Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Aliso Viejo, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,924 a month against $3,964 in Aliso Viejo, CA, rent and utilities included – about $24,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

93

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
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San Jose Living Index
194

Cost of Living Index in Aliso Viejo, CA
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Aliso Viejo, CA Living Index

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San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,924

/mo nomad

Aliso Viejo, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,964

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Aliso Viejo, CA

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 Aliso Viejo, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,924 in San Jose versus $3,964 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

San Jose $1,924
Aliso Viejo, CA $3,964

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,926 in San Jose versus $6,003 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

San Jose $2,926
Aliso Viejo, CA $6,003

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,929 in San Jose versus $8,043 in Aliso Viejo, CA.

San Jose $3,929
Aliso Viejo, CA $8,043

Living in San Jose costs roughly 51% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Jose 42% above, Aliso Viejo, CA 193% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.29 ₡5,513

$24.73 $24.73

-50.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.3 ₡27.9K

$98.4 $98.4

-36.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.53 ₡5,171

$14.32 $14.32

-19.48%

Cappuccino

$4.35 ₡1,953

$5.91 $5.91

-26.40%

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

$2.64 ₡1,183

$3.51 $3.51

-24.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ₡836

$2.80 $2.80

-33.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 ₡1,490

$8.22 $8.22

-59.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 ₡2,026

$9.94 $9.94

-54.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 ₡1,073

$1.15 $1.15

107.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 ₡1,381

$4.77 $4.77

-35.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 ₡1,119

$4.72 $4.72

-47.03%

Eggs

$3.48 ₡1,562

$5.08 $5.08

-31.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.74 ₡4,815

$11.33 $11.33

-5.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.32 ₡4,629

$16.09 $16.09

-35.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 ₡6,325

$17.67 $17.67

-20.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 ₡2,256

$5.50 $5.50

-8.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₡714

$1.73 $1.73

-8.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.84 ₡2,171

$4.68 $4.68

3.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 ₡1,776

$6.62 $6.62

-40.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 ₡1,684

$3.61 $3.61

4.16%

Onion (1kg)

$3.73 ₡1,674

$2.81 $2.81

32.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₡485

$2.20 $2.20

-50.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₡1,456

$2.43 $2.43

33.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.86 ₡2,627

$11.92 $11.92

-50.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.28 ₡9,095

$15.26 $15.26

32.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,300

$1.81 $1.81

60.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ₡1,673

$3.11 $3.11

19.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₡486

$3.07 $3.07

-64.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 ₡29.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₡1,123

$4.47 $4.47

-44.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡732

$1.91 $1.91

-14.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 ₡3,904

$32.04 $32.04

-72.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 ₡709

$1.59 $1.59

-0.63%

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

$33.6K ₡15.1M

$35.0K $35.0K

-3.97%

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

$41.7K ₡18.7M

$27.0K $27.0K

54.24%

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

$93.7 ₡42.0K

$212 $212

-55.79%

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

$35.42 ₡15.9K

$71.5 $71.5

-50.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.0 ₡26.9K

$71.3 $71.3

-15.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.6 ₡32.6K

$38.84 $38.84

86.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.83 ₡11.6K

Cinema Ticket

$7.74 ₡3,471

$17.19 $17.19

-54.97%

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

$1,005 ₡450.9K

$1,698 $1,698

-40.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.9K ₡7.6M

$31.8K $31.8K

-46.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.1 ₡32.8K

$72.5 $72.5

0.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.9K

$65.1 $65.1

-14.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡57.5K

$116 $116

10.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 ₡58.5K

$169 $169

-23.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$932 ₡418.0K

$2,908 $2,908

-67.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₡340.8K

$2,466 $2,466

-69.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,922 ₡862.0K

$4,191 $4,191

-54.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,276 ₡572.1K

$4,644 $4,644

-72.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,301 ₡1.0M

$7,007 $7,007

-67.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,833 ₡821.9K

$6,500 $6,500

-71.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,029 ₡461.3K

$7,985 $7,985

-87.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.86

25.66%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 18, 2026

Last update for Aliso Viejo, CA: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

San Jose

$760 39.5%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$2.5K 62.2% 225% $1.7K

Groceries & Markets

San Jose

$403 21%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$456 11.5% 13.1% $53

Eating Out

San Jose

$229 11.9%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$398 10% 73.9% $169

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Jose

$189 9.8%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$355 8.9% 87.6% $166

Clothing & Footwear

San Jose

$174 9.1%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$190 4.8% 9.3% $16

Sport & Entertainment

San Jose

$88 4.6%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$73 1.9% 16.9% $15

Getting Around

San Jose

$80 4.2%

Aliso Viejo, CA

$26 * 0.7% 67.3% $54

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 $2,908 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aliso Viejo, CA pays 676% 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 $98.0 in Aliso Viejo, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $456 per month, with San Jose cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇷 San Jose

🇺🇸 Aliso Viejo, CA

🕒 Local time

16:53 4:53 PM

15:53 3:53 PM

1 h behind San Jose

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

342,188 Capital

41,489

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 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 20, 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 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

San Jose Aliso Viejo, CA 4,320 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

San Jose
Aliso Viejo, CA

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 Aliso Viejo, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose and Aliso Viejo, CA differ by about 106% in total monthly costs ($1,924 vs $3,964 including rent). San Jose is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 676% lower in Aliso Viejo, CA. 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: $932 in San Jose versus $2,908 in Aliso Viejo, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Aliso Viejo, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,924 per month in San Jose versus $3,964 in Aliso Viejo, CA – a 106% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,924 in San Jose versus $3,964 in Aliso Viejo, CA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Aliso Viejo, CA. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, San Jose and Aliso Viejo, CA 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 106% less than in Aliso Viejo, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.