Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-Jérôme and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in Saint-Jérôme: $1,679 a month against $2,107 in San Jose, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Saint-Jérôme, Canada
San Jose, Costa Rica
Saint-Jérôme
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,679
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,679 per month in Saint-Jérôme vs $2,107 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Saint-Jérôme $1,679
  • San Jose $2,107

A couple spends around $2,693 per month in Saint-Jérôme vs $3,081 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Saint-Jérôme $2,693
  • San Jose $3,081

A family of three spends $3,707 per month in Saint-Jérôme vs $4,054 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Saint-Jérôme $3,707
  • San Jose $4,054

Saint-Jérôme is about 20% cheaper than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Saint-Jérôme and San Jose sit above the global median – Saint-Jérôme by 24%, San Jose by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint-Jérôme
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.56 CA$21.81
$12.37 ₡5,563
25.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.5 CA$100
$62.4 ₡28.0K
14.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.55 CA$14.79
$11.71 ₡5,264
-9.91%
Cappuccino
$3.02 CA$4.23
$4.54 ₡2,040
-33.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 CA$3.53
$2.75 ₡1,238
-8.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 CA$2.79
$1.86 ₡837
6.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.05 CA$7.08
$3.35 ₡1,505
50.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.34 CA$8.89
$4.32 ₡1,944
46.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint-Jérôme
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.21 CA$4.51
$2.36 ₡1,061
36.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 CA$3.57
$3.07 ₡1,379
-16.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.56 CA$4.98
$2.51 ₡1,128
41.83%
Eggs
$3.40 CA$4.76
$3.53 ₡1,585
-3.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.22 CA$8.72
$10.54 ₡4,738
-40.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.94 CA$22.34
$10.57 ₡4,754
50.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.92 CA$25.12
$13.92 ₡6,261
28.74%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 CA$5.21
$5.20 ₡2,338
-28.46%
Banana (1kg)
$2.54 CA$3.56
$1.65 ₡740
53.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.47 CA$6.27
$4.89 ₡2,198
-8.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.11 CA$5.76
$3.84 ₡1,728
7.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.95 CA$4.14
$3.91 ₡1,757
-24.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.55 CA$3.57
$3.76 ₡1,692
-32.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.40 CA$3.36
$1.12 ₡504
114.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.79 CA$5.31
$3.22 ₡1,447
17.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.79 CA$15.12
$6.02 ₡2,706
79.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.90 CA$15.27
$19.84 ₡8,919
-45.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 CA$2.30
$2.81 ₡1,264
-41.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 CA$5.13
$3.65 ₡1,643
0.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint-Jérôme
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.20 CA$4.49
$1.08 ₡487
196.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 CA$104
$65.2 ₡29.3K
13.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.26 ₡1,018
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.78 ₡799
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.90 ₡3,551
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 CA$2.02
$1.50 ₡673
-4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Jérôme
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.6 CA$80.7
$93.2 ₡41.9K
-38.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.37 CA$48.18
$36.13 ₡16.2K
-4.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.20 CA$59.2
$60.6 ₡27.2K
-30.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Jérôme
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.24 CA$19.96
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-79.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.52 CA$11.95
$7.67 ₡3,449
11.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint-Jérôme
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$972 ₡436.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$18.9K ₡8.5M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint-Jérôme
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7 CA$73.8
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-25.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.96 CA$27.98
$56.7 ₡25.5K
-64.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 CA$153
$129 ₡57.8K
-15.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 CA$98.3
$131 ₡58.8K
-46.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint-Jérôme
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 CA$1,122
$1,170 ₡525.9K
-31.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$649 CA$909
$943 ₡424.1K
-31.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,453 CA$2,037
$1,984 ₡892.0K
-26.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 CA$1,722
$1,400 ₡629.5K
-12.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,681 ₡1.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,037 ₡915.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint-Jérôme
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,774 CA$3,889
$987 ₡443.6K
181.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.62
-42.00%

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

Last update for Saint-Jérôme: 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
Saint-Jérôme
$649
San Jose
$943 45.4% $294
Groceries & Markets
Saint-Jérôme
$416
San Jose
$403 3.2% $14
Eating Out
Saint-Jérôme
$248
San Jose
$232 6.4% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Jérôme
$134
San Jose
$190 41.6% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Saint-Jérôme
$113
San Jose
$174 53.6% $61
Getting Around
Saint-Jérôme
$87 *
San Jose
$81 7.1% $6.2
Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Jérôme
$31
San Jose
$84 169% $53

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $801 in Saint-Jérôme 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 Saint-Jérôme are about 2.8 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 $72 in Saint-Jérôme versus $62 in San Jose. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $403 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Saint-Jérôme
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
02:11 2:11 AM
01:11 1:11 AM
1 h behind Saint-Jérôme
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
80,213
342,188 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 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
  • Saint-Jérôme San Jose 4,100 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Saint-Jérôme
  • 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
Saint-Jérôme vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saint-Jérôme cheaper than San Jose?
Yes – San Jose is pricier by about 26%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,519 per month in Saint-Jérôme and $3,161 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 Saint-Jérôme, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $801 there versus $1,170 in San Jose.
What are total monthly expenses in Saint-Jérôme and in San Jose?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,679 in Saint-Jérôme and $2,107 in San Jose. That makes Saint-Jérôme about 20% cheaper.
Is eating out cheaper in Saint-Jérôme or in San Jose?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $72 in Saint-Jérôme and $62 in San Jose. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough for either Saint-Jérôme or San Jose?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,679 in Saint-Jérôme and $2,107 in San Jose, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Saint-Jérôme or in San Jose?
It depends on your priorities. San Jose has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,679 in Saint-Jérôme to $2,107 in San Jose. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Saint-Jérôme vs other spots: cost of living compared

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