San José weather in December
In December, San José sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 214 mm of rain across 27.3 wet days and about 11.4 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Daylight stretches from about 11 h 24 min at the start of December to 11 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is San José's 5th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see San José's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 26°
- 11th warmest
- Overnight low
- 22°
- 3rd coldest
- Rainfall
- 214 mm
- 27.3 wet days
- Daylight
- 11 h 24 min
- 5:56 AM – 5:18 PM
- Cloud cover
- 55%
- 5th clearest
- Wind
- 20 km/h
- 4th windiest
- Solar energy
- 4.12 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 4.2
- out of 10
San José is populated place in Upala district of Costa Rico.
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in December
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month.
A typical December day in San José reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 22°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Avg low (°C) | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | 23 |
| 2 | 26 | 23 |
| 3 | 26 | 23 |
| 4 | 26 | 23 |
| 5 | 26 | 22 |
| 6 | 26 | 22 |
| 7 | 26 | 22 |
| 8 | 26 | 22 |
| 9 | 26 | 22 |
| 10 | 26 | 22 |
| 11 | 26 | 22 |
| 12 | 26 | 22 |
| 13 | 26 | 22 |
| 14 | 26 | 22 |
| 15 | 26 | 22 |
| 16 | 26 | 22 |
| 17 | 26 | 22 |
| 18 | 26 | 22 |
| 19 | 26 | 22 |
| 20 | 26 | 22 |
| 21 | 26 | 22 |
| 22 | 26 | 22 |
| 23 | 26 | 22 |
| 24 | 26 | 22 |
| 25 | 26 | 22 |
| 26 | 26 | 22 |
| 27 | 26 | 22 |
| 28 | 26 | 22 |
| 29 | 26 | 22 |
| 30 | 26 | 22 |
| 31 | 26 | 22 |
San José weather by month
How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26° / 22° | 171 | 26.8 | 11.4 | 4.5 |
| Feb | 27° / 22° | 113 | 22.1 | 11.6 | 4.8 |
| Mar | 28° / 23° | 80 | 19.8 | 11.9 | 5.3 |
| Apr | 28° / 23° | 63 | 18.1 | 12.2 | 4.8 |
| May | 28° / 24° | 223 | 26.7 | 12.5 | 3.7 |
| Jun | 27° / 24° | 281 | 29.4 | 12.6 | 3.3 |
| Jul | 27° / 23° | 308 | 30.6 | 12.6 | 3.4 |
| Aug | 27° / 23° | 259 | 30.5 | 12.4 | 3.4 |
| Sep | 27° / 23° | 260 | 29.3 | 12.1 | 3.4 |
| Oct | 27° / 23° | 299 | 29.3 | 11.8 | 3.5 |
| Nov | 26° / 23° | 262 | 26.2 | 11.5 | 4.0 |
| Dec | 26° / 22° | 214 | 27.3 | 11.4 | 4.2 |
Cloud cover in December
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in December.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 27% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 38%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 50 | 49 | 51 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 56 | 58 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 68 | 69 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 71 |
| Cloudier (%) | 50 | 51 | 49 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 44 | 42 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50 | 50 |
| 2 | 49 | 51 |
| 3 | 51 | 49 |
| 4 | 51 | 49 |
| 5 | 52 | 48 |
| 6 | 53 | 47 |
| 7 | 54 | 46 |
| 8 | 55 | 45 |
| 9 | 56 | 44 |
| 10 | 56 | 44 |
| 11 | 58 | 42 |
| 12 | 58 | 42 |
| 13 | 59 | 41 |
| 14 | 60 | 40 |
| 15 | 61 | 39 |
| 16 | 62 | 38 |
| 17 | 63 | 37 |
| 18 | 65 | 35 |
| 19 | 66 | 34 |
| 20 | 67 | 33 |
| 21 | 68 | 32 |
| 22 | 68 | 32 |
| 23 | 69 | 31 |
| 24 | 69 | 31 |
| 25 | 70 | 30 |
| 26 | 71 | 29 |
| 27 | 71 | 29 |
| 28 | 71 | 29 |
| 29 | 71 | 29 |
| 30 | 71 | 29 |
| 31 | 71 | 29 |
Chance of precipitation in December
San José gets around 214 mm of rain over 27.3 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 88% and peaks near 91% on the wettest days.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 91 | 90 | 90 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 89 |
| 2 | 89 |
| 3 | 89 |
| 4 | 89 |
| 5 | 88 |
| 6 | 88 |
| 7 | 88 |
| 8 | 88 |
| 9 | 87 |
| 10 | 87 |
| 11 | 87 |
| 12 | 87 |
| 13 | 87 |
| 14 | 87 |
| 15 | 87 |
| 16 | 87 |
| 17 | 87 |
| 18 | 87 |
| 19 | 88 |
| 20 | 88 |
| 21 | 88 |
| 22 | 89 |
| 23 | 89 |
| 24 | 89 |
| 25 | 90 |
| 26 | 90 |
| 27 | 90 |
| 28 | 90 |
| 29 | 91 |
| 30 | 90 |
| 31 | 90 |
