Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Coquitlam, BC and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,938 a month against $2,485 in Port Coquitlam, BC, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Port Coquitlam, BC outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

122

Cost of Living Index in Port Coquitlam, BC
Learn more

Port Coquitlam, BC Living Index
94

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
Learn more

San Jose Living Index

Jump to prices

Port Coquitlam, BC

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,485

/mo nomad

San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,938

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,485 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $1,938 in San Jose.

Port Coquitlam, BC $2,485
San Jose $1,938

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,403 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $2,936 in San Jose.

Port Coquitlam, BC $3,403
San Jose $2,936

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,320 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $3,934 in San Jose.

Port Coquitlam, BC $4,320
San Jose $3,934

Living in Port Coquitlam, BC is roughly 28% more expensive than in San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port Coquitlam, BC 84% above, San Jose 44% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.22 CA$20.10

$12.38 ₡5,551

14.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 CA$100

$60.9 ₡27.3K

16.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.57 CA$12.11

$11.45 ₡5,135

-25.15%

Cappuccino

$3.40 CA$4.81

$4.39 ₡1,967

-22.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 CA$2.99

$2.70 ₡1,211

-21.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 CA$2.24

$1.93 ₡864

-18.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.65 CA$7.99

$3.20 ₡1,433

76.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.36 CA$8.99

$4.41 ₡1,979

44.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 CA$2.50

$2.44 ₡1,093

-27.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 CA$3.51

$3.05 ₡1,369

-18.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.60 CA$5.09

$2.41 ₡1,081

49.38%

Eggs

$3.13 CA$4.42

$3.40 ₡1,523

-7.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.78 CA$16.66

$10.75 ₡4,823

9.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.49 CA$17.65

$10.43 ₡4,679

19.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.17 CA$20.03

$13.99 ₡6,273

1.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.96 CA$5.60

$5.25 ₡2,353

-24.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 CA$1.87

$1.59 ₡712

-16.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 CA$5.32

$4.69 ₡2,103

-19.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 CA$5.54

$3.95 ₡1,770

-0.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.74

$3.92 ₡1,760

-32.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.43

$3.68 ₡1,651

-33.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 CA$3.52

$1.12 ₡503

122.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CA$2.21

$3.19 ₡1,429

-51.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.64 CA$22.11

$6.00 ₡2,692

160.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.07 CA$19.89

$19.56 ₡8,771

-28.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 CA$3.73

$2.82 ₡1,263

-6.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 CA$4.04

$3.59 ₡1,611

-20.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 CA$2.87

$1.12 ₡503

81.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 CA$154

$66.8 ₡30.0K

62.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 CA$3.78

$2.50 ₡1,119

6.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 CA$2.29

$1.63 ₡733

-0.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.78 CA$43.51

$8.50 ₡3,812

262.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CA$1.96

$1.56 ₡701

-11.54%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K CA$38.5K

$22.4K ₡10.0M

21.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.0K CA$28.3K

$35.6K ₡16.0M

-43.65%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.6 CA$114

$95.2 ₡42.7K

-15.39%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$37.11 CA$52.5

$35.58 ₡16.0K

4.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.0 CA$72.1

$58.6 ₡26.3K

-13.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.98 CA$29.66

$72.7 ₡32.6K

-71.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.85 ₡11.1K

Cinema Ticket

$10.56 CA$14.93

$7.58 ₡3,401

39.31%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,106 CA$1,563

$1,001 ₡449.0K

10.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.2K CA$28.6K

$17.1K ₡7.7M

18.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$80.4

$70.5 ₡31.6K

-19.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 CA$45.52

$55.8 ₡25.0K

-42.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 CA$117

$130 ₡58.2K

-36.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.4 CA$132

$131 ₡58.7K

-28.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,568 CA$2,216

$927 ₡415.8K

69.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 CA$2,023

$774 ₡347.2K

84.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,128 CA$3,009

$1,967 ₡882.0K

8.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,856 CA$2,624

$1,288 ₡577.6K

44.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,274 ₡1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,490 CA$7,761

$1,831 ₡821.0K

199.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,284 CA$3,229

$1,016 ₡455.8K

124.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.28

8.62

-50.35%

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

Last update for Port Coquitlam, BC: October 13, 2026

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Port Coquitlam, BC

$1.4K 57.6%

San Jose

$774 40% 45.9% $657

Groceries & Markets

Port Coquitlam, BC

$361 14.5%

San Jose

$401 20.7% 11.2% $40

Eating Out

Port Coquitlam, BC

$236 9.5%

San Jose

$229 11.8% 2.9% $6.7

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Port Coquitlam, BC

$169 6.8%

San Jose

$189 9.8% 12.3% $21

Getting Around

Port Coquitlam, BC

$128 5.1%

San Jose

$82 4.2% 35.8% $46

Clothing & Footwear

Port Coquitlam, BC

$119 4.8%

San Jose

$174 9% 45.7% $55

Sport & Entertainment

Port Coquitlam, BC

$42 1.7%

San Jose

$88 4.5% 109% $46

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,568 in Port Coquitlam, BC and $927 in San Jose. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Port Coquitlam, BC pays 125% 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: $71.0 in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $61.0 in San Jose. Groceries flip the comparison at $361 vs $401, with Port Coquitlam, BC cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Port Coquitlam, BC

🇨🇷 San Jose

🕒 Local time

13:33 1:33 PM

14:33 2:33 PM

1 h ahead of Port Coquitlam, BC

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

61,498

342,188 Capital

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.707 USD

1 CAD = 0.629 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Port Coquitlam, BC San Jose 5,650 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Port Coquitlam, BC
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

Port Coquitlam, BC vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose is cheaper overall, especially in eating out and transport. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 125% higher in Port Coquitlam, BC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,568 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $927 in San Jose. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,106 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $1,001 in San Jose. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Port Coquitlam, BC pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,938 in San Jose versus $2,485 in Port Coquitlam, BC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Port Coquitlam, BC. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, San Jose is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Port Coquitlam, BC, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Port Coquitlam, BC and San Jose are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find San Jose gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Port Coquitlam, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.