Chicago

$122+ Cheap flights from San José (SJO) to Chicago (CHI)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 2/7. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SJO — CHI
Feb 28 — Mar 71
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Find cheap flights from San José to Chicago with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Chicago are usually found in January or October, booked 30 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Tuesday and return on a Tuesday

Cheap flight deals from San José to Chicago

Cheapest flights from San José to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San José to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on January 29, 2026.

This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/1612:31 pm
SJO
-
ORD
1 stop10h 10m
Spirit Airlines
Thu 4/235:15 am
ORD
-
SJO
1 stop7h 07m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 1/27$303
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 2/1812:35 pm
SJO
-
ORD
2 stops11h 12m
Spirit Airlines
Tue 2/244:43 pm
ORD
-
SJO
2 stops18h 57m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 1/27$306
This OneTravel deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/26. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure OneTravel is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 2/191:31 pm
SJO
-
ORD
2 stops18h 23m
Spirit Airlines
Sat 2/288:59 am
ORD
-
SJO
2 stops26h 41m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 1/26$307
This OneTravel deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure OneTravel is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 2/151:31 pm
SJO
-
ORD
1 stop10h 16m
Spirit Airlines
Wed 2/185:15 am
ORD
-
SJO
1 stop7h 07m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 1/27$308
This Avianca Connect deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/28. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Avianca Connect is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 4/147:45 am
SJO
-
ORD
1 stop9h 50m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 4/226:34 pm
ORD
-
SJO
1 stop21h 31m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/28$309
This Avianca Connect deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/26. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Avianca Connect is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 4/137:45 am
SJO
-
ORD
1 stop23h 40m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 4/196:34 pm
ORD
-
SJO
1 stop21h 31m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/26$310
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/26. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 2/51:30 pm
SJO
-
ORD
1 stop9h 06m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 2/223:40 pm
ORD
-
SJO
1 stop20h 42m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/26$311
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/28. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 2/51:30 pm
SJO
-
ORD
1 stop10h 17m
Spirit Airlines
Sun 2/225:15 am
ORD
-
SJO
1 stop7h 07m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 1/28$312
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/2312:31 pm
SJO
-
ORD
1 stop10h 10m
Spirit Airlines
Tue 4/285:15 am
ORD
-
SJO
1 stop7h 07m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 1/27$313
This OneTravel deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/28. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure OneTravel is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 2/141:31 pm
SJO
-
ORD
2 stops18h 23m
Spirit Airlines
Sat 2/218:59 am
ORD
-
SJO
2 stops26h 41m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 1/28$314
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 2/288:07 am
SJO
-
ORD
2 stops23h 47m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 3/410:19 am
ORD
-
SJO
3 stops25h 21m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/27$315
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 2/81:30 pm
SJO
-
ORD
1 stop9h 14m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 2/155:15 am
ORD
-
SJO
2 stops30h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/27$316

Find flight deals from San José to Chicago

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San José (SJO) to Chicago (CHI). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated January 29, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$303
(Cheapflightsfares)

One-way from

$122
(FlightHub)

Popular in

April

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$378

Good round-trip deal

$298 or less

Good one-way deal

$160 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Chicago (CHI) flight deals.
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Chicago (CHI) flights.
From San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Chicago (CHI)
One-way flight from San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Chicago (CHI)
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 3% potential increase in price ($16 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 0% potential price decrease ($4 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in January 2026
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Chicago (CHI).
Price to beat on a one-way flight from San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Chicago (CHI).

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from San José to Chicago that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated January 29, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San José to Chicago that are best for you.

Fly from

San José

Fly to

Chicago

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San JoséChicago

SJO - ORD

SJOORD

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Thu 4/16

7:45 am-6:15 pm

1 stop9h 30m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 4/20

6:34 pm-3:05 pm

1 stop21h 31m

$310

San JoséChicago

SJO - ORD

SJOORD

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Mon 4/13

7:45 am-8:25 am

1 stop23h 40m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 4/19

6:34 pm-3:05 pm

1 stop21h 31m

$310

San JoséChicago

SJO - ORD

SJOORD

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sat 2/14

1:31 pm-7:54 am

2 stops18h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 2/21

8:59 am-11:40 am

2 stops26h 41m

$314

San JoséChicago

SJO - ORD

SJOORD

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Tue 4/28

7:45 am-6:15 pm

1 stop9h 30m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 5/4

6:34 pm-3:05 pm

1 stop21h 31m

$314

San JoséChicago

SJO - ORD

SJOORD

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Thu 2/26

2:05 pm-7:35 pm

Nonstop5h 30m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 3/5

7:39 am-12:56 pm

Nonstop5h 17m

$318

San JoséChicago

SJO - ORD

SJOORD

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sun 3/1

6:08 pm-12:31 pm

1 stop18h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 3/5

7:34 am-6:55 pm

1 stop11h 21m

$320

San JoséChicago

SJO - ORD

SJOORD

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sun 3/1

6:08 pm-12:31 pm

1 stop18h 23m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 3/8

3:22 pm-7:05 am

1 stop16h 43m

$320

San JoséChicago

SJO - ORD

SJOORD

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sun 3/1

5:51 pm-12:31 pm

1 stop18h 40m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/4

7:34 am-4:38 pm

1 stop9h 04m

$320

San JoséChicago

SJO - ORD

SJOORD

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Thu 4/23

7:45 am-6:15 pm

1 stop9h 30m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 4/26

6:34 pm-3:05 pm

1 stop21h 31m

$322

San JoséChicago

SJO - MDW

SJOMDW

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Fri 2/13

7:00 am-10:31 pm

1 stop15h 31m

Chicago Midway

Mon 3/2

12:45 pm-10:02 pm

1 stop9h 17m

$325

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/27

Showing 1-10 of 34 results
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Compare providers for flights from San José to Chicago

