Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Airway Heights, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,949 a month against $2,532 in Airway Heights, WA, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Airway Heights, WA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

93

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
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San Jose Living Index
123

Cost of Living Index in Airway Heights, WA
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Airway Heights, WA Living Index

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San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,949

/mo nomad

Airway Heights, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,532

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Airway Heights, 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 Airway Heights, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,949 in San Jose versus $2,532 in Airway Heights, WA.

San Jose $1,949
Airway Heights, WA $2,532

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,903 in San Jose versus $3,718 in Airway Heights, WA.

San Jose $2,903
Airway Heights, WA $3,718

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,857 in San Jose versus $4,903 in Airway Heights, WA.

San Jose $3,857
Airway Heights, WA $4,903

Living in San Jose costs roughly 23% less than in Airway Heights, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Jose 45% above, Airway Heights, WA 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.22 ₡5,510

$17.30 $17.30

-29.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 ₡27.1K

$74.0 $74.0

-18.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.77 ₡5,305

$9.65 $9.65

21.97%

Cappuccino

$4.30 ₡1,939

$4.34 $4.34

-0.92%

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

$2.72 ₡1,226

$2.34 $2.34

16.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ₡830

$2.24 $2.24

-17.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ₡1,480

$5.89 $5.89

-44.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 ₡1,966

$5.94 $5.94

-26.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 ₡1,074

$0.99 $0.99

140.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.12 ₡1,408

$3.28 $3.28

-4.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,086

$4.83 $4.83

-50.10%

Eggs

$3.47 ₡1,564

$4.40 $4.40

-21.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.57 ₡4,767

$15.99 $15.99

-33.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.56 ₡4,758

$9.99 $9.99

5.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.75 ₡6,196

$16.93 $16.93

-18.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 ₡2,274

$4.90 $4.90

2.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₡727

$1.41 $1.41

14.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 ₡2,069

$5.47 $5.47

-16.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 ₡1,731

$3.86 $3.86

-0.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 ₡1,700

$2.37 $2.37

59.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 ₡1,693

$2.85 $2.85

31.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₡506

$2.06 $2.06

-45.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₡1,441

$1.84 $1.84

73.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.84 ₡2,632

$11.22 $11.22

-47.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 ₡8,897

$14.27 $14.27

38.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 ₡1,240

$1.88 $1.88

46.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ₡1,650

$4.40 $4.40

-16.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡503

$2.05 $2.05

-45.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.1 ₡29.4K

$61.1 $61.1

6.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 ₡1,110

$5.11 $5.11

-51.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 ₡692

$1.69 $1.69

-8.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.46 ₡3,815

$39.95 $39.95

-78.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 ₡699

$1.37 $1.37

13.14%

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

$21.7K ₡9.8M

$34.2K $34.2K

-36.59%

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

$34.9K ₡15.7M

$26.3K $26.3K

32.74%

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

$94.7 ₡42.7K

$139 $139

-31.67%

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

$35.11 ₡15.8K

$52.5 $52.5

-33.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 ₡26.4K

$70.3 $70.3

-16.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.2 ₡32.5K

$41.78 $41.78

72.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.19 ₡11.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.83 ₡3,532

$13.42 $13.42

-41.65%

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

$971 ₡437.9K

$1,402 $1,402

-30.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K ₡7.7M

$14.2K $14.2K

20.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.6 ₡32.3K

$52.3 $52.3

36.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 ₡24.7K

$44.01 $44.01

24.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 ₡58.2K

$105 $105

23.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ₡60.0K

$147 $147

-9.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$934 ₡420.9K

$1,581 $1,581

-40.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$770 ₡347.2K

$1,304 $1,304

-40.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,945 ₡876.7K

$2,469 $2,469

-21.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 ₡593.5K

$2,115 $2,115

-37.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,277 ₡1.0M

$3,158 $3,158

-27.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,795 ₡809.1K

$2,333 $2,333

-23.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,006 ₡453.5K

$4,146 $4,146

-75.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.84

26.02%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 3, 2026

Last update for Airway Heights, WA: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

San Jose

$770 39.9%

Airway Heights, WA

$1.3K 51.2% 69.3% $534

Groceries & Markets

San Jose

$399 20.7%

Airway Heights, WA

$392 15.4% 1.7% $6.6

Eating Out

San Jose

$228 11.8%

Airway Heights, WA

$279 11% 22.4% $51

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Jose

$188 9.8%

Airway Heights, WA

$261 10.3% 38.8% $73

Clothing & Footwear

San Jose

$175 9.1%

Airway Heights, WA

$157 6.2% 10.4% $18

Sport & Entertainment

San Jose

$88 4.6%

Airway Heights, WA

$69 2.7% 21.9% $19

Getting Around

San Jose

$80 4.1%

Airway Heights, WA

$83 3.3% 3.9% $3.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $934 in San Jose and $1,581 in Airway Heights, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Airway Heights, WA pays 312% 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: $60.0 in San Jose vs $74.0 in Airway Heights, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $399 vs $392, with Airway Heights, WA cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇨🇷 San Jose

🇺🇸 Airway Heights, WA

🕒 Local time

03:57 3:57 AM

02:57 2:57 AM

1 h behind San Jose

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

342,188 Capital

10,757

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

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).

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

USD to CRC in detail →

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San Jose Airway Heights, WA 5,240 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

San Jose
Airway Heights, 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 Airway Heights, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Airway Heights, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Jose the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 312% lower in Airway Heights, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $934 in San Jose versus $1,581 in Airway Heights, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $971 in San Jose versus $1,402 in Airway Heights, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Airway Heights, WA pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,949 in San Jose versus $2,532 in Airway Heights, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Airway Heights, WA. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, San Jose and Airway Heights, WA 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 30% less than in Airway Heights, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.