Costa Rica or Cancún in January?
On climate data, Cancún comes out ahead overall in January. See the per-criterion details below.
Costa RicaPhoto: Shiva Shenoy from Flower Mound, United States · CC BY 2.0
CancúnPhoto: Luka Peternel · CC BY-SA 4.0Key figures in January
| Criterion | Costa Rica | Cancún |
|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 33 °C | 26 °C |
| Average daily low | 23 °C | 22 °C |
| Sea | 28 °C ★ | 27 °C |
| Rainy days | 1 rainy day (est.) ★ | 11 rainy days (est.) |
| Sun | 7 h/day ★ | 5 h/day |
| Humidity | 68 % | 77 % |
Winner by travel type
Trade-offs
- Costa Rica is about 7 °C warmer by day.
- Costa Rica is drier, with about 10 fewer rainy days.
- The sea at Costa Rica is about 1 °C warmer.
Costa Rica or Cancún in January: the short answer
In January, Cancún comes out ahead on the overall climate score (Costa Rica 73/100 vs Cancún 79/100). That is a snapshot of one month, though — which one truly fits depends on what you want from the trip, so the breakdown below goes criterion by criterion.
This comparison focuses on January as a representative month for the pair; for any other month, use each destination's month-by-month pages. Across the whole year Costa Rica averages a climate score of 60/100, Cancún 69/100. Both profiles below are historical monthly averages, not a forecast.
Weather in January, side by side
The average daily high is about 33 °C in Costa Rica and 26 °C in Cancún — warmer in Costa Rica. Average daily lows are around 23 °C versus 22 °C.
On rain, Costa Rica sees about 1 rainy days in January and Cancún about 11 — drier in Costa Rica. Costa Rica gets more sunshine (7 vs 5 hours a day).
Sea temperature and swimming
In January the water is about 28 °C at Costa Rica and 27 °C at Cancún — warmer for swimming at Costa Rica. Over the year, Costa Rica is comfortable for swimming (from ~21 °C) in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, Cancún in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. Peak sea warmth is May for Costa Rica and September for Cancún.
Rain and sun across the year
Over a full year Costa Rica records roughly 163 rainy days and Cancún about 170 — the drier of the two overall is Costa Rica. At their sunniest, Costa Rica reaches about 8 hours of sun a day (March) and Cancún about 8 (July). If dependable dry, sunny weather is your top priority, weigh these annual totals alongside the single month above.
Best time to visit each
Climatically, Costa Rica is at its best in January, February, March and December, while Cancún peaks in January, February, March and April. If your dates are fixed, pick the destination whose strong season overlaps them; if you are flexible, plan around these windows.
Which suits which kind of trip
Based on the January scores for each travel style:
Beach & swimming: Cancún scores higher in January (Costa Rica 81 vs Cancún 85).
City breaks: Cancún scores higher in January (Costa Rica 69 vs Cancún 79).
Active & hiking: Costa Rica scores higher in January (Costa Rica 62 vs Cancún 61).
Family: Cancún scores higher in January (Costa Rica 75 vs Cancún 86).
Verdict: which should you pick?
There is no single winner — it depends on your month and your priority. For January specifically, use the head-to-head above; over the year, Cancún carries the slightly higher overall climate score. Choose Costa Rica if its strong months and profile match your plan, Cancún if its do. The month-by-month pages for each destination give you the full picture before you book.