Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oklahoma City, OK and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,949 a month against $2,392 in Oklahoma City, OK, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Oklahoma City, OK
🇺🇸 United States
$2,392
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,949
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,392 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $1,949 in San Jose.

  • Oklahoma City, OK $2,392
  • San Jose $1,949

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,511 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $2,903 in San Jose.

  • Oklahoma City, OK $3,511
  • San Jose $2,903

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,630 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $3,857 in San Jose.

  • Oklahoma City, OK $4,630
  • San Jose $3,857

Living in Oklahoma City, OK is roughly 23% 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: Oklahoma City, OK 78% above, San Jose 45% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oklahoma City, OK
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.81 $19.81
$12.22 ₡5,510
62.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4 $79.4
$60.1 ₡27.1K
31.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.82 $14.82
$11.77 ₡5,305
25.91%
Cappuccino
$5.31 $5.31
$4.30 ₡1,939
23.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.72 ₡1,226
-1.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.84 ₡830
25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.95 $5.95
$3.28 ₡1,480
81.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$4.36 ₡1,966
106.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oklahoma City, OK
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$2.38 ₡1,074
-60.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$3.12 ₡1,408
13.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.41 ₡1,086
56.02%
Eggs
$5.84 $5.84
$3.47 ₡1,564
68.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.74 $12.74
$10.57 ₡4,767
20.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.05 $11.05
$10.56 ₡4,758
4.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.15 $19.15
$13.75 ₡6,196
39.27%
Apples (1kg)
$4.93 $4.93
$5.04 ₡2,274
-2.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.61 ₡727
15.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$4.59 ₡2,069
-0.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$3.84 ₡1,731
2.60%
Potato (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.77 ₡1,700
-2.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.76 ₡1,693
-22.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.12 ₡506
147.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.20 ₡1,441
-23.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.80 $10.80
$5.84 ₡2,632
84.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.82 $13.82
$19.73 ₡8,897
-29.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.75 ₡1,240
-33.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 $3.23
$3.66 ₡1,650
-11.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Oklahoma City, OK
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.12 ₡503
168.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.5 $50.5
$65.1 ₡29.4K
-22.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.46 ₡1,110
8.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.54 ₡692
-20.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.36 $30.36
$8.46 ₡3,815
258.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.55 ₡699
-41.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K $35.7K
$21.7K ₡9.8M
64.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$34.9K ₡15.7M
-25.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oklahoma City, OK
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 $189
$94.7 ₡42.7K
99.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$85.7 $85.7
$35.11 ₡15.8K
143.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$95.4 $95.4
$58.6 ₡26.4K
62.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oklahoma City, OK
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.45 $33.45
$72.2 ₡32.5K
-53.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.50 $29.50
$25.19 ₡11.4K
17.11%
Cinema Ticket
$14.88 $14.88
$7.83 ₡3,532
90.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oklahoma City, OK
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,582 $1,582
$971 ₡437.9K
62.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$17.0K ₡7.7M
37.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oklahoma City, OK
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 $53.4
$71.6 ₡32.3K
-25.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.26 $41.26
$54.9 ₡24.7K
-24.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 $105
$129 ₡58.2K
-18.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$133 ₡60.0K
4.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oklahoma City, OK
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,244 $1,244
$934 ₡420.9K
33.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,013 $1,013
$770 ₡347.2K
31.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,212 $2,212
$1,945 ₡876.7K
13.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,576 $1,576
$1,316 ₡593.5K
19.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,483 $2,483
$2,277 ₡1.0M
9.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,705 $1,705
$1,795 ₡809.1K
-4.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oklahoma City, OK
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,695 $3,695
$1,006 ₡453.5K
267.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
8.62
-25.17%

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

Last update for Oklahoma City, OK: October 5, 2026

Last update for San Jose: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Oklahoma City, OK
$1K
San Jose
$770 24% $243
Groceries & Markets
Oklahoma City, OK
$409
San Jose
$399 2.3% $9.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oklahoma City, OK
$370
San Jose
$188 49.1% $182
Eating Out
Oklahoma City, OK
$334
San Jose
$228 31.8% $106
Clothing & Footwear
Oklahoma City, OK
$153
San Jose
$175 14.6% $22
Getting Around
Oklahoma City, OK
$71
San Jose
$80 11.7% $8.4
Sport & Entertainment
Oklahoma City, OK
$63
San Jose
$88 38.9% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,244 in Oklahoma City, OK and $934 in San Jose. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oklahoma City, OK pays 267% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $79.0 in Oklahoma City, OK vs $60.0 in San Jose for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $399 per month, with San Jose cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Oklahoma City, OK
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
04:53 4:53 AM
03:53 3:53 AM
1 h behind Oklahoma City, OK
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
579,999
342,188 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Oklahoma City, OK San Jose 3,150 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Oklahoma City, OK
  • 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
Oklahoma City, OK vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oklahoma City, OK or San Jose?
San Jose wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Oklahoma City, OK. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Jose the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Oklahoma City, OK or in San Jose?
Average pay runs 267% higher in Oklahoma City, OK, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Oklahoma City, OK compared to San Jose?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,244 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $934 in San Jose. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Oklahoma City, OK compared to San Jose?
A monthly transit pass in San Jose runs roughly 29% less than in Oklahoma City, OK. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Oklahoma City, OK and in San Jose?
Childcare runs $1,582 in Oklahoma City, OK versus $971 in San Jose. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Oklahoma City, OK or in San Jose?
At $1,949 in San Jose versus $2,392 in Oklahoma City, OK, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Oklahoma City, OK. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oklahoma City, OK or San Jose?
Both work as nomad bases, but San Jose delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,949 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Jose hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find San Jose gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Oklahoma City, OK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Oklahoma City, OK vs other spots: cost of living compared

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