need Travel Insurance? – We suggest Visitors Coverage
  • Need international data? – We suggest Airalo or Gigsky
  • Scan our resource page for recs we personally use and LOVE

👉Don’t forget to grab your Free Itinerary Checklist

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Sandra

American Expat Nomad, living abroad on a modest budget, one country at a time.

In 2023 my husband and I sold 99.9999% of everything we owned, packed our lives into carry-on luggage and dove into fulltime international travel to figure out where in the world we could actually afford to live without draining our savings. If you're interested in doing the same, following along at https://themobileretiree.com

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We’re Jeff and Sandra, American expat and senior nomads, living abroad, on a budget, one country at at time. Most days, we’re just doing what we’ve always done— making ourselves a home, working on projects, cooking, and running errands, wherever home might be at the moment.

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