Humidity in December
Most of December feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, December lands in the oppressive band about 69% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 98% of them.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humid (%) | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Muggy (%) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 39 | 40 |
| Oppressive (%) | 78 | 79 | 78 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 76 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 73 | 72 | 72 | 71 | 70 | 69 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 61 | 60 | 59 | 59 | 57 |
| Humid (%) | Muggy (%) | Oppressive (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 20 | 78 |
| 2 | 1 | 20 | 79 |
| 3 | 2 | 20 | 78 |
| 4 | 2 | 21 | 77 |
| 5 | 2 | 21 | 77 |
| 6 | 2 | 21 | 77 |
| 7 | 2 | 22 | 76 |
| 8 | 2 | 22 | 76 |
| 9 | 2 | 23 | 75 |
| 10 | 3 | 23 | 74 |
| 11 | 3 | 24 | 73 |
| 12 | 3 | 25 | 72 |
| 13 | 3 | 25 | 72 |
| 14 | 3 | 26 | 71 |
| 15 | 3 | 27 | 70 |
| 16 | 3 | 28 | 69 |
| 17 | 3 | 29 | 68 |
| 18 | 3 | 30 | 67 |
| 19 | 2 | 31 | 67 |
| 20 | 2 | 32 | 66 |
| 21 | 2 | 33 | 65 |
| 22 | 2 | 34 | 64 |
| 23 | 2 | 35 | 63 |
| 24 | 2 | 36 | 62 |
| 25 | 2 | 36 | 62 |
| 26 | 2 | 37 | 61 |
| 27 | 2 | 37 | 61 |
| 28 | 2 | 38 | 60 |
| 29 | 2 | 39 | 59 |
| 30 | 2 | 39 | 59 |
| 31 | 3 | 40 | 57 |
Wind in December
Winds average 20 km/h in December.
Across December, daily wind ranges from about 18 km/h on the calmest days to 21 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Feels | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy | breezy |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | light breeze |
| 2 | 18 | light breeze |
| 3 | 18 | light breeze |
| 4 | 18 | light breeze |
| 5 | 18 | light breeze |
| 6 | 19 | light breeze |
| 7 | 19 | light breeze |
| 8 | 19 | light breeze |
| 9 | 19 | light breeze |
| 10 | 19 | light breeze |
| 11 | 19 | light breeze |
| 12 | 19 | light breeze |
| 13 | 19 | light breeze |
| 14 | 19 | light breeze |
| 15 | 19 | light breeze |
| 16 | 20 | light breeze |
| 17 | 20 | light breeze |
| 18 | 20 | light breeze |
| 19 | 20 | light breeze |
| 20 | 20 | light breeze |
| 21 | 20 | light breeze |
| 22 | 20 | breezy |
| 23 | 20 | breezy |
| 24 | 20 | breezy |
| 25 | 20 | breezy |
| 26 | 20 | breezy |
| 27 | 21 | breezy |
| 28 | 21 | breezy |
| 29 | 21 | breezy |
| 30 | 21 | breezy |
| 31 | 21 | breezy |
Sunrise & sunset in December
Daylight runs from about 11 h 24 min at the start of December to 11 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days grow by about 0 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 5:48 AM to 6:03 AM, and sunset from 5:12 PM to 5:25 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 5:48 | 5:49 | 5:49 | 5:50 | 5:50 | 5:51 | 5:51 | 5:52 | 5:52 | 5:53 | 5:53 | 5:54 | 5:54 | 5:55 | 5:55 | 5:56 | 5:56 | 5:57 | 5:57 | 5:58 | 5:58 | 5:59 | 5:59 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:01 | 6:01 | 6:01 | 6:02 | 6:02 | 6:03 |
| Sunset (PM) | 5:12 | 5:13 | 5:13 | 5:13 | 5:14 | 5:14 | 5:14 | 5:14 | 5:15 | 5:15 | 5:16 | 5:16 | 5:16 | 5:17 | 5:17 | 5:18 | 5:18 | 5:18 | 5:19 | 5:19 | 5:20 | 5:20 | 5:21 | 5:21 | 5:22 | 5:22 | 5:23 | 5:23 | 5:24 | 5:24 | 5:25 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11.4 | 5:48 | 5:12 |
| 2 | 11.4 | 5:49 | 5:13 |
| 3 | 11.4 | 5:49 | 5:13 |
| 4 | 11.4 | 5:50 | 5:13 |
| 5 | 11.4 | 5:50 | 5:14 |
| 6 | 11.4 | 5:51 | 5:14 |
| 7 | 11.4 | 5:51 | 5:14 |
| 8 | 11.4 | 5:52 | 5:14 |
| 9 | 11.4 | 5:52 | 5:15 |
| 10 | 11.4 | 5:53 | 5:15 |
| 11 | 11.4 | 5:53 | 5:16 |
| 12 | 11.4 | 5:54 | 5:16 |
| 13 | 11.4 | 5:54 | 5:16 |
| 14 | 11.4 | 5:55 | 5:17 |
| 15 | 11.4 | 5:55 | 5:17 |
| 16 | 11.4 | 5:56 | 5:18 |
| 17 | 11.4 | 5:56 | 5:18 |
| 18 | 11.4 | 5:57 | 5:18 |
| 19 | 11.4 | 5:57 | 5:19 |
| 20 | 11.4 | 5:58 | 5:19 |
| 21 | 11.4 | 5:58 | 5:20 |
| 22 | 11.4 | 5:59 | 5:20 |
| 23 | 11.4 | 5:59 | 5:21 |
| 24 | 11.4 | 6:00 | 5:21 |
| 25 | 11.4 | 6:00 | 5:22 |
| 26 | 11.4 | 6:01 | 5:22 |
| 27 | 11.4 | 6:01 | 5:23 |
| 28 | 11.4 | 6:01 | 5:23 |
