Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ocean Shores, WA and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,105 a month against $2,814 in Ocean Shores, WA, rent and utilities included – about $8,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ocean Shores, WA, United States
San Jose, Costa Rica
Ocean Shores, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,814
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,105
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,814 per month in Ocean Shores, WA vs $2,105 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Ocean Shores, WA $2,814
  • San Jose $2,105

A couple spends around $4,147 per month in Ocean Shores, WA vs $3,074 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Ocean Shores, WA $4,147
  • San Jose $3,074

A family of three spends $5,480 per month in Ocean Shores, WA vs $4,043 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Ocean Shores, WA $5,480
  • San Jose $4,043

Ocean Shores, WA costs about 34% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Ocean Shores, WA and San Jose sit above the global median – Ocean Shores, WA by 107%, San Jose by 55%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ocean Shores, WA
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.79 $24.79
$12.43 ₡5,609
99.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$60.9 ₡27.5K
65.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.22 $15.22
$11.72 ₡5,288
29.86%
Cappuccino
$6.77 $6.77
$4.47 ₡2,019
51.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 $3.15
$2.75 ₡1,241
14.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$1.92 ₡867
63.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.13 $8.13
$3.26 ₡1,470
149.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.16 $8.16
$4.45 ₡2,009
83.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ocean Shores, WA
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$2.36 ₡1,063
-51.27%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.09 ₡1,393
5.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.37 $5.37
$2.40 ₡1,083
123.75%
Eggs
$3.46 $3.46
$3.44 ₡1,553
0.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 $11.19
$10.73 ₡4,841
4.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.22 $6.22
$10.36 ₡4,674
-39.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.50 $16.50
$13.84 ₡6,243
19.22%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$5.15 ₡2,323
-13.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.65 ₡746
12.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$4.67 ₡2,109
-27.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.29 $6.29
$3.98 ₡1,798
58.04%
Potato (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.90 ₡1,761
-10.51%
Onion (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$3.65 ₡1,647
-13.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.08 ₡487
81.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$3.10 ₡1,398
-36.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.42 $12.42
$6.08 ₡2,745
104.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.75 $14.75
$20.05 ₡9,047
-26.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.77 ₡1,252
-21.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$3.69 ₡1,666
-46.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Ocean Shores, WA
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.12 ₡503
75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.7 $59.7
$66.7 ₡30.1K
-10.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.49 ₡1,122
7.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.63 ₡735
5.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.49 $29.49
$8.47 ₡3,821
248.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.57 ₡708
-9.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K $37.0K
$34.6K ₡15.6M
7.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$42.3K ₡19.1M
-39.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ocean Shores, WA
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$302 $302
$93.2 ₡42.0K
223.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.6 $68.6
$36.05 ₡16.3K
90.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.5 $87.5
$59.1 ₡26.7K
48.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ocean Shores, WA
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.13 $35.13
$69.0 ₡31.1K
-49.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.80 ₡11.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.30 $18.30
$7.85 ₡3,543
133.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ocean Shores, WA
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,796 $2,796
$996 ₡449.4K
180.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.0K $31.0K
$17.0K ₡7.7M
81.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ocean Shores, WA
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 $80.0
$70.1 ₡31.6K
14.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 $55.3
$55.2 ₡24.9K
0.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 $127
$130 ₡58.5K
-1.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 $160
$131 ₡59.2K
22.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ocean Shores, WA
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,413 $1,413
$1,164 ₡525.2K
21.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,244 $1,244
$945 ₡426.4K
31.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,604 $2,604
$1,993 ₡899.4K
30.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,071 $2,071
$1,404 ₡633.4K
47.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,770 $2,770
$2,727 ₡1.2M
1.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,491 $2,491
$2,040 ₡920.7K
22.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ocean Shores, WA
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,011 ₡456.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
8.62
-20.07%

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

Last update for Ocean Shores, WA: October 24, 2026

Last update for San Jose: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ocean Shores, WA
$1.2K
San Jose
$945 24% $299
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ocean Shores, WA
$458
San Jose
$188 58.9% $269
Eating Out
Ocean Shores, WA
$407
San Jose
$232 43% $175
Groceries & Markets
Ocean Shores, WA
$365
San Jose
$399 9.5% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Ocean Shores, WA
$190
San Jose
$174 8.6% $16
Getting Around
Ocean Shores, WA
$79
San Jose
$82 3.8% $3
Sport & Entertainment
Ocean Shores, WA
$72
San Jose
$85 18.1% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,413 in Ocean Shores, WA versus $1,164 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 $101 in Ocean Shores, WA versus $61 in San Jose. Groceries tell a different story – $365 in Ocean Shores, WA vs $399 in San Jose – so Ocean Shores, WA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Ocean Shores, WA
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
18:00 6:00 PM
19:00 7:00 PM
1 h ahead of Ocean Shores, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,700
342,188 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 502 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ocean Shores, WA San Jose 5,580 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ocean Shores, WA
  • 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
Ocean Shores, WA vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Jose cheaper than Ocean Shores, WA?
Yes – Ocean Shores, WA is pricier by about 34%, 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 $4,221 per month in Ocean Shores, WA and $3,158 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 $1,164 there versus $1,413 in Ocean Shores, WA.
How do food prices compare in Ocean Shores, WA and in San Jose?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Ocean Shores, WA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Is eating out cheaper in Ocean Shores, WA or in San Jose?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Ocean Shores, WA and $61 in San Jose. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Ocean Shores, WA or in San Jose?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $2,105, than in Ocean Shores, WA at $2,814. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ocean Shores, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ocean Shores, WA 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.

Ocean Shores, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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