Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Huron, MI and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $2,656 in Port Huron, MI, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Port Huron, MI, United States
San Jose, Costa Rica
Port Huron, MI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,656
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,656 in Port Huron, MI versus $2,107 in San Jose.

  • Port Huron, MI $2,656
  • San Jose $2,107

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,882 in Port Huron, MI versus $3,081 in San Jose.

  • Port Huron, MI $3,882
  • San Jose $3,081

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,108 in Port Huron, MI versus $4,054 in San Jose.

  • Port Huron, MI $5,108
  • San Jose $4,054

Living in Port Huron, MI is roughly 26% 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: Port Huron, MI 96% above, San Jose 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Huron, MI
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.30 $20.30
$12.37 ₡5,563
64.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.4 $76.4
$62.4 ₡28.0K
22.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.27 $14.27
$11.71 ₡5,264
21.86%
Cappuccino
$5.23 $5.23
$4.54 ₡2,040
15.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.75 ₡1,238
-7.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.86 ₡837
32.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.83 $5.83
$3.35 ₡1,505
74.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.23 $7.23
$4.32 ₡1,944
67.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Huron, MI
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$2.36 ₡1,061
-55.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 $3.60
$3.07 ₡1,379
17.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.51 ₡1,128
72.51%
Eggs
$5.29 $5.29
$3.53 ₡1,585
49.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.70 $12.70
$10.54 ₡4,738
20.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.43 $11.43
$10.57 ₡4,754
8.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.30 $17.30
$13.92 ₡6,261
24.28%
Apples (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$5.20 ₡2,338
-3.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.65 ₡740
0.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$4.89 ₡2,198
-10.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$3.84 ₡1,728
24.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.91 ₡1,757
-28.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.76 ₡1,692
-22.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.12 ₡504
96.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$3.22 ₡1,447
-29.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.14 $10.14
$6.02 ₡2,706
68.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 $14.77
$19.84 ₡8,919
-25.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.81 ₡1,264
-27.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$3.65 ₡1,643
-8.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Huron, MI
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.08 ₡487
77.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.2 $61.2
$65.2 ₡29.3K
-6.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.26 ₡1,018
66.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.78 ₡799
-12.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.75 $26.75
$7.90 ₡3,551
238.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.50 ₡673
-23.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-27.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-42.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Huron, MI
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$93.2 ₡41.9K
115.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.5 $59.5
$36.13 ₡16.2K
64.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$89.7 $89.7
$60.6 ₡27.2K
47.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Huron, MI
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.4 $59.4
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-13.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.69 $12.69
$7.67 ₡3,449
65.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Huron, MI
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,404 $1,404
$972 ₡436.9K
44.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.3K $21.3K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
12.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Huron, MI
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.39 $45.39
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-35.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.69 $41.69
$56.7 ₡25.5K
-26.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.9 $76.9
$129 ₡57.8K
-40.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$131 ₡58.8K
-12.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Huron, MI
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,601 $1,601
$1,170 ₡525.9K
36.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,279 $1,279
$943 ₡424.1K
35.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,555 $2,555
$1,984 ₡892.0K
28.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,104 $2,104
$1,400 ₡629.5K
50.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,765 $2,765
$2,681 ₡1.2M
3.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,624 $2,624
$2,037 ₡915.8K
28.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Huron, MI
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,465 $3,465
$987 ₡443.6K
251.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
8.62
-23.55%

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

Last update for Port Huron, MI: 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
Port Huron, MI
$1.3K
San Jose
$943 26.2% $335
Groceries & Markets
Port Huron, MI
$405
San Jose
$403 0.7% $2.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Huron, MI
$350
San Jose
$190 45.7% $160
Eating Out
Port Huron, MI
$332
San Jose
$232 29.9% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Port Huron, MI
$125
San Jose
$174 38.8% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Port Huron, MI
$85
San Jose
$84 0.6% $0.5
Getting Around
Port Huron, MI
$80
San Jose
$81 0.3% $0.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,601 in Port Huron, MI and $1,170 in San Jose. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Port Huron, MI pays about 3.5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $76 in Port Huron, MI vs $62 in San Jose for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $403 per month, with San Jose cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Port Huron, MI
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
10:26 10:26 AM
09:26 9:26 AM
1 h behind Port Huron, MI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,983
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
  • Port Huron, MI San Jose 3,680 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Port Huron, MI
  • 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 Huron, MI vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Port Huron, MI or San Jose?
San Jose wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Port Huron, MI. 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 Port Huron, MI or in San Jose?
Average pay in Port Huron, MI is about 3.5 times higher, 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 Port Huron, MI compared to San Jose?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,601 in Port Huron, MI versus $1,170 in San Jose. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Port Huron, MI and in San Jose?
Childcare runs $1,404 in Port Huron, MI versus $972 in San Jose. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Port Huron, MI and in San Jose?
Dining out is cheaper in San Jose – a meal for two runs $62 versus $76 in Port Huron, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Port Huron, MI or in San Jose?
At $2,107 in San Jose versus $2,656 in Port Huron, MI, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Port Huron, MI. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Port Huron, MI or 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.
Should I move to Port Huron, MI or to San Jose?
It comes down to priorities – San Jose wins on affordability, Port Huron, MI on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Port Huron, MI vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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