Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Ashland, OH

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $2,369 in Ashland, OH, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ashland, OH outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

San Jose, Costa Rica
Ashland, OH, United States
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Ashland, OH
🇺🇸 United States
$2,369
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Ashland, OH

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 Ashland, OH actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,107 in San Jose versus $2,369 in Ashland, OH.

  • San Jose $2,107
  • Ashland, OH $2,369

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,081 in San Jose versus $3,272 in Ashland, OH.

  • San Jose $3,081
  • Ashland, OH $3,272

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,054 in San Jose versus $4,174 in Ashland, OH.

  • San Jose $4,054
  • Ashland, OH $4,174

Living in San Jose costs roughly 11% less than in Ashland, OH, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Jose 56% above, Ashland, OH 75% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Ashland, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.37 ₡5,563
$8.92 $8.92
38.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 ₡28.0K
$34.89 $34.89
78.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 ₡5,264
$8.55 $8.55
36.96%
Cappuccino
$4.54 ₡2,040
$3.57 $3.57
27.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$2.11 $2.11
30.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₡837
$1.17 $1.17
58.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₡1,505
$2.83 $2.83
18.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 ₡1,944
$7.87 $7.87
-45.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Ashland, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 ₡1,061
$0.76 $0.76
210.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 ₡1,379
$1.77 $1.77
73.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,128
$3.48 $3.48
-27.87%
Eggs
$3.53 ₡1,585
$3.83 $3.83
-7.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.54 ₡4,738
$10.19 $10.19
3.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 ₡4,754
$9.03 $9.03
17.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.92 ₡6,261
$14.51 $14.51
-4.07%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 ₡2,338
$3.48 $3.48
49.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₡740
$1.22 $1.22
35.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.89 ₡2,198
$3.24 $3.24
50.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 ₡1,728
$4.28 $4.28
-10.28%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ₡1,757
$1.93 $1.93
102.59%
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,692
$2.83 $2.83
32.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₡504
$2.06 $2.06
-45.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.22 ₡1,447
$1.99 $1.99
61.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.02 ₡2,706
$10.20 $10.20
-40.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.84 ₡8,919
$9.71 $9.71
104.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,264
$2.18 $2.18
28.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 ₡1,643
$2.59 $2.59
40.93%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Ashland, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡487
$4.95 $4.95
-78.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₡29.3K
$204 $204
-67.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 ₡1,018
$3.02 $3.02
-25.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 ₡799
$0.90 $0.90
97.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ₡3,551
$17.91 $17.91
-55.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₡673
$1.01 $1.01
48.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K ₡15.1M
$29.4K $29.4K
13.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K ₡19.0M
$25.3K $25.3K
67.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Ashland, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 ₡41.9K
$200 $200
-53.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.13 ₡16.2K
$33.49 $33.49
7.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡27.2K
$60.5 $60.5
0.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Ashland, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.9 ₡31.0K
$47.07 $47.07
46.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.67 ₡3,449
$8.20 $8.20
-6.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Ashland, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$972 ₡436.9K
$904 $904
7.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K ₡8.5M
$19.9K $19.9K
-5.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Ashland, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 ₡31.8K
$55.0 $55.0
28.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7 ₡25.5K
$44.37 $44.37
27.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 ₡57.8K
$101 $101
27.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 ₡58.8K
$105 $105
24.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Ashland, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 ₡525.9K
$896 $896
30.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$943 ₡424.1K
$1,148 $1,148
-17.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 ₡892.0K
$1,328 $1,328
49.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 ₡629.5K
$1,688 $1,688
-17.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,681 ₡1.2M
$1,836 $1,836
46.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,037 ₡915.8K
$2,044 $2,044
-0.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Ashland, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$987 ₡443.6K
$3,615 $3,615
-72.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.6
30.61%

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

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Last update for Ashland, OH: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$943
Ashland, OH
$1.1K 21.8% $205
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$403
Ashland, OH
$312 22.5% $91
Eating Out
San Jose
$232
Ashland, OH
$183 21.3% $50
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$190
Ashland, OH
$294 54.8% $104
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$174
Ashland, OH
$138 20.9% $36
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$84
Ashland, OH
$63 24.7% $21
Getting Around
San Jose
$81
Ashland, OH
$231 186% $150

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,170 in San Jose and $896 in Ashland, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashland, OH pays about 3.7 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $62 in San Jose vs $35 in Ashland, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $312 per month, with Ashland, OH cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇺🇸 Ashland, OH
🕒 Local time
13:37 1:37 PM
14:37 2:37 PM
1 h ahead of San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
21,684
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 502 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.895 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Jose Ashland, OH 3,440 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Ashland, OH

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 Ashland, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, San Jose or Ashland, OH?
San Jose wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Ashland, OH. 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 San Jose or in Ashland, OH?
On paper, salaries run 73% lower in San Jose. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in San Jose compared to Ashland, OH?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,170 in San Jose versus $896 in Ashland, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in San Jose and in Ashland, OH?
Dining out is cheaper in Ashland, OH – a meal for two runs $35 versus $62 in San Jose. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in San Jose compared to Ashland, OH?
All in, you’ll spend $2,107 per month in San Jose versus $2,369 in Ashland, OH – San Jose is about 11% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city offers a better quality of life: San Jose or Ashland, OH?
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 San Jose or to Ashland, OH?
It comes down to priorities – San Jose wins on affordability, Ashland, OH on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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