Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Branch, NJ and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $2,679 in Long Branch, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Long Branch, NJ, United States
San Jose, Costa Rica
Long Branch, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,679
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,679 per month in Long Branch, NJ vs $2,107 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Long Branch, NJ $2,679
  • San Jose $2,107

A couple spends around $3,965 per month in Long Branch, NJ vs $3,081 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Long Branch, NJ $3,965
  • San Jose $3,081

A family of three spends $5,252 per month in Long Branch, NJ vs $4,054 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Long Branch, NJ $5,252
  • San Jose $4,054

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

Both Long Branch, NJ and San Jose sit above the global median – Long Branch, NJ by 98%, San Jose by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Long Branch, NJ
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.16 $20.16
$12.37 ₡5,563
62.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.6 $75.6
$62.4 ₡28.0K
21.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.22 $13.22
$11.71 ₡5,264
12.89%
Cappuccino
$5.04 $5.04
$4.54 ₡2,040
11.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.75 ₡1,238
2.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.86 ₡837
8.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.90 $3.90
$3.35 ₡1,505
16.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84 $6.84
$4.32 ₡1,944
58.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Long Branch, NJ
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$2.36 ₡1,061
-57.20%
White Bread (500g)
$4.70 $4.70
$3.07 ₡1,379
53.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.51 ₡1,128
72.51%
Eggs
$6.15 $6.15
$3.53 ₡1,585
74.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.39 $10.39
$10.54 ₡4,738
-1.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 $10.45
$10.57 ₡4,754
-1.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.72 $18.72
$13.92 ₡6,261
34.48%
Apples (1kg)
$5.64 $5.64
$5.20 ₡2,338
8.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.65 ₡740
0.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.89 ₡2,198
-31.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$3.84 ₡1,728
-17.97%
Potato (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$3.91 ₡1,757
-42.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 $2.42
$3.76 ₡1,692
-35.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.12 ₡504
147.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$3.22 ₡1,447
-7.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.69 $13.69
$6.02 ₡2,706
127.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.03 $17.03
$19.84 ₡8,919
-14.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.81 ₡1,264
-35.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.65 ₡1,643
-23.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Long Branch, NJ
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.08 ₡487
78.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.7 $55.7
$65.2 ₡29.3K
-14.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.70 $3.70
$2.26 ₡1,018
63.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.78 ₡799
22.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$48.19 $48.19
$7.90 ₡3,551
510.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.50 ₡673
-28.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-18.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-36.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Long Branch, NJ
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$93.2 ₡41.9K
114.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.46 $37.46
$36.13 ₡16.2K
3.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.9 $60.9
$60.6 ₡27.2K
0.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Long Branch, NJ
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.62 $45.62
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-33.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.49 $12.49
$7.67 ₡3,449
62.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Long Branch, NJ
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,119 $2,119
$972 ₡436.9K
118.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.4K $34.4K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
82.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Long Branch, NJ
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.84 $37.84
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-46.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.31 $16.31
$56.7 ₡25.5K
-71.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$129 ₡57.8K
-21.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 $124
$131 ₡58.8K
-5.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Long Branch, NJ
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,566 $1,566
$1,170 ₡525.9K
33.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$943 ₡424.1K
46.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,282 $2,282
$1,984 ₡892.0K
15.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,400 ₡629.5K
69.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,862 $2,862
$2,681 ₡1.2M
6.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,506 $2,506
$2,037 ₡915.8K
23.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Long Branch, NJ
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$987 ₡443.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
8.62
-24.48%

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

Last update for Long Branch, NJ: 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
Long Branch, NJ
$1.4K
San Jose
$943 31.7% $437
Groceries & Markets
Long Branch, NJ
$413
San Jose
$403 2.5% $10
Eating Out
Long Branch, NJ
$314
San Jose
$232 26% $82
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Long Branch, NJ
$298
San Jose
$190 36.3% $108
Clothing & Footwear
Long Branch, NJ
$126
San Jose
$174 38.5% $48
Getting Around
Long Branch, NJ
$78
San Jose
$81 3.5% $2.7
Sport & Entertainment
Long Branch, NJ
$71
San Jose
$84 19.4% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,566 in Long Branch, NJ 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Long Branch, NJ versus $62 in San Jose. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $413 vs $403 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Long Branch, NJ
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
16:22 4:22 PM
15:22 3:22 PM
1 h behind Long Branch, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
32,314
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 = 0.895 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 502 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Long Branch, NJ San Jose 3,520 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Long Branch, NJ
  • 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
Long Branch, NJ vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Long Branch, NJ and in San Jose compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,679 in Long Branch, NJ, $2,107 in San Jose – San Jose comes out roughly 21% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Long Branch, NJ compared to San Jose?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,019 per month in Long Branch, NJ and $3,161 in San Jose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Long Branch, NJ and San Jose?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,170 there versus $1,566 in Long Branch, NJ.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Long Branch, NJ, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Long Branch, NJ and $62 in San Jose. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $2,107, than in Long Branch, NJ at $2,679. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Long Branch, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Long Branch, NJ or San Jose?
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.

Long Branch, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared

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