Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Langley, BC and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,938 a month against $2,460 in Langley, BC, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Langley, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,460
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,938
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,460 per month in Langley, BC vs $1,938 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Langley, BC $2,460
  • San Jose $1,938

A couple spends around $3,555 per month in Langley, BC vs $2,936 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Langley, BC $3,555
  • San Jose $2,936

A family of three spends $4,650 per month in Langley, BC vs $3,934 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Langley, BC $4,650
  • San Jose $3,934

Langley, BC costs about 27% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Langley, BC and San Jose sit above the global median – Langley, BC by 82%, San Jose by 44%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Langley, BC
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.13 CA$27.19
$12.38 ₡5,562
54.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.4 CA$101
$60.9 ₡27.3K
17.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 CA$15.12
$11.45 ₡5,145
-7.07%
Cappuccino
$3.53 CA$5.02
$4.39 ₡1,971
-19.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 CA$3.18
$2.70 ₡1,213
-17.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.49
$1.93 ₡865
-9.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.65 CA$8.03
$3.20 ₡1,436
76.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85 CA$9.74
$4.41 ₡1,982
55.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Langley, BC
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 CA$2.45
$2.44 ₡1,095
-29.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 CA$3.20
$3.05 ₡1,372
-26.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.00 CA$4.27
$2.41 ₡1,083
24.48%
Eggs
$3.77 CA$5.35
$3.40 ₡1,526
10.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.84 CA$15.40
$10.75 ₡4,832
0.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.53 CA$22.07
$10.43 ₡4,688
48.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.20 CA$37.23
$13.99 ₡6,286
87.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 CA$5.20
$5.25 ₡2,357
-30.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 CA$1.61
$1.59 ₡713
-28.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.81 CA$5.41
$4.69 ₡2,107
-18.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.93 CA$5.58
$3.95 ₡1,774
-0.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.40 CA$3.40
$3.92 ₡1,763
-38.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.12 CA$3.01
$3.68 ₡1,655
-42.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 CA$3.18
$1.12 ₡504
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 CA$2.29
$3.19 ₡1,432
-49.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.25 CA$21.67
$6.00 ₡2,697
154.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.49 CA$17.75
$19.56 ₡8,788
-36.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 CA$3.41
$2.82 ₡1,266
-14.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 CA$4.02
$3.59 ₡1,614
-21.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Langley, BC
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 CA$2.54
$1.12 ₡504
58.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.2 CA$103
$66.8 ₡30.0K
8.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 CA$5.01
$2.50 ₡1,121
41.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 CA$2.90
$1.63 ₡734
25.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.50 ₡3,819
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 CA$1.85
$1.56 ₡702
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K CA$38.8K
$22.4K ₡10.1M
21.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$28.4K
$35.6K ₡16.0M
-43.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Langley, BC
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 CA$216
$95.2 ₡42.8K
59.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.48 CA$53.3
$35.58 ₡16.0K
5.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5 CA$74.5
$58.6 ₡26.3K
-10.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Langley, BC
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.20 CA$44.34
$72.7 ₡32.7K
-57.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.18 CA$10.20
$24.85 ₡11.2K
-71.11%
Cinema Ticket
$11.84 CA$16.82
$7.58 ₡3,408
56.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Langley, BC
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,024 CA$1,456
$1,001 ₡449.9K
2.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K CA$15.1K
$17.1K ₡7.7M
-37.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Langley, BC
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.5 CA$88.8
$70.5 ₡31.7K
-11.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$79.7 CA$113
$55.8 ₡25.1K
42.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 CA$114
$130 ₡58.3K
-38.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 CA$185
$131 ₡58.8K
-0.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Langley, BC
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 CA$2,028
$927 ₡416.6K
53.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 CA$1,746
$774 ₡347.9K
58.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 CA$2,970
$1,967 ₡883.7K
6.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,849 CA$2,628
$1,288 ₡578.7K
43.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,619 CA$7,986
$2,274 ₡1.0M
147.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,196 CA$7,386
$1,831 ₡822.6K
183.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Langley, BC
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,041 CA$4,322
$1,016 ₡456.7K
199.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.69
8.62
-45.59%

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

Last update for Langley, BC: 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
Langley, BC
$1.2K
San Jose
$774 37% $454
Groceries & Markets
Langley, BC
$398
San Jose
$401 0.8% $3.2
Eating Out
Langley, BC
$285
San Jose
$229 19.6% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Langley, BC
$242
San Jose
$189 21.7% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Langley, BC
$159
San Jose
$174 9.8% $15
Getting Around
Langley, BC
$93
San Jose
$82 12% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Langley, BC
$55
San Jose
$88 60.1% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,427 in Langley, BC versus $927 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 run about 199% higher in Langley, BC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Langley, BC versus $61.0 in San Jose. Groceries tell a different story – $398 in Langley, BC vs $401 in San Jose – so Langley, BC wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Langley, BC
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
17:38 5:38 PM
18:38 6:38 PM
1 h ahead of Langley, BC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,963
342,188 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 449 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 503 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Langley, BC San Jose 5,630 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Langley, BC
  • 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
Langley, BC vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Jose cheaper than Langley, BC?
Yes – Langley, BC is pricier by about 27%, 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 $3,690 per month in Langley, BC and $2,907 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
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 $1,024 per month in Langley, BC and $1,001 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 Langley, BC or in San Jose?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $1,938, than in Langley, BC at $2,460. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Langley, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Langley, BC 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 safer, Langley, BC or San Jose?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Langley, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Langley, BC vs other spots: cost of living compared

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