Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge, OH and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $2,622 in Cambridge, OH, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cambridge, OH, United States
San Jose, Costa Rica
Cambridge, OH
🇺🇸 United States
$2,622
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cambridge, OH 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 Cambridge, OH and in San Jose actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,622 per month in Cambridge, OH vs $2,107 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Cambridge, OH $2,622
  • San Jose $2,107

A couple spends around $3,832 per month in Cambridge, OH vs $3,081 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Cambridge, OH $3,832
  • San Jose $3,081

A family of three spends $5,043 per month in Cambridge, OH vs $4,054 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Cambridge, OH $5,043
  • San Jose $4,054

Cambridge, OH costs about 24% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Cambridge, OH and San Jose sit above the global median – Cambridge, OH by 94%, San Jose by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cambridge, OH
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.53 $14.53
$12.37 ₡5,563
17.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.8 $70.8
$62.4 ₡28.0K
13.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.05 $10.05
$11.71 ₡5,264
-14.18%
Cappuccino
$4.23 $4.23
$4.54 ₡2,040
-6.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.75 ₡1,238
-9.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.86 ₡837
0.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.20 $10.20
$3.35 ₡1,505
204.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.19 $12.19
$4.32 ₡1,944
182.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cambridge, OH
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$2.36 ₡1,061
-68.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 $2.77
$3.07 ₡1,379
-9.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$2.51 ₡1,128
52.99%
Eggs
$3.74 $3.74
$3.53 ₡1,585
5.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.80 $13.80
$10.54 ₡4,738
30.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.72 $24.72
$10.57 ₡4,754
133.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.73 $16.73
$13.92 ₡6,261
20.19%
Apples (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$5.20 ₡2,338
9.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.65 ₡740
17.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.89 $6.89
$4.89 ₡2,198
40.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.43 $5.43
$3.84 ₡1,728
41.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$3.91 ₡1,757
-31.71%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 $3.13
$3.76 ₡1,692
-16.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.12 ₡504
105.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.22 ₡1,447
-15.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.23 $10.23
$6.02 ₡2,706
69.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.85 $19.85
$19.84 ₡8,919
0.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.81 ₡1,264
-39.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 $6.14
$3.65 ₡1,643
68.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Cambridge, OH
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.08 ₡487
60.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 $52.9
$65.2 ₡29.3K
-18.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.37 $3.37
$2.26 ₡1,018
49.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.78 ₡799
11.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.34 $32.34
$7.90 ₡3,551
309.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.50 ₡673
-25.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-18.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-38.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cambridge, OH
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$93.2 ₡41.9K
114.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.0 $51.0
$36.13 ₡16.2K
41.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$60.6 ₡27.2K
-3.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cambridge, OH
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.84 $35.84
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-48.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.45 $14.45
$7.67 ₡3,449
88.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cambridge, OH
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$536 $536
$972 ₡436.9K
-44.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K $11.1K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
-40.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cambridge, OH
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.54 $40.54
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-42.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.90 $47.90
$56.7 ₡25.5K
-15.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.0 $71.0
$129 ₡57.8K
-44.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$131 ₡58.8K
-8.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cambridge, OH
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 $1,644
$1,170 ₡525.9K
40.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,266 $1,266
$943 ₡424.1K
34.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,562 $2,562
$1,984 ₡892.0K
29.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,071 $2,071
$1,400 ₡629.5K
47.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,887 $2,887
$2,681 ₡1.2M
7.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,496 $2,496
$2,037 ₡915.8K
22.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cambridge, OH
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$987 ₡443.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
8.62
-21.81%

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

Last update for Cambridge, OH: 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
Cambridge, OH
$1.3K
San Jose
$943 25.5% $323
Groceries & Markets
Cambridge, OH
$492
San Jose
$403 18.2% $89
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cambridge, OH
$310
San Jose
$190 38.6% $120
Eating Out
Cambridge, OH
$290
San Jose
$232 19.8% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Cambridge, OH
$126
San Jose
$174 38.3% $48
Getting Around
Cambridge, OH
$73
San Jose
$81 10.3% $7.5
Sport & Entertainment
Cambridge, OH
$65
San Jose
$84 30.2% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,644 in Cambridge, OH versus $1,170 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Cambridge, OH versus $62 in San Jose. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $492 vs $403 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Cambridge, OH
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
10:24 10:24 AM
09:24 9:24 AM
1 h behind Cambridge, OH
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
105,162
342,188 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 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
  • Cambridge, OH San Jose 3,360 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cambridge, OH
  • 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
Cambridge, OH vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cambridge, OH or San Jose?
Cambridge, OH costs about 24% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Cambridge, OH and in San Jose?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,932 per month in Cambridge, OH and $3,161 in San Jose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cambridge, OH or San Jose?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,170 there versus $1,644 in Cambridge, OH.
How expensive is transport in Cambridge, OH compared to San Jose?
Public transport costs about 19% less in Cambridge, OH. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Cambridge, OH and in San Jose?
Kindergarten costs $536 per month in Cambridge, OH and $972 in San Jose. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Cambridge, OH or in San Jose?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $2,107, than in Cambridge, OH at $2,622. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cambridge, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Cambridge, OH or San Jose?
It depends on your priorities. San Jose has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,107 in San Jose to $2,622 in Cambridge, OH. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Cambridge, OH vs other spots: cost of living compared

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