Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Longmont, CO and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $2,932 in Longmont, CO, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Longmont, CO, United States
San Jose, Costa Rica
Longmont, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,932
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,932 in Longmont, CO versus $2,107 in San Jose.

  • Longmont, CO $2,932
  • San Jose $2,107

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,127 in Longmont, CO versus $3,081 in San Jose.

  • Longmont, CO $4,127
  • San Jose $3,081

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,321 in Longmont, CO versus $4,054 in San Jose.

  • Longmont, CO $5,321
  • San Jose $4,054

Living in Longmont, CO is roughly 39% more expensive than in San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Longmont, CO 117% above, San Jose 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Longmont, CO
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.65 $19.65
$12.37 ₡5,563
58.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4 $81.4
$62.4 ₡28.0K
30.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 $10.32
$11.71 ₡5,264
-11.87%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$4.54 ₡2,040
28.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 $3.10
$2.75 ₡1,238
12.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$1.86 ₡837
29.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.83 $6.83
$3.35 ₡1,505
103.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03 $8.03
$4.32 ₡1,944
85.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Longmont, CO
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$2.36 ₡1,061
-55.08%
White Bread (500g)
$4.45 $4.45
$3.07 ₡1,379
44.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.11 $4.11
$2.51 ₡1,128
63.75%
Eggs
$6.02 $6.02
$3.53 ₡1,585
70.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.00 $14.00
$10.54 ₡4,738
32.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.23 $13.23
$10.57 ₡4,754
25.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.38 $19.38
$13.92 ₡6,261
39.22%
Apples (1kg)
$5.58 $5.58
$5.20 ₡2,338
7.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.65 ₡740
-8.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$4.89 ₡2,198
-9.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$3.84 ₡1,728
23.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 $2.50
$3.91 ₡1,757
-36.06%
Onion (1kg)
$3.51 $3.51
$3.76 ₡1,692
-6.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.12 ₡504
107.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$3.22 ₡1,447
-29.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.30 $10.30
$6.02 ₡2,706
71.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.04 $17.04
$19.84 ₡8,919
-14.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.81 ₡1,264
-13.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.65 ₡1,643
-33.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Longmont, CO
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.08 ₡487
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.3 $50.3
$65.2 ₡29.3K
-22.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.26 ₡1,018
7.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.78 ₡799
-23.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.95 $23.95
$7.90 ₡3,551
203.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.50 ₡673
-30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-16.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-37.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Longmont, CO
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$93.2 ₡41.9K
115.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$36.13 ₡16.2K
94.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.9 $74.9
$60.6 ₡27.2K
23.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Longmont, CO
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.85 $27.85
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-59.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$64.5 $64.5
$24.94 ₡11.2K
158.70%
Cinema Ticket
$15.94 $15.94
$7.67 ₡3,449
107.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Longmont, CO
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,663 $1,663
$972 ₡436.9K
71.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.7K $20.7K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
9.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Longmont, CO
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 $58.9
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-16.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.62 $48.62
$56.7 ₡25.5K
-14.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 $91.6
$129 ₡57.8K
-28.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$131 ₡58.8K
-20.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Longmont, CO
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,861 $1,861
$1,170 ₡525.9K
59.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,559 $1,559
$943 ₡424.1K
65.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,840 $2,840
$1,984 ₡892.0K
43.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,209 $2,209
$1,400 ₡629.5K
57.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,808 $3,808
$2,681 ₡1.2M
42.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,974 $2,974
$2,037 ₡915.8K
46.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Longmont, CO
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,491 $4,491
$987 ₡443.6K
355.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
8.62
-22.62%

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

Last update for Longmont, CO: October 31, 2026

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Longmont, CO
$1.6K
San Jose
$943 39.5% $615
Groceries & Markets
Longmont, CO
$442
San Jose
$403 9% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Longmont, CO
$346
San Jose
$190 45% $156
Eating Out
Longmont, CO
$330
San Jose
$232 29.7% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Longmont, CO
$136
San Jose
$174 27.8% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Longmont, CO
$60
San Jose
$84 41.1% $25
Getting Around
Longmont, CO
$60 *
San Jose
$81 35.5% $21

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,861 in Longmont, CO and $1,170 in San Jose. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Longmont, CO pays about 4.6 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $81 in Longmont, CO vs $62 in San Jose for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $442 vs $403 per month, with San Jose cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Longmont, CO
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
07:54 7:54 AM
08:54 8:54 AM
1 h ahead of Longmont, CO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
94,341
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
  • Longmont, CO San Jose 3,950 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Longmont, CO
  • 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
Longmont, CO vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Longmont, CO and in San Jose?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,932 in Longmont, CO and $2,107 in San Jose, so San Jose is about 28% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Longmont, CO or San Jose?
Average pay in Longmont, CO is about 4.6 times higher, 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 Longmont, CO and in San Jose?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,861 in Longmont, CO versus $1,170 in San Jose. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Longmont, CO or San Jose?
All in, you’ll spend $2,932 per month in Longmont, CO versus $2,107 in San Jose – San Jose is about 28% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Longmont, CO and in San Jose?
A monthly transit pass in Longmont, CO runs roughly 23% less than in San Jose. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,107 in San Jose versus $2,932 in Longmont, CO, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Longmont, CO. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Longmont, CO 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.
How do I decide between Longmont, CO and San Jose?
It comes down to priorities – San Jose wins on affordability, Longmont, CO on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Longmont, CO vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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