Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aberdeen, SD and San Jose

For one person, living costs are similar in Aberdeen, SD and in San Jose: $1,876 and $1,924 a month, rent and utilities included.

Aberdeen, SD
🇺🇸 United States
$1,876
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,924
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aberdeen, SD and in San Jose

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aberdeen, SD and in San Jose actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,876 per month in Aberdeen, SD vs $1,924 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Aberdeen, SD $1,876
  • San Jose $1,924

A couple spends around $2,673 per month in Aberdeen, SD vs $2,926 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Aberdeen, SD $2,673
  • San Jose $2,926

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Aberdeen, SD vs $3,929 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Aberdeen, SD $3,470
  • San Jose $3,929

Aberdeen, SD is about 3% cheaper than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Aberdeen, SD and San Jose sit above the global median – Aberdeen, SD by 38%, San Jose by 42%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aberdeen, SD
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.94 $9.94
$12.29 ₡5,513
-19.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7 $64.7
$62.3 ₡27.9K
3.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 $9.88
$11.53 ₡5,171
-14.31%
Cappuccino
$4.26 $4.26
$4.35 ₡1,953
-2.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.64 ₡1,183
-7.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.86 ₡836
35.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.92 $3.92
$3.32 ₡1,490
18.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97 $6.97
$4.52 ₡2,026
54.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen, SD
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$2.39 ₡1,073
-61.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 $2.40
$3.08 ₡1,381
-22.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$2.50 ₡1,119
112.40%
Eggs
$5.90 $5.90
$3.48 ₡1,562
69.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.12 $10.12
$10.74 ₡4,815
-5.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.19 $10.19
$10.32 ₡4,629
-1.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.30 $18.30
$14.10 ₡6,325
29.79%
Apples (1kg)
$4.30 $4.30
$5.03 ₡2,256
-14.51%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.59 ₡714
50.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$4.84 ₡2,171
-20.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$3.96 ₡1,776
2.27%
Potato (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$3.76 ₡1,684
4.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 $2.61
$3.73 ₡1,674
-30.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.69 $2.69
$1.08 ₡485
149.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$4.95 $4.95
$3.25 ₡1,456
52.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$5.86 ₡2,627
-
Wine (Bottle)
$30.09 $30.09
$20.28 ₡9,095
48.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.90 ₡1,300
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73 ₡1,673
-
🚌 Getting Around
Aberdeen, SD
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.08 ₡486
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$65.5 ₡29.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.50 ₡1,123
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.63 ₡732
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.71 ₡3,904
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.58 ₡709
-43.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$33.6K ₡15.1M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$41.7K ₡18.7M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen, SD
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$93.7 ₡42.0K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$35.42 ₡15.9K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$60.0 ₡26.9K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen, SD
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.83 ₡11.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.74 ₡3,471
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aberdeen, SD
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$729 $729
$1,005 ₡450.9K
-27.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$16.9K ₡7.6M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen, SD
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.66 $45.66
$73.1 ₡32.8K
-37.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 $25.26
$55.4 ₡24.9K
-54.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.3 $76.3
$128 ₡57.5K
-40.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$130 ₡58.5K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen, SD
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 $1,103
$932 ₡418.0K
18.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,162 $1,162
$760 ₡340.8K
52.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,841 $1,841
$1,922 ₡862.0K
-4.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,611 $1,611
$1,276 ₡572.1K
26.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,462 $1,462
$2,301 ₡1.0M
-36.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,426 $1,426
$1,833 ₡821.9K
-22.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aberdeen, SD
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,225 $5,225
$1,029 ₡461.3K
408.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.76
8.62
-21.58%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aberdeen, SD: October 17, 2026

Last update for San Jose: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aberdeen, SD
$1.2K
San Jose
$760 34.6% $402
Groceries & Markets
Aberdeen, SD
$433 *
San Jose
$403 7% $30
Eating Out
Aberdeen, SD
$214
San Jose
$229 7.1% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Aberdeen, SD
$66 *
San Jose
$174 163% $108
Getting Around
Aberdeen, SD
- *
San Jose
$80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aberdeen, SD
- *
San Jose
$189
Sport & Entertainment
Aberdeen, SD
- *
San Jose
$88

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Aberdeen, SD versus $932 in San Jose. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 408% higher in Aberdeen, SD, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Aberdeen, SD versus $62.0 in San Jose. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 vs $403 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Aberdeen, SD
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
06:39 6:39 AM
05:39 5:39 AM
1 h behind Aberdeen, SD
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
24,071
342,188 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aberdeen, SD San Jose 4,180 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Aberdeen, SD
  • San Jose

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Aberdeen, SD vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aberdeen, SD or San Jose?
San Jose costs about 3% more than Aberdeen, SD, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aberdeen, SD and in San Jose?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,813 per month in Aberdeen, SD and $2,886 in San Jose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aberdeen, SD or San Jose?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aberdeen, SD, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Aberdeen, SD and in San Jose?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Aberdeen, SD and $62.0 in San Jose. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Aberdeen, SD or in San Jose?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in San Jose – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Aberdeen, SD or in San Jose?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Aberdeen, SD, where all-in costs run around $1,876, than in San Jose at $1,924. In Aberdeen, SD it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Jose it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aberdeen, SD or San Jose?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aberdeen, SD costs $1,876 versus $1,924 in San Jose. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Aberdeen, SD compared to San Jose?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Aberdeen, SD or to San Jose?
If budget matters most, go with Aberdeen, SD. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Jose makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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