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from San José to Chicago in January.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
AranGrantPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*2 stars
CheapflightsfaresPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*2 stars
PricelinePrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on San José-Chicago flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on San José-Chicago flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from San José-Chicago flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on San José-Chicago flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for San José-Chicago flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Best time to book a flight from San José to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from San José with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from San José to Chicago

How far ahead should I book a flight from San José to Chicago?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from San José to Chicago. Price data was last updated on January 23, 2026.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from San José to Chicago, you should look to book at least 30 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San José to Chicago?

Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San José to Chicago (average of $195). Flying from San José to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $337). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SJO to CHI?

Find hourly flight availability from San José to Chicago. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated January 29, 2026.

When flying from San José to Chicago, the time of day you decide to fly out makes little to no difference towards the overall price you’ll pay on tickets.

Weekly flight availability from San José to Chicago

Explore weekly flight availability from San José to Chicago. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated January 29, 2026.

The most flights from SJO to CHI are scheduled on a Monday (2 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (1 on average).

What’s the top layover airport for flights from San José to Chicago?

Share of 1-stop round-trip flights from San José to Chicago chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, using the same layover each way.

Guatemala City (GUA) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 50% of 1-stop itineraries from San José to Chicago on Cheapflights.

What’s the cheapest layover airport for flights from San José to Chicago?

Average round-trip fare for 1-stop flights from San José to Chicago, chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, with the same layover each way.

Guatemala City (GUA) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $391.

What’s the fastest layover option from San José to Chicago?

Shortest average travel time for 1-stop one-way flights from San José to Chicago, based on itineraries clicked by Cheapflights users over the past 12 months, grouped by layover airport.

Flights via Guatemala City (GUA) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 7h 40m.

Which airport typically offers the quickest layover for flights from San José to Chicago?

Average layover duration for 1-stop one-way flights from San José to Chicago, chosen by Cheapflights users in the last 12 months, grouped by stopover airport.

Flights via Bogotá (BOG) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 1h 55m.

How often are flights from San José to Chicago delayed?

About 13% of weekly flights between San José and Chicago have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 189 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for San José to Chicago flights?

Historically, flights departing in the morning are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the early afternoon tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Monday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Friday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on San José to Chicago flights?

Over the last year, American Airlines have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 5% of flights being delayed.

Reviews of airlines servicing Chicago

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Chicago. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Chicago. Reviews last updated January 29, 2026.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from San José to Chicago, such as Southwest, Copa Airlines, and United Airlines. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San José to Chicago. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
  • What airport do you fly from for flights from San José to Chicago?

    Located just 8.8 mi from the city center, San José Juan Santamaria Intl is the airport most travelers will use when flying to Chicago from San José. Booking flights from Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) to Chicago should be relatively easy as there is 1 daily outbound flight to Chicago from 6 different airlines.

  • How long is the flight from San José to Chicago?

    Spirit Airlines, Delta, and Southwest can get you from San José to Chicago in just under 7h 45m. Your travel time can differ by up to 10h 38m. San José and Chicago are separated by a distance of 2206 mi. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from San José to Chicago round-trip?

    Spirit Airlines, at $206, was found to be the cheapest airline from San José to Chicago.Alternate airlines to your destination round-trip include Avianca and Copa Airlines. Users have found that Spirit Airlines is 53% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from San José to Chicago one-way?

    To fly one-way, consider booking your trip with Avianca, which is currently one of the cheapest options available, starting at $166. Spirit Airlines flights start at $179 while deals on American Airlines start at $183 one-way.

  • What are the cheapest flights from San José to Chicago?

    On average you can expect to pay $342 for a flight from San José to Chicago. The cheapest flight overall is $141 while the most popular route, (San José Juan Santamaria Intl - Chicago O'Hare Intl) is currently priced at $214.

  • Can I find deals for flights from San José to Chicago that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on San José to Chicago flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from San José to Chicago?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from San José to Chicago.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from San José to Chicago?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San José to Chicago by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San José to Chicago?

    Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San José to Chicago (average of $195). Flying from San José to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $337). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near Chicago?

Book flights to Chicago if you plan to visit one of these locations
Lansing
Merrillville
Hammond
Porter
Benton Harbor

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Alternative routes for San José to Chicago

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

Top 6 airlines flying from San José to Chicago

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from San José to Chicago. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated January 29, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$206Average$348FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
AviancaCheapest$249Average$484FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
Copa AirlinesCheapest$311Average$448FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%
American AirlinesCheapest$332Average$465FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$400Average$504FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$463Average$507FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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