San Jose, Costa Rica Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of San Jose
There is not much of a seasonal calendar in San Jose. Its warmest and coolest months differ by 2°C, against a dataset median nearer 15°C, which leaves 80°F (27°C) in April and 75°F (24°C) in October as the two ends of the year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: April - highs near 80°F (27°C)
- Coldest month: October - highs near 75°F (24°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 88°F (31°C) high · 53°F (12°C) low
- Wettest month: October (29 rainy days) · Sunniest: February (11.3 h sun/day)
- Climate type: tropical wet-and-dry
- Annual swing: 2°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 8°C
- Average humidity: 81%
Temperatures through the year
Warmth peaks in April: highs of 80°F (27°C), lows of 63°F (17°C). October is the coolest month, with highs of 75°F (24°C) and lows near 62°F (16°C). February is the brightest month at 11.3 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 9.3.
Rain, sun and snow
Between the average April and the average October lie 2°C, a narrower spread than all but 3% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. Three of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is January through March. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 88°F (31°C) and the lowest daily minimum 53°F (12°C).
How San Jose compares
- Annual precipitation is 120.3 inches (3055 mm) - wetter than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 241 days a year - more wet days than 95% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Relative humidity averages 81% - more humid than 88% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 77° | 61° | 8 | 1.9 in | 10.7 h/day | 11.6 h | 26% | 73% |
| February | 79° | 61° | 6 | 1.4 in | 11.3 h/day | 11.8 h | 22% | 68% |
| March | 80° | 62° | 8 | 1.3 in | 11.2 h/day | 12.0 h | 26% | 68% |
| April | 80° | 63° | 17 | 4.5 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.3 h | 56% | 74% |
| May | 78° | 63° | 27 | 15.0 in | 8.5 h/day | 12.6 h | 86% | 85% |
| June | 76° | 63° | 28 | 14.3 in | 8.1 h/day | 12.7 h | 94% | 88% |
| July | 76° | 63° | 24 | 12.1 in | 8.3 h/day | 12.6 h | 78% | 84% |
| August | 77° | 63° | 27 | 15.0 in | 8.5 h/day | 12.4 h | 86% | 86% |
| September | 77° | 62° | 29 | 16.6 in | 8.2 h/day | 12.2 h | 96% | 89% |
| October | 75° | 62° | 29 | 21.1 in | 7.8 h/day | 11.9 h | 94% | 90% |
| November | 75° | 62° | 25 | 13.5 in | 8.1 h/day | 11.7 h | 83% | 87% |
| December | 76° | 62° | 13 | 3.5 in | 10.1 h/day | 11.5 h | 41% | 78% |
San Jose month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in San Jose's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 10.7 h
- Daylight
- 11.6 h
February
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
March
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 11.2 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
April
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
May
- Rain
- 27 days
- Sunshine
- 8.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.6 h
June
- Rain
- 28 days
- Sunshine
- 8.1 h
- Daylight
- 12.7 h
July
- Rain
- 24 days
- Sunshine
- 8.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.6 h
August
- Rain
- 27 days
- Sunshine
- 8.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
September
- Rain
- 29 days
- Sunshine
- 8.2 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
October
- Rain
- 29 days
- Sunshine
- 7.8 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
November
- Rain
- 25 days
- Sunshine
- 8.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.7 h
December
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 10.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.5 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in San Jose
March through May
March through May in San Jose is pleasantly warm, with daytime highs averaging 80°F (26°C) and nights around 62°F (17°C); rain falls on around 52 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.0 hours of sun a day.
June through August
June through August is pleasantly warm here - highs near 76°F (25°C), nights near 63°F (17°C), and rain falls on around 79 of the 90 days.
September through November
September through November in San Jose is pleasantly warm, with daytime highs averaging 76°F (24°C) and nights around 62°F (17°C); rain falls on around 83 of the 90 days.
December through February
December through February settles into easy warmth here - highs near 77°F (25°C), nights near 61°F (16°C), and expect showers on roughly 27 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.7 hours of sun a day.
Climate questions, answered
Is San Jose cold in winter?
What should I pack for San Jose?
How much sun does San Jose get?
What is the average temperature in San Jose?
Best time to visit San Jose
Aim for December to March if you get the choice: warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up, and highs average 78°F (26°C) against roughly 9 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in December.
Pack for San Jose with proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. Note the gap between afternoon and night: April pairs 80°F (27°C) with 63°F (17°C).
San Jose temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.