| 29 | 11.4 | 6:02 | 5:24 |
| 30 | 11.4 | 6:02 | 5:24 |
| 31 | 11.4 | 6:03 | 5:25 |
Solar energy in December
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.12 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.98 kWh/m² to a high of 6.04 kWh/m² in April across the year — December's 4.12 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.0 | Moderate |
| 2 | 4.0 | Moderate |
| 3 | 4.0 | Moderate |
| 4 | 4.0 | Moderate |
| 5 | 4.0 | Bright |
| 6 | 4.0 | Bright |
| 7 | 4.0 | Bright |
| 8 | 4.0 | Bright |
| 9 | 4.0 | Bright |
| 10 | 4.0 | Bright |
| 11 | 4.0 | Bright |
| 12 | 4.0 | Bright |
| 13 | 4.1 | Bright |
| 14 | 4.1 | Bright |
| 15 | 4.1 | Bright |
| 16 | 4.1 | Bright |
| 17 | 4.1 | Bright |
| 18 | 4.1 | Bright |
| 19 | 4.1 | Bright |
| 20 | 4.1 | Bright |
| 21 | 4.2 | Bright |
| 22 | 4.2 | Bright |
| 23 | 4.2 | Bright |
| 24 | 4.2 | Bright |
| 25 | 4.2 | Bright |
| 26 | 4.2 | Bright |
| 27 | 4.2 | Bright |
| 28 | 4.2 | Bright |
| 29 | 4.3 | Bright |
| 30 | 4.3 | Bright |
| 31 | 4.3 | Bright |
Is December a good time to visit San José?
Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
December is a reasonable time to visit San José for sightseeing.
What to pack for San José in December
From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In December, San José sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 22°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes. About 27 days see rain.
Sea temperature near San José in December
The nearest coast averages about 27°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 65 km away) is warmest in May at about 29°C and coldest in February near 27°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 | Warm |
| Feb | 27 | Warm |
| Mar | 27 | Warm |
| Apr | 29 | Tropical |
| May | 29 | Tropical |
| Jun | 29 | Tropical |
| Jul | 29 | Tropical |
| Aug | 29 | Tropical |
| Sep | 29 | Tropical |
| Oct | 28 | Tropical |
| Nov | 28 | Warm |
| Dec | 27 | Warm |
UV index in San José in December
Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in San José peaks around March 18 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 9 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 14 | Extreme |
| May | 13 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in San José in December
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in San José is worst in July — around 23 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.8× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 7 | 8 | 9 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 6 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 | Good |
| Feb | 8 | Good |
| Mar | 9 | Good |
| Apr | 19 | Moderate |
| May | 21 | Moderate |
| Jun | 19 | Moderate |
| Jul | 23 | Moderate |
| Aug | 18 | Moderate |
| Sep | 13 | Moderate |
| Oct | 9 | Good |
| Nov | 6 | Good |
| Dec | 6 | Good |
Where is San José?
San José sits at 11.0°N, 85.1°W, 50 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is San Carlos, 44 km away.
Topography around San José
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of San José.
Within 3 km, the terrain around San José has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 55 m around an average of 51 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 659 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,977 m.
The land around San José is covered by grassland (51%) and trees (48%) within 3 km, trees (59%) and grassland (36%) within 16 km, and trees (45%), water (27%) and grassland (24%) within 80 km.
Costa Rica travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 59% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $19,970
- 2025
- Happiness
- 7.4 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 81%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 17.7
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 14.8
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 516
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for San José (10.9519°, -85.1357°, elevation 50 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).