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: $1,922 in Escazu versus $1,969 in San Jose.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,968 in Escazu versus $2,939 in San Jose.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,014 in Escazu versus $3,908 in San Jose.

Living in Escazu costs roughly 2% less than in San Jose, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Escazu 40% above, San Jose 44% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.15 ₡5,401

$12.34 ₡5,486

-1.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 ₡26.2K

$59.9 ₡26.6K

-1.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.48 ₡5,101

$11.40 ₡5,066

0.70%

Cappuccino

$4.30 ₡1,912

$4.31 ₡1,914

-0.23%

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

$2.68 ₡1,192

$2.71 ₡1,203

-1.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₡858

$1.88 ₡835

2.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 ₡1,469

$3.25 ₡1,443

1.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 ₡1,926

$4.41 ₡1,962

-1.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₡1,040

$2.35 ₡1,044

-0.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₡1,391

$3.15 ₡1,401

-0.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,076

$2.47 ₡1,096

-2.02%

Eggs

$3.52 ₡1,565

$3.51 ₡1,561

0.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 ₡4,890

$10.74 ₡4,771

2.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.60 ₡4,713

$10.56 ₡4,694

0.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.12 ₡6,278

$14.35 ₡6,377

-1.60%

Apples (1kg)

$5.07 ₡2,253

$5.21 ₡2,317

-2.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡714

$1.68 ₡746

-4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,422

$4.90 ₡2,179

-34.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 ₡1,403

$4.02 ₡1,785

-21.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 ₡1,675

$3.79 ₡1,684

-0.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 ₡1,651

$3.69 ₡1,640

0.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₡445

$1.08 ₡479

-7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₡759

$3.16 ₡1,405

-45.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.54 ₡2,461

$6.11 ₡2,714

-9.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.25 ₡8,556

$20.20 ₡8,980

-4.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₡743

$2.94 ₡1,309

-43.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ₡1,232

$3.58 ₡1,592

-22.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.11 ₡495

$1.13 ₡502

-1.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₡29.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₡932

$2.43 ₡1,081

-13.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡726

$1.64 ₡727

-0.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 ₡3,896

$8.79 ₡3,906

-0.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡652

$1.54 ₡686

-4.55%

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

$21.8K ₡9.7M

$21.9K ₡9.8M

-0.46%

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

$34.7K ₡15.4M

$34.6K ₡15.4M

0.23%

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

$97.4 ₡43.3K

$95.4 ₡42.4K

2.15%

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

$30.08 ₡13.4K

$36.83 ₡16.4K

-18.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 ₡28.0K

$63.4 ₡28.2K

-0.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 ₡48.4K

$74.2 ₡33.0K

46.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 ₡4,427

$25.97 ₡11.5K

-61.65%

Cinema Ticket

$8.36 ₡3,715

$8.49 ₡3,775

-1.53%

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

$450 ₡199.9K

$1,001 ₡444.8K

-55.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K ₡7.5M

$17.4K ₡7.7M

-2.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.7 ₡32.3K

$73.4 ₡32.6K

-0.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.6K

$57.5 ₡25.6K

-3.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 ₡58.9K

$128 ₡56.9K

3.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 ₡59.7K

$135 ₡60.1K

-0.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 ₡374.7K

$965 ₡428.7K

-12.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$836 ₡371.6K

$769 ₡341.7K

8.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,922 ₡854.0K

$1,911 ₡849.5K

0.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,497 ₡665.2K

$1,301 ₡578.3K

15.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,378 ₡612.4K

$2,319 ₡1.0M

-40.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$945 ₡420.1K

$1,793 ₡796.8K

-47.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,803 ₡801.3K

$1,071 ₡475.8K

68.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Escazu: September 15, 2026

Last update for San Jose: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $843 in Escazu and $965 in San Jose. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Escazu pays 68% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $59.0 in Escazu vs $60.0 in San Jose for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $406 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

Escazu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 68% higher in Escazu, 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: $843 in Escazu versus $965 in San Jose. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in San Jose. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,922 per month in Escazu versus $1,969 in San Jose – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,922 in Escazu versus $1,969 in San Jose, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Escazu but tight or insufficient in San Jose. The gap between the two cities makes Escazu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Escazu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in San Jose, 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 Escazu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in San Jose. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.