Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Aberdeen, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,924 a month against $2,163 in Aberdeen, WA, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Aberdeen, WA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,924
/mo nomad
Aberdeen, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,163
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Aberdeen, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in San Jose and in Aberdeen, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,924 in San Jose versus $2,163 in Aberdeen, WA.

  • San Jose $1,924
  • Aberdeen, WA $2,163

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,926 in San Jose versus $3,192 in Aberdeen, WA.

  • San Jose $2,926
  • Aberdeen, WA $3,192

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,929 in San Jose versus $4,221 in Aberdeen, WA.

  • San Jose $3,929
  • Aberdeen, WA $4,221

Living in San Jose costs roughly 11% less than in Aberdeen, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Jose 42% above, Aberdeen, WA 60% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.29 ₡5,513
$24.98 $24.98
-50.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 ₡27.9K
$99.0 $99.0
-37.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.53 ₡5,171
$11.98 $11.98
-3.76%
Cappuccino
$4.35 ₡1,953
$5.07 $5.07
-14.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 ₡1,183
$3.06 $3.06
-13.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₡836
$2.63 $2.63
-29.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 ₡1,490
$6.04 $6.04
-45.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 ₡2,026
$6.91 $6.91
-34.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.39 ₡1,073
$1.21 $1.21
97.52%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,381
$3.22 $3.22
-4.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.50 ₡1,119
$3.60 $3.60
-30.56%
Eggs
$3.48 ₡1,562
$4.88 $4.88
-28.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.74 ₡4,815
$8.39 $8.39
28.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.32 ₡4,629
$8.32 $8.32
24.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,325
$14.61 $14.61
-3.49%
Apples (1kg)
$5.03 ₡2,256
$5.96 $5.96
-15.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₡714
$1.86 $1.86
-14.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.84 ₡2,171
$5.22 $5.22
-7.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.96 ₡1,776
$4.53 $4.53
-12.58%
Potato (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,684
$2.95 $2.95
27.46%
Onion (1kg)
$3.73 ₡1,674
$3.04 $3.04
22.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ₡485
$2.87 $2.87
-62.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.25 ₡1,456
$2.42 $2.42
34.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.86 ₡2,627
$10.39 $10.39
-43.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.28 ₡9,095
$13.23 $13.23
53.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.77 $1.77
63.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ₡1,673
$2.52 $2.52
48.02%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡486
$0.52 $0.52
107.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.5 ₡29.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.50 ₡1,123
$2.66 $2.66
-6.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 ₡732
$1.72 $1.72
-5.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 ₡3,904
$29.97 $29.97
-70.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 ₡709
$1.20 $1.20
31.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K ₡15.1M
$33.1K $33.1K
1.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7K ₡18.7M
$25.9K $25.9K
60.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.7 ₡42.0K
$305 $305
-69.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.42 ₡15.9K
$70.3 $70.3
-49.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.0 ₡26.9K
$85.7 $85.7
-30.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$31.24 $31.24
132.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.83 ₡11.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.74 ₡3,471
$5.14 $5.14
50.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,005 ₡450.9K
$1,050 $1,050
-4.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K ₡7.6M
$30.8K $30.8K
-45.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.1 ₡32.8K
$45.57 $45.57
60.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.9K
$28.92 $28.92
91.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 ₡57.5K
$55.8 $55.8
129.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 ₡58.5K
$65.6 $65.6
98.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$932 ₡418.0K
$922 $922
1.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$760 ₡340.8K
$827 $827
-8.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,922 ₡862.0K
$1,280 $1,280
50.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,276 ₡572.1K
$1,297 $1,297
-1.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,301 ₡1.0M
$2,935 $2,935
-21.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,833 ₡821.9K
$2,993 $2,993
-38.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Aberdeen, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,029 ₡461.3K
$4,410 $4,410
-76.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.66
29.43%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 18, 2026

Last update for Aberdeen, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$760
Aberdeen, WA
$827 8.8% $67
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$403
Aberdeen, WA
$369 8.4% $34
Eating Out
San Jose
$229
Aberdeen, WA
$363 58.8% $135
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$189
Aberdeen, WA
$461 144% $272
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$174
Aberdeen, WA
$88 49.4% $86
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$88
Aberdeen, WA
$42 52.9% $47
Getting Around
San Jose
$80
Aberdeen, WA
$13 * 83.4% $67

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $932 in San Jose and $922 in Aberdeen, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aberdeen, WA pays 329% 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: $62.0 in San Jose vs $99.0 in Aberdeen, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $403 vs $369, with Aberdeen, WA cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇺🇸 Aberdeen, WA
🕒 Local time
12:11 12:11 PM
11:11 11:11 AM
1 h behind San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
24,071
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Jose Aberdeen, WA 5,560 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Aberdeen, WA

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
San Jose vs Aberdeen, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aberdeen, WA cheaper than San Jose?
San Jose is cheaper overall, especially in eating out and utilities. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: San Jose or Aberdeen, WA?
On paper, salaries run 329% lower in Aberdeen, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between San Jose and Aberdeen, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $932 in San Jose versus $922 in Aberdeen, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,005 in San Jose versus $1,050 in Aberdeen, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in San Jose or in Aberdeen, WA?
Dining out is cheaper in San Jose – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $99.0 in Aberdeen, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in San Jose or in Aberdeen, WA?
At $1,924 in San Jose versus $2,163 in Aberdeen, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Aberdeen, WA. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is San Jose or Aberdeen, WA more family-friendly?
For families, San Jose is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Aberdeen, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find San Jose gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Aberdeen, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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