Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hollywood, FL and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $3,266 in Hollywood, FL, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hollywood, FL, United States
San Jose, Costa Rica
Hollywood, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,266
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,266 per month in Hollywood, FL vs $2,107 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Hollywood, FL $3,266
  • San Jose $2,107

A couple spends around $4,927 per month in Hollywood, FL vs $3,081 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Hollywood, FL $4,927
  • San Jose $3,081

A family of three spends $6,588 per month in Hollywood, FL vs $4,054 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Hollywood, FL $6,588
  • San Jose $4,054

Hollywood, FL costs about 55% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Hollywood, FL and San Jose sit above the global median – Hollywood, FL by 142%, San Jose by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hollywood, FL
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.57 $29.57
$12.37 ₡5,563
139.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121 $121
$62.4 ₡28.0K
94.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.10 $12.10
$11.71 ₡5,264
3.33%
Cappuccino
$5.46 $5.46
$4.54 ₡2,040
20.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 $3.38
$2.75 ₡1,238
22.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.86 ₡837
53.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.59 $7.59
$3.35 ₡1,505
126.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.04 $10.04
$4.32 ₡1,944
132.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hollywood, FL
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$2.36 ₡1,061
-50.42%
White Bread (500g)
$4.01 $4.01
$3.07 ₡1,379
30.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.94 $5.94
$2.51 ₡1,128
136.65%
Eggs
$5.20 $5.20
$3.53 ₡1,585
47.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.71 $15.71
$10.54 ₡4,738
49.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.47 $16.47
$10.57 ₡4,754
55.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 $17.64
$13.92 ₡6,261
26.72%
Apples (1kg)
$5.59 $5.59
$5.20 ₡2,338
7.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.65 ₡740
36.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.60 $4.60
$4.89 ₡2,198
-5.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$3.84 ₡1,728
15.89%
Potato (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$3.91 ₡1,757
-18.41%
Onion (1kg)
$3.51 $3.51
$3.76 ₡1,692
-6.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.12 ₡504
164.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.22 ₡1,447
-20.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.21 $9.21
$6.02 ₡2,706
52.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.71 $14.71
$19.84 ₡8,919
-25.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.81 ₡1,264
-21.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$3.65 ₡1,643
-12.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Hollywood, FL
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.08 ₡487
86.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.3 $71.3
$65.2 ₡29.3K
9.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.26 ₡1,018
27.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.78 ₡799
1.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.58 $23.58
$7.90 ₡3,551
198.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.50 ₡673
-30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-17.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-38.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hollywood, FL
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 $143
$93.2 ₡41.9K
52.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.9 $63.9
$36.13 ₡16.2K
76.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.1 $75.1
$60.6 ₡27.2K
23.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hollywood, FL
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 $60.2
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-12.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.79 $16.79
$7.67 ₡3,449
118.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hollywood, FL
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,479 $1,479
$972 ₡436.9K
52.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.1K $33.1K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
75.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hollywood, FL
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.0 $62.0
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-12.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$56.7 ₡25.5K
-10.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.4 $98.4
$129 ₡57.8K
-23.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$131 ₡58.8K
-9.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hollywood, FL
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,239 $2,239
$1,170 ₡525.9K
91.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,763 $1,763
$943 ₡424.1K
86.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,579 $3,579
$1,984 ₡892.0K
80.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,998 $2,998
$1,400 ₡629.5K
114.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,244 $7,244
$2,681 ₡1.2M
170.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,818 $3,818
$2,037 ₡915.8K
87.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hollywood, FL
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,774 $3,774
$987 ₡443.6K
282.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
8.62
-21.81%

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

Last update for Hollywood, FL: November 2, 2026

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hollywood, FL
$1.8K
San Jose
$943 46.5% $820
Groceries & Markets
Hollywood, FL
$467
San Jose
$403 13.8% $64
Eating Out
Hollywood, FL
$421
San Jose
$232 44.8% $189
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hollywood, FL
$282
San Jose
$190 32.6% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Hollywood, FL
$148
San Jose
$174 17.4% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Hollywood, FL
$94
San Jose
$84 10.1% $9.5
Getting Around
Hollywood, FL
$91
San Jose
$81 11.5% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,239 in Hollywood, FL 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 Hollywood, FL are about 3.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Hollywood, FL versus $62 in San Jose. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $467 vs $403 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hollywood, FL
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
07:39 7:39 AM
06:39 6:39 AM
1 h behind Hollywood, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
167,664
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
  • Hollywood, FL San Jose 1,840 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hollywood, FL
  • 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
Hollywood, FL vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Jose cheaper than Hollywood, FL?
Yes – Hollywood, FL is pricier by about 55%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,900 per month in Hollywood, FL and $3,161 in San Jose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,170 there versus $2,239 in Hollywood, FL.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 8% less in San Jose. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,479 per month in Hollywood, FL and $972 in San Jose. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Hollywood, FL or in San Jose?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $2,107, than in Hollywood, FL at $3,266. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hollywood, FL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Hollywood, FL or San Jose more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hollywood, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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