Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Evansville, IN and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,938 a month against $2,292 in Evansville, IN, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Evansville, IN outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Evansville, IN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,292
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,292 in Evansville, IN versus $1,938 in San Jose.

  • Evansville, IN $2,292
  • San Jose $1,938

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,424 in Evansville, IN versus $2,936 in San Jose.

  • Evansville, IN $3,424
  • San Jose $2,936

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,555 in Evansville, IN versus $3,934 in San Jose.

  • Evansville, IN $4,555
  • San Jose $3,934

Living in Evansville, IN is roughly 18% more expensive than in San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Evansville, IN 70% above, San Jose 44% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Evansville, IN
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.90 $19.90
$12.38 ₡5,551
60.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 $60.2
$60.9 ₡27.3K
-1.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.08 $12.08
$11.45 ₡5,135
5.50%
Cappuccino
$5.03 $5.03
$4.39 ₡1,967
14.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.70 ₡1,211
-4.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.93 ₡864
-0.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.10 $5.10
$3.20 ₡1,433
59.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.93 $6.93
$4.41 ₡1,979
57.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Evansville, IN
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$2.44 ₡1,093
-66.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.05 ₡1,369
-17.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$2.41 ₡1,081
102.07%
Eggs
$3.23 $3.23
$3.40 ₡1,523
-5.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 $9.39
$10.75 ₡4,823
-12.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.63 $6.63
$10.43 ₡4,679
-36.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.33 $17.33
$13.99 ₡6,273
23.87%
Apples (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$5.25 ₡2,353
3.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.59 ₡712
-5.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$4.69 ₡2,103
4.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$3.95 ₡1,770
11.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$3.92 ₡1,760
-37.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.90 $2.90
$3.68 ₡1,651
-21.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.12 ₡503
79.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$3.19 ₡1,429
-34.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.73 $8.73
$6.00 ₡2,692
45.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.80 $11.80
$19.56 ₡8,771
-39.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.82 ₡1,263
-34.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.59 ₡1,611
-25.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Evansville, IN
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.12 ₡503
81.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.7 $59.7
$66.8 ₡30.0K
-10.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.50 ₡1,119
-18.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.63 ₡733
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.19 $34.19
$8.50 ₡3,812
302.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.56 ₡701
-42.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K $36.5K
$22.4K ₡10.0M
63.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$35.6K ₡16.0M
-26.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Evansville, IN
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$231 $231
$95.2 ₡42.7K
142.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.0 $61.0
$35.58 ₡16.0K
71.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$58.6 ₡26.3K
8.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Evansville, IN
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.50 $40.50
$72.7 ₡32.6K
-44.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.53 $24.53
$24.85 ₡11.1K
-1.29%
Cinema Ticket
$12.08 $12.08
$7.58 ₡3,401
59.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Evansville, IN
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$280 $280
$1,001 ₡449.0K
-72.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.5K $24.5K
$17.1K ₡7.7M
43.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Evansville, IN
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4 $57.4
$70.5 ₡31.6K
-18.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.53 $41.53
$55.8 ₡25.0K
-25.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.8 $80.8
$130 ₡58.2K
-37.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$131 ₡58.7K
10.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Evansville, IN
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,163 $1,163
$927 ₡415.8K
25.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$994 $994
$774 ₡347.2K
28.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,776 $1,776
$1,967 ₡882.0K
-9.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,782 $1,782
$1,288 ₡577.6K
38.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,509 $1,509
$2,274 ₡1.0M
-33.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,537 $1,537
$1,831 ₡821.0K
-16.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Evansville, IN
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,368 $3,368
$1,016 ₡455.8K
231.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
8.62
-23.78%

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

Last update for Evansville, IN: October 11, 2026

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Evansville, IN
$994
San Jose
$774 22.1% $220
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Evansville, IN
$356
San Jose
$189 46.8% $166
Groceries & Markets
Evansville, IN
$341
San Jose
$401 17.6% $60
Eating Out
Evansville, IN
$313
San Jose
$229 26.8% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Evansville, IN
$146
San Jose
$174 19.5% $28
Getting Around
Evansville, IN
$78
San Jose
$82 5% $3.9
Sport & Entertainment
Evansville, IN
$65
San Jose
$88 35.8% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,163 in Evansville, IN and $927 in San Jose. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Evansville, IN pays 231% 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 Evansville, IN vs $61.0 in San Jose for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $341 vs $401 per month, with Evansville, IN cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Evansville, IN
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
20:31 8:31 PM
19:31 7:31 PM
1 h behind Evansville, IN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
115,738
342,188 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Evansville, IN San Jose 3,140 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Evansville, IN
  • 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
Evansville, IN vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Evansville, IN and in San Jose?
Evansville, IN and San Jose differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($2,292 vs $1,938 including rent). San Jose is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Evansville, IN or San Jose?
Average pay runs 231% higher in Evansville, IN, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Evansville, IN and in San Jose?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,163 in Evansville, IN versus $927 in San Jose. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Evansville, IN and San Jose?
Childcare runs $280 in Evansville, IN versus $1,001 in San Jose. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Evansville, IN pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,938 in San Jose versus $2,292 in Evansville, IN, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Evansville, IN. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Evansville, IN and San Jose?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Evansville, IN or San Jose?
Expats usually find San Jose gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Evansville, IN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Evansville, IN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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