Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Canada

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $2,320 in Canada, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Canada outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

San Jose, Costa Rica
Canada
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,320
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 3.8% more expensive than Canada without rent, and 9.2% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 1.6% more expensive than Canada without rent, and 7.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.37 ₡5,563
$17.57 CA$24.63
-29.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 ₡28.0K
$71.0 CA$99.5
-12.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 ₡5,264
$10.84 CA$15.19
8.03%
Cappuccino
$4.54 ₡2,040
$3.72 CA$5.22
22.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$2.16 CA$3.03
27.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₡837
$1.74 CA$2.44
6.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₡1,505
$5.71 CA$8.00
-41.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 ₡1,944
$5.56 CA$7.79
-22.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 ₡1,061
$2.20 CA$3.08
7.27%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 ₡1,379
$2.57 CA$3.61
19.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,128
$3.50 CA$4.90
-28.29%
Eggs
$3.53 ₡1,585
$3.46 CA$4.85
2.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.54 ₡4,738
$10.68 CA$14.97
-1.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 ₡4,754
$11.86 CA$16.63
-10.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.92 ₡6,261
$15.22 CA$21.33
-8.54%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 ₡2,338
$4.14 CA$5.80
25.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₡740
$1.41 CA$1.98
17.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.89 ₡2,198
$3.78 CA$5.30
29.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 ₡1,728
$4.02 CA$5.63
-4.48%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ₡1,757
$2.73 CA$3.82
43.22%
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,692
$2.55 CA$3.57
47.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₡504
$2.67 CA$3.74
-58.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.22 ₡1,447
$1.79 CA$2.51
79.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.02 ₡2,706
$14.53 CA$20.37
-58.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.84 ₡8,919
$13.55 CA$18.99
46.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,264
$2.85 CA$3.99
-1.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 ₡1,643
$3.18 CA$4.45
14.78%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡487
$2.57 CA$3.60
-57.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₡29.3K
$74.1 CA$104
-11.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 ₡1,018
$2.99 CA$4.20
-24.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 ₡799
$1.63 CA$2.28
9.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ₡3,551
$28.37 CA$39.77
-72.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₡673
$1.20 CA$1.69
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K ₡15.1M
$27.9K CA$39.2K
19.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K ₡19.0M
$20.9K CA$29.3K
102.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 ₡41.9K
$148 CA$208
-37.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.13 ₡16.2K
$42.35 CA$59.4
-14.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡27.2K
$59.4 CA$83.3
1.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.9 ₡31.0K
$39.38 CA$55.2
75.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.94 ₡11.2K
$19.60 CA$27.47
27.24%
Cinema Ticket
$7.67 ₡3,449
$11.50 CA$16.12
-33.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$972 ₡436.9K
$706 CA$990
37.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K ₡8.5M
$16.9K CA$23.7K
11.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 ₡31.8K
$55.0 CA$77.2
28.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7 ₡25.5K
$39.55 CA$55.4
43.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 ₡57.8K
$86.5 CA$121
48.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 ₡58.8K
$105 CA$147
24.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 ₡525.9K
$1,323 CA$1,855
-11.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$943 ₡424.1K
$1,140 CA$1,598
-17.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 ₡892.0K
$2,095 CA$2,936
-5.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 ₡629.5K
$1,723 CA$2,415
-18.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,681 ₡1.2M
$4,739 CA$6,643
-43.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,037 ₡915.8K
$3,705 CA$5,194
-45.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$987 ₡443.6K
$3,037 CA$4,257
-67.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
4.88
76.64%

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

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Last update for Canada: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$943
Canada
$1.1K 20.9% $197
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$403
Canada
$370 8.1% $33
Eating Out
San Jose
$232
Canada
$273 17.5% $41
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$190
Canada
$250 31.7% $60
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$174
Canada
$129 26.1% $45
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$84
Canada
$62 26% $22
Getting Around
San Jose
$81
Canada
$95 18.3% $15
Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇨🇦 Canada
🕒 Local time
20:40 8:40 PM
21:40 9:40 PM
1 h ahead of San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
36,991,981
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, 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).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Jose Canada 4,030 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Canada

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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