Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hagerstown, MD and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $2,490 in Hagerstown, MD, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hagerstown, MD, United States
San Jose, Costa Rica
Hagerstown, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$2,490
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,490 per month in Hagerstown, MD vs $2,107 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Hagerstown, MD $2,490
  • San Jose $2,107

A couple spends around $3,639 per month in Hagerstown, MD vs $3,081 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Hagerstown, MD $3,639
  • San Jose $3,081

A family of three spends $4,787 per month in Hagerstown, MD vs $4,054 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Hagerstown, MD $4,787
  • San Jose $4,054

Hagerstown, MD costs about 18% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Hagerstown, MD and San Jose sit above the global median – Hagerstown, MD by 84%, San Jose by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hagerstown, MD
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.22 $15.22
$12.37 ₡5,563
23.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.5 $76.5
$62.4 ₡28.0K
22.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.87 $10.87
$11.71 ₡5,264
-7.17%
Cappuccino
$5.82 $5.82
$4.54 ₡2,040
28.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.75 ₡1,238
-22.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.86 ₡837
25.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.39 $6.39
$3.35 ₡1,505
90.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.29 $8.29
$4.32 ₡1,944
91.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hagerstown, MD
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$2.36 ₡1,061
-63.14%
White Bread (500g)
$4.08 $4.08
$3.07 ₡1,379
32.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$2.51 ₡1,128
74.90%
Eggs
$3.73 $3.73
$3.53 ₡1,585
5.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.89 $6.89
$10.54 ₡4,738
-34.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.12 $13.12
$10.57 ₡4,754
24.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.88 $22.88
$13.92 ₡6,261
64.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$5.20 ₡2,338
-13.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.65 ₡740
-32.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$4.89 ₡2,198
-16.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$3.84 ₡1,728
-29.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.42 $2.42
$3.91 ₡1,757
-38.11%
Onion (1kg)
$3.80 $3.80
$3.76 ₡1,692
1.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.12 ₡504
106.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.22 ₡1,447
-21.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.60 $9.60
$6.02 ₡2,706
59.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.06 $15.06
$19.84 ₡8,919
-24.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.81 ₡1,264
2.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.65 ₡1,643
-20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Hagerstown, MD
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.08 ₡487
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.7 $60.7
$65.2 ₡29.3K
-6.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.26 ₡1,018
93.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.78 ₡799
-6.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.22 $33.22
$7.90 ₡3,551
320.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.50 ₡673
-38.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-11.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-42.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hagerstown, MD
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$166 $166
$93.2 ₡41.9K
78.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7 $52.7
$36.13 ₡16.2K
45.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$60.6 ₡27.2K
3.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hagerstown, MD
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.2 $50.2
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-27.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.26 $18.26
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-26.78%
Cinema Ticket
$10.03 $10.03
$7.67 ₡3,449
30.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hagerstown, MD
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,892 $1,892
$972 ₡436.9K
94.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,875 $9,875
$18.9K ₡8.5M
-47.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hagerstown, MD
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6 $54.6
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-22.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.96 $19.96
$56.7 ₡25.5K
-64.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.8 $97.8
$129 ₡57.8K
-23.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 $164
$131 ₡58.8K
25.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hagerstown, MD
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,421 $1,421
$1,170 ₡525.9K
21.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 $1,222
$943 ₡424.1K
29.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,957 $1,957
$1,984 ₡892.0K
-1.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,934 $1,934
$1,400 ₡629.5K
38.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,039 $2,039
$2,681 ₡1.2M
-23.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,008 $2,008
$2,037 ₡915.8K
-1.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hagerstown, MD
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,381 $5,381
$987 ₡443.6K
445.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
8.62
-24.71%

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

Last update for Hagerstown, MD: November 1, 2026

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hagerstown, MD
$1.2K
San Jose
$943 22.8% $279
Groceries & Markets
Hagerstown, MD
$401
San Jose
$403 0.4% $1.6
Eating Out
Hagerstown, MD
$291
San Jose
$232 20% $58
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hagerstown, MD
$282
San Jose
$190 32.7% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Hagerstown, MD
$151
San Jose
$174 15.1% $23
Getting Around
Hagerstown, MD
$73 *
San Jose
$81 10.1% $7.4
Sport & Entertainment
Hagerstown, MD
$70
San Jose
$84 19.9% $14

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,421 in Hagerstown, MD 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 Hagerstown, MD are about 5.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Hagerstown, MD versus $62 in San Jose. Groceries tell a different story – $401 in Hagerstown, MD vs $403 in San Jose – so Hagerstown, MD wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hagerstown, MD
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
09:21 9:21 AM
08:21 8:21 AM
1 h behind Hagerstown, MD
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
39,008
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 = 0.89 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
  • Hagerstown, MD San Jose 3,360 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hagerstown, MD
  • 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
Hagerstown, MD vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hagerstown, MD or San Jose?
Hagerstown, MD costs about 18% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Hagerstown, MD and in San Jose?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,735 per month in Hagerstown, MD 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, Hagerstown, MD or San Jose?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,170 there versus $1,421 in Hagerstown, MD.
How do dining costs compare in Hagerstown, MD and in San Jose?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Hagerstown, MD and $62 in San Jose. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Hagerstown, MD compared to San Jose?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Hagerstown, MD. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward San Jose – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Hagerstown, MD or to San Jose?
If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hagerstown, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Hagerstown, MD vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?