Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Clovis, NM and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in Clovis, NM: $2,031 a month against $2,107 in San Jose, rent and utilities included – about $910 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Clovis, NM, United States
San Jose, Costa Rica
Clovis, NM
🇺🇸 United States
$2,031
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,031 per month in Clovis, NM vs $2,107 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Clovis, NM $2,031
  • San Jose $2,107

A couple spends around $2,904 per month in Clovis, NM vs $3,081 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Clovis, NM $2,904
  • San Jose $3,081

A family of three spends $3,778 per month in Clovis, NM vs $4,054 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Clovis, NM $3,778
  • San Jose $4,054

Clovis, NM is about 4% cheaper than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Clovis, NM and San Jose sit above the global median – Clovis, NM by 50%, San Jose by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Clovis, NM
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.13 $17.13
$12.37 ₡5,563
38.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.4 $76.4
$62.4 ₡28.0K
22.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 $10.54
$11.71 ₡5,264
-9.99%
Cappuccino
$5.53 $5.53
$4.54 ₡2,040
21.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.75 ₡1,238
4.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.86 ₡837
27.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.40 $5.40
$3.35 ₡1,505
61.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13 $7.13
$4.32 ₡1,944
65.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Clovis, NM
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 $0.70
$2.36 ₡1,061
-70.34%
White Bread (500g)
$4.30 $4.30
$3.07 ₡1,379
40.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.64 $5.64
$2.51 ₡1,128
124.70%
Eggs
$4.15 $4.15
$3.53 ₡1,585
17.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.28 $16.28
$10.54 ₡4,738
54.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$20.44 $20.44
$10.57 ₡4,754
93.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.02 $17.02
$13.92 ₡6,261
22.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.22 $3.22
$5.20 ₡2,338
-38.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.65 ₡740
-20.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$4.89 ₡2,198
-40.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$3.84 ₡1,728
-42.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$3.91 ₡1,757
-62.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$3.76 ₡1,692
-46.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.12 ₡504
62.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.22 ₡1,447
-21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.10 $11.10
$6.02 ₡2,706
84.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.95 $15.95
$19.84 ₡8,919
-19.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.81 ₡1,264
-26.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 $4.21
$3.65 ₡1,643
15.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Clovis, NM
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.08 ₡487
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$65.2 ₡29.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.26 ₡1,018
57.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.78 ₡799
32.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.01 $35.01
$7.90 ₡3,551
343.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.50 ₡673
-32.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-19.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-38.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Clovis, NM
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$252 $252
$93.2 ₡41.9K
170.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.34 $44.34
$36.13 ₡16.2K
22.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$92.5 $92.5
$60.6 ₡27.2K
52.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Clovis, NM
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.16 $18.16
$7.67 ₡3,449
136.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Clovis, NM
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,356 $1,356
$972 ₡436.9K
39.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
22.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Clovis, NM
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6 $60.6
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-14.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9 $56.9
$56.7 ₡25.5K
0.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 $80.4
$129 ₡57.8K
-37.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$131 ₡58.8K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Clovis, NM
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$955 $955
$1,170 ₡525.9K
-18.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$769 $769
$943 ₡424.1K
-18.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 $1,346
$1,984 ₡892.0K
-32.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,079 $1,079
$1,400 ₡629.5K
-22.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,403 $1,403
$2,681 ₡1.2M
-47.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,419 $1,419
$2,037 ₡915.8K
-30.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Clovis, NM
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,287 $5,287
$987 ₡443.6K
435.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.75
8.62
-44.90%

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

Last update for Clovis, NM: November 2, 2026

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Clovis, NM
$769
San Jose
$943 22.6% $174
Groceries & Markets
Clovis, NM
$435
San Jose
$403 7.4% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Clovis, NM
$389
San Jose
$190 51.1% $199
Eating Out
Clovis, NM
$297
San Jose
$232 21.8% $65
Clothing & Footwear
Clovis, NM
$89 *
San Jose
$174 95.4% $85
Sport & Entertainment
Clovis, NM
$36 *
San Jose
$84 132% $48
Getting Around
Clovis, NM
$15 *
San Jose
$81 426% $65

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $955 in Clovis, NM 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.

Salaries in Clovis, NM are about 5.4 times higher, 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 $76 in Clovis, NM versus $62 in San Jose. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $435 vs $403 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Clovis, NM
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
19:38 7:38 PM
20:38 8:38 PM
1 h ahead of Clovis, NM
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
38,567
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 = 0.891 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
  • Clovis, NM San Jose 3,350 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Clovis, NM
  • 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
Clovis, NM vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Clovis, NM or San Jose?
San Jose costs about 4% more than Clovis, NM, 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 Clovis, NM and in San Jose?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,046 per month in Clovis, NM 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, Clovis, NM or San Jose?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Clovis, NM, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $955 there versus $1,170 in San Jose.
How do dining costs compare in Clovis, NM and in San Jose?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Clovis, NM and $62 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 Clovis, NM or in San Jose?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in San Jose – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Clovis, NM or in San Jose?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,031 in Clovis, NM and $2,107 in San Jose. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Clovis, NM or San Jose?
It depends on your priorities. San Jose has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,031 in Clovis, NM to $2,107 in San Jose. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Clovis, NM vs other spots: cost of living compared

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