Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and the Bahamas

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $3,359 in the Bahamas, rent and utilities included – about $15,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

San Jose, Costa Rica
Bahamas
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
🇧🇸 Bahamas
$3,359
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose is 41.4% cheaper than the Bahamas without rent, and 37.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: San Jose is 45.4% cheaper than the Bahamas without rent, and 52.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Bahamas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.37 ₡5,563
$48.97 BSD 48.97
-74.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 ₡28.0K
$166 BSD 166
-62.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 ₡5,264
$12.03 BSD 12.03
-2.66%
Cappuccino
$4.54 ₡2,040
$5.37 BSD 5.37
-15.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$3.07 BSD 3.07
-10.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₡837
$1.94 BSD 1.94
-4.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₡1,505
$5.05 BSD 5.05
-33.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 ₡1,944
$8.08 BSD 8.08
-46.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Bahamas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 ₡1,061
$4.02 BSD 4.02
-41.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 ₡1,379
$5.69 BSD 5.69
-46.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,128
$5.95 BSD 5.95
-57.82%
Eggs
$3.53 ₡1,585
$8.60 BSD 8.60
-58.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.54 ₡4,738
$13.09 BSD 13.09
-19.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 ₡4,754
$13.35 BSD 13.35
-20.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.92 ₡6,261
$17.13 BSD 17.13
-18.74%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 ₡2,338
$7.63 BSD 7.63
-31.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₡740
$4.06 BSD 4.06
-59.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.89 ₡2,198
$6.38 BSD 6.38
-23.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 ₡1,728
$10.09 BSD 10.09
-61.94%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ₡1,757
$3.84 BSD 3.84
1.82%
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,692
$3.67 BSD 3.67
2.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₡504
$4.42 BSD 4.42
-74.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.22 ₡1,447
$2.93 BSD 2.93
9.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.02 ₡2,706
$14.75 BSD 14.75
-59.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.84 ₡8,919
$27.95 BSD 27.95
-29.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,264
$4.45 BSD 4.45
-36.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 ₡1,643
$4.15 BSD 4.15
-12.05%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Bahamas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡487
$2.13 BSD 2.13
-49.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₡29.3K
$153 BSD 153
-57.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 ₡1,018
$8.04 BSD 8.04
-71.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 ₡799
$3.03 BSD 3.03
-41.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ₡3,551
$75.1 BSD 75.1
-89.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₡673
$1.53 BSD 1.53
-1.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K ₡15.1M
$38.1K BSD 38.1K
-12.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K ₡19.0M
$40.7K BSD 40.7K
3.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Bahamas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 ₡41.9K
$300 BSD 300
-68.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.13 ₡16.2K
$63.1 BSD 63.1
-42.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡27.2K
$106 BSD 106
-42.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Bahamas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.9 ₡31.0K
$115 BSD 115
-40.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.94 ₡11.2K
$45.50 BSD 45.50
-45.19%
Cinema Ticket
$7.67 ₡3,449
$19.36 BSD 19.36
-60.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Bahamas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$972 ₡436.9K
$918 BSD 918
5.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K ₡8.5M
$22.1K BSD 22.1K
-14.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Bahamas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 ₡31.8K
$53.8 BSD 53.8
31.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7 ₡25.5K
$84.2 BSD 84.2
-32.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 ₡57.8K
$106 BSD 106
21.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 ₡58.8K
$107 BSD 107
22.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Bahamas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 ₡525.9K
$1,302 BSD 1,302
-10.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$943 ₡424.1K
$1,230 BSD 1,230
-23.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 ₡892.0K
$3,516 BSD 3,516
-43.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 ₡629.5K
$3,476 BSD 3,476
-59.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,681 ₡1.2M
$6,056 BSD 6,056
-55.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,037 ₡915.8K
$3,548 BSD 3,548
-42.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Bahamas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$987 ₡443.6K
$2,430 BSD 2,430
-59.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
11.82
-27.07%

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

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Last update for the Bahamas: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$943
Bahamas
$1.2K 30.4% $287
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$403
Bahamas
$609 51.3% $207
Eating Out
San Jose
$232
Bahamas
$554 138% $321
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$190
Bahamas
$469 147% $279
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$174
Bahamas
$158 9.4% $16
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$84
Bahamas
$154 82.8% $70
Getting Around
San Jose
$81
Bahamas
$185 129% $104
Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇧🇸 Bahamas
🕒 Local time
12:03 12:03 PM
13:03 1:03 PM
1 h ahead of San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
399,440
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BSD, 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 = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Bahamian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1 BSD (1 BSD = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 BSD (1 BSD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Jose Bahamas 1,830 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Bahamas

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

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