Pack your bags: the cheapest cities in the world

San José, the capital of Costa Rica, caters to a bustling tourist industry. Foreign visitors enjoy its lush green mountains and forests, which are ideal for taking canopy tours and volcano hikes and seeing exotic wildlife. It's also one of the cheapest cities in the world -- here's a photo gallery look at some other budget destinations.

Looking for something a little more upscale? Well, it will cost you. Here's a look at the world's most expensive cities.

Photo: A busy Saturday afternoon at the Mercado Central, San Jose. Credit: Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times