Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Blythewood, SC

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $2,326 in Blythewood, SC, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Blythewood, SC outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

San Jose, Costa Rica
Blythewood, SC, United States
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Blythewood, SC
🇺🇸 United States
$2,326
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Blythewood, SC

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 Blythewood, SC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,107 per month in San Jose vs $2,326 in Blythewood, SC, rent included.

  • San Jose $2,107
  • Blythewood, SC $2,326

A couple spends around $3,081 per month in San Jose vs $3,273 in Blythewood, SC, rent included.

  • San Jose $3,081
  • Blythewood, SC $3,273

A family of three spends $4,054 per month in San Jose vs $4,220 in Blythewood, SC, rent included.

  • San Jose $4,054
  • Blythewood, SC $4,220

San Jose is about 9% cheaper than Blythewood, SC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both San Jose and Blythewood, SC sit above the global median – San Jose by 56%, Blythewood, SC by 72%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Blythewood, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.37 ₡5,563
$11.88 $11.88
4.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 ₡28.0K
$40.38 $40.38
54.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 ₡5,264
$11.76 $11.76
-0.43%
Cappuccino
$4.54 ₡2,040
$2.96 $2.96
53.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$1.83 $1.83
50.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₡837
$2.25 $2.25
-17.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₡1,505
$7.06 $7.06
-52.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 ₡1,944
$8.18 $8.18
-47.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Blythewood, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 ₡1,061
$0.87 $0.87
171.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 ₡1,379
$1.77 $1.77
73.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,128
$4.63 $4.63
-45.79%
Eggs
$3.53 ₡1,585
$5.39 $5.39
-34.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.54 ₡4,738
$23.03 $23.03
-54.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 ₡4,754
$14.31 $14.31
-26.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.92 ₡6,261
$20.36 $20.36
-31.63%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 ₡2,338
$7.82 $7.82
-33.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₡740
$1.79 $1.79
-7.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.89 ₡2,198
$4.92 $4.92
-0.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 ₡1,728
$7.10 $7.10
-45.92%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ₡1,757
$5.21 $5.21
-24.95%
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,692
$3.63 $3.63
3.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.96 $1.96
-42.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.22 ₡1,447
$3.29 $3.29
-2.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.02 ₡2,706
$8.23 $8.23
-26.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.84 ₡8,919
$13.91 $13.91
42.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,264
$2.90 $2.90
-3.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 ₡1,643
$3.05 $3.05
19.67%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Blythewood, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡487
$2.19 $2.19
-50.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₡29.3K
$51.9 $51.9
25.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 ₡1,018
$2.97 $2.97
-23.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 ₡799
$1.22 $1.22
45.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ₡3,551
$31.96 $31.96
-75.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₡673
$0.97 $0.97
54.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K ₡15.1M
$26.5K $26.5K
26.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K ₡19.0M
$25.1K $25.1K
68.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Blythewood, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 ₡41.9K
$143 $143
-34.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.13 ₡16.2K
$30.56 $30.56
18.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡27.2K
$61.0 $61.0
-0.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Blythewood, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.9 ₡31.0K
$17.32 $17.32
297.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.67 ₡3,449
$11.95 $11.95
-35.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Blythewood, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$972 ₡436.9K
$1,265 $1,265
-23.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K ₡8.5M
$22.8K $22.8K
-17.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Blythewood, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 ₡31.8K
$45.52 $45.52
55.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7 ₡25.5K
$19.94 $19.94
184.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 ₡57.8K
$90.5 $90.5
42.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 ₡58.8K
$99.2 $99.2
31.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Blythewood, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 ₡525.9K
$1,389 $1,389
-15.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$943 ₡424.1K
$1,140 $1,140
-17.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 ₡892.0K
$2,064 $2,064
-3.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 ₡629.5K
$1,677 $1,677
-16.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,681 ₡1.2M
$3,063 $3,063
-12.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,037 ₡915.8K
$2,223 $2,223
-8.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Blythewood, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$987 ₡443.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.61
30.41%

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

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Last update for Blythewood, SC: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$943
Blythewood, SC
$1.1K 20.9% $197
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$403
Blythewood, SC
$492 22.2% $89
Eating Out
San Jose
$232
Blythewood, SC
$234 0.6% $1.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$190
Blythewood, SC
$234 23.3% $44
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$174
Blythewood, SC
$115 34% $59
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$84
Blythewood, SC
$41 51.1% $43
Getting Around
San Jose
$81
Blythewood, SC
$70 13.6% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,170 in San Jose versus $1,389 in Blythewood, SC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in San Jose versus $40 in Blythewood, SC. Groceries tell a different story – $403 in San Jose vs $492 in Blythewood, SC – so San Jose wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇺🇸 Blythewood, SC
🕒 Local time
16:54 4:54 PM
17:54 5:54 PM
1 h ahead of San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
5,000
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 Blythewood, SC 2,720 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Blythewood, SC

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 Blythewood, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, San Jose or Blythewood, SC?
Blythewood, SC costs about 10% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in San Jose and in Blythewood, SC?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,161 per month in San Jose and $3,489 in Blythewood, SC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, San Jose or Blythewood, SC?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,170 there versus $1,389 in Blythewood, SC.
How expensive is transport in San Jose compared to Blythewood, SC?
Public transport costs about 20% less in Blythewood, SC. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in San Jose and in Blythewood, SC?
Kindergarten costs $972 per month in San Jose and $1,265 in Blythewood, SC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward San Jose – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

San Jose vs other spots: cost of living compared

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