Cost of Living Comparison Between Escazu and San Jose Cost of Living Comparison Between Escazu and San Jose

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,032 in Escazu versus $1,557 in San Jose.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,800 in Escazu versus $2,467 in San Jose.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,569 in Escazu versus $3,377 in San Jose.

Living in Escazu is roughly 31% more expensive than San Jose, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Escazu 52% above, San Jose 16% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.96 ₡4,993

$11.03 ₡5,023

-0.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.7 ₡27.2K

$60.5 ₡27.5K

-1.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 ₡4,512

$10.09 ₡4,598

-1.88%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,777

$3.78 ₡1,720

3.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₡937

$1.97 ₡899

4.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₡758

$1.57 ₡717

5.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,374

$2.96 ₡1,349

2.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 ₡2,120

$4.69 ₡2,137

-0.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡938

$2.03 ₡926

1.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 ₡1,252

$2.77 ₡1,263

-0.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,008

$2.22 ₡1,012

-0.45%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,340

$2.92 ₡1,328

0.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.86 ₡4,492

$10.23 ₡4,660

-3.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.28 ₡4,226

$9.02 ₡4,109

2.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 ₡6,254

$13.94 ₡6,349

-1.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 ₡2,110

$4.62 ₡2,104

0.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₡679

$1.47 ₡669

1.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 ₡1,919

$4.30 ₡1,960

-2.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,459

$3.40 ₡1,550

-5.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,627

$3.39 ₡1,543

5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 ₡1,475

$3.19 ₡1,452

1.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡431

$1.01 ₡459

-5.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₡1,347

$2.92 ₡1,328

1.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 ₡2,200

$5.18 ₡2,359

-6.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.74 ₡8,537

$21.79 ₡9,925

-14.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₡804

$2.49 ₡1,133

-29.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₡1,244

$2.95 ₡1,345

-7.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡439

$1.03 ₡469

-6.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.53 ₡18.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 ₡758

$1.80 ₡821

-7.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡806

$1.85 ₡841

-4.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₡3,688

$7.96 ₡3,624

1.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡633

$1.46 ₡664

-4.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.4K ₡14.3M

$37.9K ₡17.2M

-17.19%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$32.7K ₡14.9M

-0.53%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$66.2 ₡30.2K

$94.3 ₡42.9K

-29.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.87 ₡11.8K

$26.12 ₡11.9K

-0.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 ₡22.8K

$59.4 ₡27.1K

-15.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 ₡49.1K

$55.7 ₡25.4K

93.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.16 ₡4,629

$37.69 ₡17.2K

-73.04%

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 ₡4,454

$9.68 ₡4,410

1.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$580 ₡264.0K

$570 ₡259.8K

1.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₡6.5M

$12.7K ₡5.8M

12.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 ₡28.1K

$63.7 ₡29.0K

-3.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 ₡23.3K

$52.2 ₡23.8K

-1.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡57.5K

$127 ₡57.7K

-0.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₡48.0K

$107 ₡48.9K

-1.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 ₡485.3K

$872 ₡397.1K

22.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 ₡482.4K

$536 ₡244.2K

97.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,681 ₡765.7K

$1,439 ₡655.6K

16.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₡597.5K

$1,032 ₡470.1K

27.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 ₡740.0K

$2,332 ₡1.1M

-30.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,132 ₡515.8K

$1,797 ₡818.8K

-37.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,759 ₡801.2K

$1,050 ₡478.1K

67.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Escazu: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Jose: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,065 in Escazu and $872 in San Jose. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Escazu pays 68% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $60.0 in Escazu vs $60.0 in San Jose for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $370 per month, with Escazu cheaper across the board.

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

Escazu vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Escazu pays 68% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,065 in Escazu versus $872 in San Jose. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Escazu pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,032 per month in Escazu versus $1,557 in San Jose – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,557 in San Jose versus $2,032 in Escazu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Escazu. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, San Jose is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Escazu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Escazu and San Jose are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find San Jose gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.