Car rental prices at San Jose Airport, Costa Rica

San Jose Airport car hire starts around $35 a day for an Economy or a Mini, or $39 a day for a Compact like a Hyundai Verna, for October 2026 booked about a month ahead. An Intermediate such as a Toyota Rav4 costs around $43 a day. In the last 2 weeks before pickup, that Compact drops to $34 a day. Across the year, prices swing from $55 in October 2026 up to $191 in January 2027. If your quote is higher, check your exact dates with the price checker.

For October 2026 at San Jose Airport, hold off until the last 2 weeks before pickup: a Compact costs $34 a day then, compared to $39 a month before. Across the year, booking a Compact 9 months before your trip costs $100 a day on average, while booking 2 weeks ahead costs $55. If you have not booked yet, you have missed nothing. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 48% of our customers book within 2 weeks of pickup.

Dollar is the cheapest company at San Jose Airport for a Compact, averaging $35 a day over the last 12 months, but requires a credit card for its deposit. It holds an average review score of 80/100 from 40 reviews, with an average desk wait of 19 minutes. Amigo is the next step up at $49 a day, while Avis averages $53. Green Motion had the largest price volume among suppliers, averaging $89 a day over 1,291 prices.

The cheapest company can cost you a longer queue or a bigger deposit, so check the review score and desk wait beside each car in the results before you book.

Dollar is the best-reviewed company at San Jose Airport, scoring 80/100 from 40 reviews with a 19-minute desk wait, and it is also the cheapest supplier. For a Compact over the last 12 months, Dollar averages $35 a day. Amigo averages $49 a day and Avis averages $53, but neither has enough reviews for a score. Budget averages a 7-minute wait at its counter, but its Compact price sits much higher at $123 a day.

Review scores are CarTrawler customers' own, from the last five months; the score and the desk wait sit beside each car in the results.

At San Jose Airport, deposits held on your card range from $497 with Alamo, Enterprise, Green Motion and National up to $4,977 with Avis, and all 17 desks refuse debit cards. Every desk requires a credit card in the main driver's name, so there is no debit option to select. The exact deposit held for each vehicle appears beside it in your results. Extra charges added at the desk are listed beneath each car.

If you bring your own child seat, check your airline's rules first: most carry one free, some charge.

Two traps catch people out at San Jose Airport: every desk refuses debit cards for deposits, and several suppliers hold unusually large credit holds. All 17 counters demand a credit card in the primary driver's name, leaving anyone who brings only debit stranded at the terminal. Deposits range widely, running from $497 up to $4,977 at Avis. Desk waits also vary, stretching to 26 minutes at Payless and Avis, while Budget averages 7 minutes.

Only 73% of prices at San Jose Airport are full tank out, full tank back, so read the fuel line under the car before you book.

For up to 5 passengers, pick an Intermediate like the Toyota Rav4 at San Jose Airport, which costs around $43 a day booked a month before October 2026. It seats 5 with room for 3 bags, whereas a Compact such as a Hyundai Verna takes only 2 bags for $39 a day. Stepping down to a Mini like a Suzuki Jimny costs $35, but it seats 4 with room for just 1 bag. Automatics make up 64% of what is offered and cost $7 less a day on average than manuals, while electric and hybrid options are unavailable.