Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Casa Grande, AZ

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,938 a month against $2,570 in Casa Grande, AZ, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Casa Grande, AZ outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

94

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
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San Jose Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Casa Grande, AZ
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Casa Grande, AZ Living Index

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San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,938

/mo nomad

Casa Grande, AZ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,570

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Casa Grande, AZ

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 Casa Grande, AZ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,938 per month in San Jose vs $2,570 in Casa Grande, AZ, rent included.

San Jose $1,938
Casa Grande, AZ $2,570

A couple spends around $2,936 per month in San Jose vs $3,734 in Casa Grande, AZ, rent included.

San Jose $2,936
Casa Grande, AZ $3,734

A family of three spends $3,934 per month in San Jose vs $4,897 in Casa Grande, AZ, rent included.

San Jose $3,934
Casa Grande, AZ $4,897

San Jose is about 25% cheaper than Casa Grande, AZ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both San Jose and Casa Grande, AZ sit above the global median – San Jose by 44%, Casa Grande, AZ by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.38 ₡5,568

$18.63 $18.63

-33.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 ₡27.4K

$74.1 $74.1

-17.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.45 ₡5,151

$11.02 $11.02

3.90%

Cappuccino

$4.39 ₡1,973

$4.94 $4.94

-11.13%

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

$2.70 ₡1,215

$2.56 $2.56

5.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₡866

$1.94 $1.94

-0.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ₡1,438

$5.88 $5.88

-45.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,985

$7.06 $7.06

-37.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 ₡1,096

$1.00 $1.00

144.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ₡1,373

$3.60 $3.60

-15.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,084

$4.34 $4.34

-44.47%

Eggs

$3.40 ₡1,528

$4.18 $4.18

-18.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ₡4,838

$12.04 $12.04

-10.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.43 ₡4,694

$11.38 $11.38

-8.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 ₡6,293

$15.73 $15.73

-11.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ₡2,360

$4.78 $4.78

9.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₡714

$1.64 $1.64

-3.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.69 ₡2,109

$4.14 $4.14

13.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 ₡1,776

$4.74 $4.74

-16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 ₡1,765

$2.81 $2.81

39.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 ₡1,657

$2.90 $2.90

26.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₡504

$2.02 $2.02

-44.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 ₡1,434

$2.13 $2.13

49.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.00 ₡2,700

$9.80 $9.80

-38.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.56 ₡8,798

$14.20 $14.20

37.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,267

$1.83 $1.83

54.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ₡1,616

$3.38 $3.38

6.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡504

$2.02 $2.02

-44.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.8 ₡30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₡1,123

$3.52 $3.52

-28.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡735

$1.61 $1.61

1.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.50 ₡3,823

$28.96 $28.96

-70.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡703

$0.89 $0.89

75.28%

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

$22.4K ₡10.1M

$29.0K $29.0K

-22.79%

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

$35.6K ₡16.0M

$25.2K $25.2K

41.28%

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

$95.2 ₡42.8K

$189 $189

-49.73%

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

$35.58 ₡16.0K

$52.4 $52.4

-32.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 ₡26.4K

$67.3 $67.3

-12.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 ₡32.7K

$42.23 $42.23

72.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.85 ₡11.2K

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 ₡3,412

$13.69 $13.69

-44.63%

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

$1,001 ₡450.4K

$1,318 $1,318

-24.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ₡7.7M

$23.1K $23.1K

-25.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 ₡31.7K

$50.6 $50.6

39.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.1K

$39.84 $39.84

40.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 ₡58.4K

$87.6 $87.6

48.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 ₡58.8K

$110 $110

18.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$927 ₡417.1K

$1,618 $1,618

-42.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₡348.3K

$1,353 $1,353

-42.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,967 ₡884.7K

$2,641 $2,641

-25.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,288 ₡579.4K

$2,197 $2,197

-41.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,274 ₡1.0M

$2,822 $2,822

-19.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,831 ₡823.5K

$2,448 $2,448

-25.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,016 ₡457.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.51

32.41%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Last update for Casa Grande, AZ: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

San Jose

$774 40%

Casa Grande, AZ

$1.4K 52.6% 74.7% $578

Groceries & Markets

San Jose

$401 20.7%

Casa Grande, AZ

$386 15% 3.6% $15

Eating Out

San Jose

$229 11.8%

Casa Grande, AZ

$303 11.8% 32.1% $74

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Jose

$189 9.8%

Casa Grande, AZ

$309 12% 63.2% $120

Clothing & Footwear

San Jose

$174 9%

Casa Grande, AZ

$130 5.1% 25.5% $44

Sport & Entertainment

San Jose

$88 4.5%

Casa Grande, AZ

$70 2.7% 20.8% $18

Getting Around

San Jose

$82 4.2%

Casa Grande, AZ

$20 * 0.8% 76% $62

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $927 in San Jose versus $1,618 in Casa Grande, AZ. 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 $61.0 in San Jose versus $74.0 in Casa Grande, AZ. Groceries tell a different story – $401 in San Jose vs $386 in Casa Grande, AZ – so Casa Grande, AZ wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇨🇷 San Jose

🇺🇸 Casa Grande, AZ

🕒 Local time

09:02 9:02 AM

08:02 8:02 AM

1 h behind San Jose

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

342,188 Capital

54,316

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR

1 USD = 0.896 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 13, 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 October 13, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

San Jose Casa Grande, AZ 3,810 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

San Jose
Casa Grande, AZ

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 Casa Grande, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,938 in San Jose, $2,570 in Casa Grande, AZ – roughly 33% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,907 per month in San Jose and $3,855 in Casa Grande, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,938 in San Jose and $2,570 in Casa Grande, AZ. That's a gap of about 33%.

Kindergarten costs $1,001 per month in San Jose and $1,318 in Casa Grande, AZ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $1,938, than in Casa Grande, AZ at $2,570. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Casa Grande, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. San Jose has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,938 in San Jose to $2,570 in Casa Grande, AZ. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Casa Grande, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.