Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hazelton and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,938 a month against $2,212 in Hazelton, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Hazelton outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Hazelton
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,212
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,212 in Hazelton versus $1,938 in San Jose.

  • Hazelton $2,212
  • San Jose $1,938

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,222 in Hazelton versus $2,936 in San Jose.

  • Hazelton $3,222
  • San Jose $2,936

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,231 in Hazelton versus $3,934 in San Jose.

  • Hazelton $4,231
  • San Jose $3,934

Living in Hazelton is roughly 14% more expensive than in San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hazelton 64% above, San Jose 44% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hazelton
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.65 CA$24.95
$12.38 ₡5,551
42.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.1 CA$90.6
$60.9 ₡27.3K
5.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.48 CA$13.41
$11.45 ₡5,135
-17.21%
Cappuccino
$3.52 CA$4.98
$4.39 ₡1,967
-19.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 CA$2.87
$2.70 ₡1,211
-24.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 CA$2.24
$1.93 ₡864
-17.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.16 CA$7.30
$3.20 ₡1,433
61.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 CA$8.26
$4.41 ₡1,979
32.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hazelton
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.08 CA$2.95
$2.44 ₡1,093
-14.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 CA$3.61
$3.05 ₡1,369
-16.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 CA$4.70
$2.41 ₡1,081
37.76%
Eggs
$3.43 CA$4.85
$3.40 ₡1,523
0.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.70 CA$13.71
$10.75 ₡4,823
-9.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.66 CA$16.48
$10.43 ₡4,679
11.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.50 CA$20.50
$13.99 ₡6,273
3.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 CA$5.34
$5.25 ₡2,353
-28.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 CA$2.09
$1.59 ₡712
-6.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.66 CA$5.17
$4.69 ₡2,103
-21.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.79 CA$5.35
$3.95 ₡1,770
-4.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 CA$3.44
$3.92 ₡1,760
-38.01%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 CA$3.09
$3.68 ₡1,651
-40.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.35 CA$3.32
$1.12 ₡503
109.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.19
$3.19 ₡1,429
-51.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.94 CA$22.53
$6.00 ₡2,692
165.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.64 CA$17.87
$19.56 ₡8,771
-35.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 CA$3.65
$2.82 ₡1,263
-8.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 CA$4.43
$3.59 ₡1,611
-12.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Hazelton
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.39 CA$3.38
$1.12 ₡503
113.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.0 CA$94.8
$66.8 ₡30.0K
0.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.49 CA$3.52
$2.50 ₡1,119
-0.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$1.63 ₡733
-7.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.10 CA$34.07
$8.50 ₡3,812
183.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 CA$1.68
$1.56 ₡701
-23.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K CA$42.6K
$22.4K ₡10.0M
34.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K CA$27.9K
$35.6K ₡16.0M
-44.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hazelton
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 CA$191
$95.2 ₡42.7K
42.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.58 CA$53.1
$35.58 ₡16.0K
5.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 CA$75.1
$58.6 ₡26.3K
-9.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hazelton
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.08 CA$56.7
$72.7 ₡32.6K
-44.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.02 CA$25.48
$24.85 ₡11.1K
-27.48%
Cinema Ticket
$11.07 CA$15.66
$7.58 ₡3,401
46.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hazelton
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$731 CA$1,033
$1,001 ₡449.0K
-27.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K CA$20.7K
$17.1K ₡7.7M
-14.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hazelton
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 CA$74.2
$70.5 ₡31.6K
-25.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.36 CA$54.2
$55.8 ₡25.0K
-31.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 CA$120
$130 ₡58.2K
-34.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 CA$144
$131 ₡58.7K
-22.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hazelton
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,256 CA$1,776
$927 ₡415.8K
35.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,098 CA$1,553
$774 ₡347.2K
41.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,943 CA$2,747
$1,967 ₡882.0K
-1.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,714 CA$2,422
$1,288 ₡577.6K
33.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,960 CA$5,599
$2,274 ₡1.0M
74.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,147 CA$4,450
$1,831 ₡821.0K
71.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hazelton
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,080 CA$2,940
$1,016 ₡455.8K
104.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.66
8.62
-45.94%

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

Last update for Hazelton: October 12, 2026

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hazelton
$1.1K
San Jose
$774 29.5% $324
Groceries & Markets
Hazelton
$350
San Jose
$401 14.7% $51
Eating Out
Hazelton
$264
San Jose
$229 13.1% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hazelton
$226
San Jose
$189 16.2% $37
Clothing & Footwear
Hazelton
$125
San Jose
$174 39.5% $49
Getting Around
Hazelton
$87
San Jose
$82 5.4% $4.6
Sport & Entertainment
Hazelton
$62
San Jose
$88 41.2% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,256 in Hazelton and $927 in San Jose. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hazelton pays 105% 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: $64.0 in Hazelton vs $61.0 in San Jose. Groceries flip the comparison at $350 vs $401, with Hazelton cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Hazelton
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
14:23 2:23 PM
15:23 3:23 PM
1 h ahead of Hazelton
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
257
342,188 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 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
  • Hazelton San Jose 6,310 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hazelton
  • 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
Hazelton vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hazelton and in San Jose?
Hazelton and San Jose differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,212 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: Hazelton or San Jose?
Average pay runs 105% higher in Hazelton, 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 Hazelton and in San Jose?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,256 in Hazelton versus $927 in San Jose. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Hazelton and in San Jose?
A monthly transit pass in San Jose runs roughly 0% less than in Hazelton. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hazelton and San Jose?
Childcare runs $731 in Hazelton 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 is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,938 in San Jose versus $2,212 in Hazelton, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Hazelton. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hazelton 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: Hazelton or San Jose?
Expats usually find San Jose gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Hazelton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Hazelton vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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