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San José, Costa Rica
Alajuela Province · Costa Rica
San José is a mid-size city in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica with a population of 31,430. Elevation: 164 ft (50 m). Average temperature: 80°F (26°C).
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People
Climate
| Population | 31,430 |
| Population Density | 285 / sq mi |
| Elevation | 164 ft (50 m) |
| Coordinates | 10.9519°, -85.1357° |
| Timezone | America/Costa_Rica |
| Country | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
| State / Province | Alajuela Province |
| Average Temperature | 80°F (26°C) |
| January Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Annual Precipitation | 108.2 inches (2,748 mm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 inches (0 cm) |
About San José
San José is a mid-size city in Costa Rica (Alajuela Province) with a population of 31,430. The city sits at an elevation of 164 feet (50 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 80°F (26°C). Temperatures range from 78°F in January to 80°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 108.2 inches. The timezone is America/Costa_Rica.
Climate in San José
San José has an average annual temperature of 26.6°C (80°F). The hottest month is Apr (28.5°C), the coldest is Dec (25.3°C). Average annual precipitation is 2100 mm.
Temperature
| Annual Average | 79.5°F |
| 47% above Costa Rica avg | |
| January Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 146 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 164 ft (50 m) |
| Area | 110.2 sq mi (285.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 285/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 10.9519°N, 85.1357°W |
| Timezone | America/Costa_Rica |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Tsunami History
6 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 2.0 m (7 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1950 | COSTA RICA-NICARAGUA | Earthquake | 2.0 m | — | 16 km |
| 1901 | NICARAGUA | Earthquake | 1.5 m | — | 149 km |
| 1990 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 124 km |
| 2012 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 2 | 98 km |
| 1952 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 96 km |
| 1905 | GULF OF NICOYA | Earthquake | — | — | 132 km |
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Miravalles (23 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Miravalles | Stratovolcano | 2,028 m (6,654 ft) | 1946 | 23 km |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Complex | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | 2020 | 25 km |
| Tenorio | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | Unknown | 34 km |
| Orosi | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,659 m (5,443 ft) | Unknown | 37 km |
| Arenal | Stratovolcano | 1,670 m (5,479 ft) | 2010 | 72 km |
| Concepcion | Stratovolcano | 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | 2011 | 84 km |
| Platanar | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,267 m (7,438 ft) | Unknown | 111 km |
| Zapatera | Shield | 629 m (2,064 ft) | Unknown | 114 km |
| Poas | Stratovolcano | 2,708 m (8,885 ft) | 2019 | 129 km |
| Mombacho | Stratovolcano | 1,344 m (4,409 ft) | Unknown | 133 km |
| Granada | Fissure vent(s) | 300 m (984 ft) | Unknown | 142 km |
| Barva | Complex | 2,906 m (9,534 ft) | -6050 | 145 km |
| Masaya | Caldera | 594 m (1,949 ft) | 2020 | 161 km |
| Lajas, Las | Shield | 926 m (3,038 ft) | Unknown | 163 km |
| Irazu | Stratovolcano | 3,432 m (11,260 ft) | 1994 | 177 km |
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 78°F (26°C) | 6.9 in | |
| February | 79°F (26°C) | 3.5 in | |
| March | 81°F (27°C) | 1.9 in | |
| April | 82°F (28°C) | 1.8 in | Warmest, Driest |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 7.8 in | |
| June | 80°F (27°C) | 13.9 in | Wettest |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 13.5 in | |
| August | 80°F (26°C) | 12.9 in | |
| September | 79°F (26°C) | 13.3 in | |
| October | 79°F (26°C) | 13.2 in | |
| November | 78°F (26°C) | 11.0 in | |
| December | 78°F (25°C) | 8.6 in | Coldest |
San José has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 78°F in December to 82°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 108.2 inches, with June being the wettest month (13.9") and April the driest (1.8").
