Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the Bahamas and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $3,359 in the Bahamas, rent and utilities included – about $15,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Bahamas
San Jose, Costa Rica
🇧🇸 Bahamas
$3,359
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: The Bahamas is 70.8% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 59.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The Bahamas is 83.3% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 108.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bahamas
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$48.97 BSD 48.97
$12.37 ₡5,563
295.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$166 BSD 166
$62.4 ₡28.0K
165.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 BSD 12.03
$11.71 ₡5,264
2.73%
Cappuccino
$5.37 BSD 5.37
$4.54 ₡2,040
18.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 BSD 3.07
$2.75 ₡1,238
11.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 BSD 1.94
$1.86 ₡837
4.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.05 BSD 5.05
$3.35 ₡1,505
50.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.08 BSD 8.08
$4.32 ₡1,944
87.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bahamas
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.02 BSD 4.02
$2.36 ₡1,061
70.34%
White Bread (500g)
$5.69 BSD 5.69
$3.07 ₡1,379
85.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.95 BSD 5.95
$2.51 ₡1,128
137.05%
Eggs
$8.60 BSD 8.60
$3.53 ₡1,585
143.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.09 BSD 13.09
$10.54 ₡4,738
24.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.35 BSD 13.35
$10.57 ₡4,754
26.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.13 BSD 17.13
$13.92 ₡6,261
23.06%
Apples (1kg)
$7.63 BSD 7.63
$5.20 ₡2,338
46.73%
Banana (1kg)
$4.06 BSD 4.06
$1.65 ₡740
146.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.38 BSD 6.38
$4.89 ₡2,198
30.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$10.09 BSD 10.09
$3.84 ₡1,728
162.76%
Potato (1kg)
$3.84 BSD 3.84
$3.91 ₡1,757
-1.79%
Onion (1kg)
$3.67 BSD 3.67
$3.76 ₡1,692
-2.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.42 BSD 4.42
$1.12 ₡504
294.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.93 BSD 2.93
$3.22 ₡1,447
-9.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.75 BSD 14.75
$6.02 ₡2,706
145.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$27.95 BSD 27.95
$19.84 ₡8,919
40.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.45 BSD 4.45
$2.81 ₡1,264
58.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15 BSD 4.15
$3.65 ₡1,643
13.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Bahamas
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.13 BSD 2.13
$1.08 ₡487
97.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$153 BSD 153
$65.2 ₡29.3K
134.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.04 BSD 8.04
$2.26 ₡1,018
255.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.03 BSD 3.03
$1.78 ₡799
70.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$75.1 BSD 75.1
$7.90 ₡3,551
851.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 BSD 1.53
$1.50 ₡673
2.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K BSD 38.1K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
13.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7K BSD 40.7K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-3.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahamas
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$300 BSD 300
$93.2 ₡41.9K
222.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.1 BSD 63.1
$36.13 ₡16.2K
74.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$106 BSD 106
$60.6 ₡27.2K
74.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bahamas
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$115 BSD 115
$68.9 ₡31.0K
67.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.50 BSD 45.50
$24.94 ₡11.2K
82.44%
Cinema Ticket
$19.36 BSD 19.36
$7.67 ₡3,449
152.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bahamas
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$918 BSD 918
$972 ₡436.9K
-5.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.1K BSD 22.1K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
16.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bahamas
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 BSD 53.8
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-23.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$84.2 BSD 84.2
$56.7 ₡25.5K
48.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 BSD 106
$129 ₡57.8K
-17.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 BSD 107
$131 ₡58.8K
-18.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bahamas
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,302 BSD 1,302
$1,170 ₡525.9K
11.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 BSD 1,230
$943 ₡424.1K
30.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,516 BSD 3,516
$1,984 ₡892.0K
77.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,476 BSD 3,476
$1,400 ₡629.5K
148.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,056 BSD 6,056
$2,681 ₡1.2M
125.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,548 BSD 3,548
$2,037 ₡915.8K
74.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bahamas
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,430 BSD 2,430
$987 ₡443.6K
146.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.82
8.62
37.12%

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

Last update for the Bahamas: November 1, 2026

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bahamas
$1.2K
San Jose
$943 23.3% $287
Groceries & Markets
Bahamas
$609
San Jose
$403 33.9% $207
Eating Out
Bahamas
$554
San Jose
$232 58% $321
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahamas
$469
San Jose
$190 59.5% $279
Getting Around
Bahamas
$185
San Jose
$81 56.3% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Bahamas
$158
San Jose
$174 10.3% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Bahamas
$154
San Jose
$84 45.3% $70
Good to know
🇧🇸 Bahamas
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
11:15 11:15 AM
10:15 10:15 AM
1 h behind the Bahamas
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
399,440
342,188 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to BSD – Bahamian Dollar Converter

Bahamian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1 BSD (1 BSD = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 BSD (1 BSD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bahamas San Jose 1,830 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bahamas
  • 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

Bahamas vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?