Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Longueuil and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in Longueuil: $1,981 a month against $2,107 in San Jose, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Longueuil, Canada
San Jose, Costa Rica
Longueuil
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,981
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,981 per month in Longueuil vs $2,107 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Longueuil $1,981
  • San Jose $2,107

A couple spends around $2,940 per month in Longueuil vs $3,081 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Longueuil $2,940
  • San Jose $3,081

A family of three spends $3,898 per month in Longueuil vs $4,054 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Longueuil $3,898
  • San Jose $4,054

Longueuil is about 6% cheaper than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Longueuil and San Jose sit above the global median – Longueuil by 46%, San Jose by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Longueuil
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.25 CA$27.19
$12.37 ₡5,546
55.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9 CA$104
$62.4 ₡28.0K
18.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.26 CA$15.90
$11.71 ₡5,248
-3.84%
Cappuccino
$3.69 CA$5.21
$4.54 ₡2,034
-18.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 CA$2.91
$2.75 ₡1,234
-25.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 CA$2.31
$1.86 ₡835
-12.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.79 CA$8.19
$3.35 ₡1,501
72.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.01 CA$9.90
$4.32 ₡1,938
62.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Longueuil
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 CA$2.91
$2.36 ₡1,057
-12.71%
White Bread (500g)
$3.10 CA$4.38
$3.07 ₡1,375
0.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.15 CA$4.46
$2.51 ₡1,124
25.50%
Eggs
$3.51 CA$4.96
$3.53 ₡1,580
-0.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.47 CA$19.03
$10.54 ₡4,724
27.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.52 CA$16.27
$10.57 ₡4,740
8.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.76 CA$15.20
$13.92 ₡6,242
-22.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 CA$4.92
$5.20 ₡2,331
-33.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 CA$2.08
$1.65 ₡738
-10.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 CA$5.01
$4.89 ₡2,191
-27.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.20 CA$4.52
$3.84 ₡1,722
-16.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 CA$2.77
$3.91 ₡1,752
-49.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 CA$2.54
$3.76 ₡1,687
-52.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 CA$3.58
$1.12 ₡503
125.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.23
$3.22 ₡1,443
-50.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.54 CA$16.30
$6.02 ₡2,698
91.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.68 CA$15.09
$19.84 ₡8,892
-46.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.23 CA$4.57
$2.81 ₡1,261
14.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 CA$4.70
$3.65 ₡1,638
-9.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Longueuil
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.74 CA$3.88
$1.08 ₡485
153.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.7 CA$124
$65.2 ₡29.2K
34.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 CA$4.17
$2.26 ₡1,015
30.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 CA$2.06
$1.78 ₡797
-17.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.69 CA$47.59
$7.90 ₡3,540
326.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 CA$1.91
$1.50 ₡671
-10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K CA$40.1K
$33.5K ₡15.0M
-15.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K CA$32.3K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-45.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Longueuil
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.1 CA$109
$93.2 ₡41.8K
-17.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.88 CA$49.28
$36.13 ₡16.2K
-3.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.69 CA$64.6
$60.6 ₡27.2K
-24.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Longueuil
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.35 CA$44.28
$68.9 ₡30.9K
-54.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.12 CA$22.78
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-35.36%
Cinema Ticket
$11.04 CA$15.60
$7.67 ₡3,439
43.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Longueuil
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$680 CA$960
$972 ₡435.6K
-30.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K CA$15.2K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
-42.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Longueuil
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 CA$83.4
$70.6 ₡31.7K
-16.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.39 CA$54.2
$56.7 ₡25.4K
-32.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.0 CA$127
$129 ₡57.7K
-30.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 CA$153
$131 ₡58.7K
-17.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Longueuil
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$969 CA$1,369
$1,170 ₡524.3K
-17.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 CA$1,258
$943 ₡422.8K
-5.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,697 CA$2,398
$1,984 ₡889.3K
-14.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,318 CA$1,863
$1,400 ₡627.6K
-5.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,598 CA$5,084
$2,681 ₡1.2M
34.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,037 ₡913.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Longueuil
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,704 CA$3,820
$987 ₡442.3K
174.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.51
8.62
-47.68%

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

Last update for Longueuil: 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
Longueuil
$890
San Jose
$943 6% $53
Groceries & Markets
Longueuil
$348
San Jose
$403 15.8% $55
Eating Out
Longueuil
$290
San Jose
$232 19.8% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Longueuil
$158
San Jose
$190 20.4% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Longueuil
$133
San Jose
$174 30.9% $41
Getting Around
Longueuil
$109
San Jose
$81 25.9% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Longueuil
$53
San Jose
$84 57.7% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $969 in Longueuil 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 Longueuil are about 2.7 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Longueuil versus $62 in San Jose. Groceries tell a different story – $348 in Longueuil vs $403 in San Jose – so Longueuil wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Longueuil
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
21:44 9:44 PM
20:44 8:44 PM
1 h behind Longueuil
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
254,483
342,188 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.708 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 CAD (1 CAD = 0.633 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 501 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Longueuil San Jose 4,080 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Longueuil
  • 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
Longueuil vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Longueuil or San Jose?
San Jose costs about 6% more than Longueuil, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Longueuil and in San Jose?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,971 per month in Longueuil and $3,161 in San Jose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Longueuil or San Jose?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Longueuil, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $969 there versus $1,170 in San Jose.
How do childcare costs compare in Longueuil and in San Jose?
Kindergarten costs $680 per month in Longueuil and $972 in San Jose. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Longueuil or in San Jose?
Groceries cost about 16% more in San Jose, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Longueuil – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Longueuil vs other spots: cost of living compared

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