Colleges & Universities in San José
| Institution | Type | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| INA - Centro de Formación Profesional de Upala | College | — | — |
| UNED - Centro Universitario Upala | University | — | Visit → |
Schools in San José
26 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).
| School | Level | Enrollment | Teachers | Student/Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escuela San Miguel | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Los Ángeles | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela San Marcos | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Las Pavas | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Pizotillo | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Cartago Sur | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Los Cartagos | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Pueblo Nuevo | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Santa Lucía | — | — | — | — |
| Jesús de Popoyoapa | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Caño Blanco | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela San Pedro | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Suampito | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela El Delirio | — | — | — | — |
| Liceo Rural El Porvenir | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela El Porvenir | — | — | — | — |
| Liceo Cuatro Bocas | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Cuatro Bocas | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela La Unión | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela El Progreso | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Santa Clara | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela La Perla | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela La Victoria | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela Rafael A. Sánchez Arrieta | — | — | — | — |
| Escuela San José | — | — | — | — |
| Liceo San José | — | — | — | — |
Libraries in San José
| Name | Address | Staff | Annual Visits | Circulation | Collection | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biblioteca Pública Porfirio Campos | 0.0 |
Farmers Markets in San José
| Name | Address | Season | Hours | Organic | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercado Municipal de Upala |
Hotels in San José
1 hotels within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Restaurants in San José
3 restaurants within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Clinics in San José
8 clinics within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Bus Stations in San José
4 bus stations within city radius — OpenStreetMap data
Breweries in San José
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue River Brewery | ||||
| Colors Brewing |
Airports Near San José
37 airports within the area.
| Airport | IATA | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport | LIR | Large Airport |
| La Fortuna Arenal Airport | FON | Medium Airport |
| Los Chiles Airport | LSL | Medium Airport |
| Upala Airport | UPL | Medium Airport |
| Cabo Velas Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Catsa Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Ciruelas Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Codela Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Coyolar Airport | — | Small Airport |
| El Cerrito Airport | — | Small Airport |
| El Descanso de Poco Sol Airport | — | Small Airport |
| El Ron Ron Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Flamingo Airport | FMG | Small Airport |
| Guatuso Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Hacienda La Pacífica Airport | — | Small Airport |
| La Cueva Airport | — | Small Airport |
| La Flor Airport | — | Small Airport |
| La Garroba Airport | — | Small Airport |
| La Guinea Airport | — | Small Airport |
| La Zampoña Airport | — | Small Airport |
| La Zopilota Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Las Piedras Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Las Trancas Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Mojica Airport | CSC | Small Airport |
| Murcielago Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Omtepe Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Pelon Nuevo Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Peñas Blancas Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Quebrada Azul Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Rancho Humo Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Rivas | — | Small Airport |
| San Carlos Airport | NCR | Small Airport |
| San Cristobal Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Santa Cruz Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Taboga Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Talolinga Airport | — | Small Airport |
| Tamarindo Airport | TNO | Small Airport |
Churches & Religious Organizations in San José
17 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Iglesia de Cartagos Norte | |
| Iglesia de Cartagos Sur | |
| Iglesia de Cuatro Bocas | |
| Iglesia de Jomusa | |
| Iglesia de Las Pavas | |
| Iglesia de las Pavas | |
| Iglesia de Los Ángeles | |
| Iglesia de México | |
| Iglesia de Papagayo | |
| Iglesia de Pizotillo | |
| Iglesia de Popoyoapa | |
| Iglesia de Pueblo Nuevo | |
| Iglesia de San Pedro | |
| Iglesia de Santa Clara | |
| Iglesia de Santa Lucía | |
| Iglesia de Villa Hermosa | |
| Parroquia Patriarca San José |
Quick Facts
🇨🇷 About Costa Rica
Public Holidays in Costa Rica
11 public holidays this year
Download Full City Report
Get a comprehensive, print-ready PDF with all data for San José.
Get ReportFrequently Asked Questions About San José
What is the population of San José?
San José has a population of 31,430 residents and is located in Costa Rica. The population density is 285 people per square mile, spread across 110.2 square miles.
What is the weather like in San José?
San José has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 80°F (26°C). Winter temperatures average 78°F in January, while summers reach an average of 80°F in July. The area receives 146 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 108.2 inches.