Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Scott, KS and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,924 a month against $2,480 in Fort Scott, KS, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Fort Scott, KS outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Fort Scott, KS
🇺🇸 United States
$2,480
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,924
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,480 per month in Fort Scott, KS vs $1,924 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Fort Scott, KS $2,480
  • San Jose $1,924

A couple spends around $3,004 per month in Fort Scott, KS vs $2,926 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Fort Scott, KS $3,004
  • San Jose $2,926

A family of three spends $3,527 per month in Fort Scott, KS vs $3,929 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Fort Scott, KS $3,527
  • San Jose $3,929

Fort Scott, KS costs about 29% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Fort Scott, KS and San Jose sit above the global median – Fort Scott, KS by 83%, San Jose by 42%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Scott, KS
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.44 $16.44
$12.29 ₡5,513
33.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.7 $77.7
$62.3 ₡27.9K
24.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 $9.47
$11.53 ₡5,171
-17.87%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$4.35 ₡1,953
29.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.64 ₡1,183
-19.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.86 ₡836
-12.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.15 $6.15
$3.32 ₡1,490
85.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80 $6.80
$4.52 ₡2,026
50.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Scott, KS
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$2.39 ₡1,073
-59.41%
White Bread (500g)
$4.02 $4.02
$3.08 ₡1,381
30.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.92 $5.92
$2.50 ₡1,119
136.80%
Eggs
$5.34 $5.34
$3.48 ₡1,562
53.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 $8.21
$10.74 ₡4,815
-23.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.73 $8.73
$10.32 ₡4,629
-15.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.60 $13.60
$14.10 ₡6,325
-3.55%
Apples (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$5.03 ₡2,256
-8.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.59 ₡714
-4.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$4.84 ₡2,171
-44.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$3.96 ₡1,776
16.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$3.76 ₡1,684
-48.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.73 ₡1,674
-33.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.08 ₡485
39.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$3.25 ₡1,456
-38.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.07 $9.07
$5.86 ₡2,627
54.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.64 $18.64
$20.28 ₡9,095
-8.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.90 ₡1,300
-13.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.73 ₡1,673
17.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Scott, KS
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.08 ₡486
70.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$65.5 ₡29.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.50 ₡1,123
23.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.63 ₡732
22.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.87 $31.87
$8.71 ₡3,904
265.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.58 ₡709
-36.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$33.6K ₡15.1M
-19.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$41.7K ₡18.7M
-37.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Scott, KS
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 $176
$93.7 ₡42.0K
87.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.6 $55.6
$35.42 ₡15.9K
56.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.2 $63.2
$60.0 ₡26.9K
5.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Scott, KS
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.63 $38.63
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-46.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.83 ₡11.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.05 $10.05
$7.74 ₡3,471
29.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Scott, KS
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,056 $1,056
$1,005 ₡450.9K
5.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.9K $25.9K
$16.9K ₡7.6M
53.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Scott, KS
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 $59.1
$73.1 ₡32.8K
-19.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 $50.6
$55.4 ₡24.9K
-8.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$128 ₡57.5K
-13.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$130 ₡58.5K
-7.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Scott, KS
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,625 $1,625
$932 ₡418.0K
74.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,297 $1,297
$760 ₡340.8K
70.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,552 $2,552
$1,922 ₡862.0K
32.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$878 $878
$1,276 ₡572.1K
-31.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,522 $2,522
$2,301 ₡1.0M
9.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,721 $2,721
$1,833 ₡821.9K
48.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Scott, KS
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,029 ₡461.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.77
8.62
-21.46%

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

Last update for Fort Scott, KS: October 20, 2026

Last update for San Jose: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Fort Scott, KS
$1.3K
San Jose
$760 41.4% $537
Groceries & Markets
Fort Scott, KS
$369
San Jose
$403 9.1% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Scott, KS
$295
San Jose
$189 35.9% $106
Eating Out
Fort Scott, KS
$287
San Jose
$229 20.2% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Fort Scott, KS
$153
San Jose
$174 13.6% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Fort Scott, KS
$59
San Jose
$88 50% $29
Getting Around
Fort Scott, KS
$20 *
San Jose
$80 295% $60

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,625 in Fort Scott, KS versus $932 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 $78.0 in Fort Scott, KS versus $62.0 in San Jose. Groceries tell a different story – $369 in Fort Scott, KS vs $403 in San Jose – so Fort Scott, KS wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Fort Scott, KS
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
17:02 5:02 PM
16:02 4:02 PM
1 h behind Fort Scott, KS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
7,700
342,188 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Fort Scott, KS San Jose 3,280 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Fort Scott, KS
  • 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
Fort Scott, KS vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Scott, KS or San Jose?
Fort Scott, KS costs about 29% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Fort Scott, KS and in San Jose?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,721 per month in Fort Scott, KS and $2,886 in San Jose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Fort Scott, KS or San Jose?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Fort Scott, KS compared to San Jose?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,480 in Fort Scott, KS and $1,924 in San Jose. That's a gap of about 29%.
How do childcare costs compare in Fort Scott, KS and in San Jose?
Kindergarten costs $1,056 per month in Fort Scott, KS and $1,005 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 Fort Scott, KS or in San Jose?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $1,924, than in Fort Scott, KS at $2,480. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort Scott, KS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fort Scott, KS or San Jose?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. San Jose costs $1,924 versus $2,480 in Fort Scott, KS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Fort Scott, KS or to San Jose?
If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fort Scott, KS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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