Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Cherry Hill, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $3,208 in Cherry Hill, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $13,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

San Jose, Costa Rica
Cherry Hill, NJ, United States
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Cherry Hill, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$3,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Cherry Hill, NJ

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 Cherry Hill, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,107 per month in San Jose vs $3,208 in Cherry Hill, NJ, rent included.

  • San Jose $2,107
  • Cherry Hill, NJ $3,208

A couple spends around $3,081 per month in San Jose vs $4,874 in Cherry Hill, NJ, rent included.

  • San Jose $3,081
  • Cherry Hill, NJ $4,874

A family of three spends $4,054 per month in San Jose vs $6,539 in Cherry Hill, NJ, rent included.

  • San Jose $4,054
  • Cherry Hill, NJ $6,539

San Jose is about 34% cheaper than Cherry Hill, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both San Jose and Cherry Hill, NJ sit above the global median – San Jose by 56%, Cherry Hill, NJ by 137%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Cherry Hill, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.37 ₡5,563
$22.95 $22.95
-46.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 ₡28.0K
$88.6 $88.6
-29.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 ₡5,264
$12.21 $12.21
-4.10%
Cappuccino
$4.54 ₡2,040
$5.15 $5.15
-11.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$2.88 $2.88
-4.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₡837
$2.30 $2.30
-19.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₡1,505
$5.93 $5.93
-43.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 ₡1,944
$8.06 $8.06
-46.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Cherry Hill, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 ₡1,061
$1.44 $1.44
63.89%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 ₡1,379
$4.28 $4.28
-28.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,128
$7.14 $7.14
-64.85%
Eggs
$3.53 ₡1,585
$6.29 $6.29
-43.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.54 ₡4,738
$12.27 $12.27
-14.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 ₡4,754
$15.51 $15.51
-31.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.92 ₡6,261
$18.39 $18.39
-24.31%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 ₡2,338
$5.70 $5.70
-8.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₡740
$1.57 $1.57
5.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.89 ₡2,198
$5.33 $5.33
-8.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 ₡1,728
$5.61 $5.61
-31.55%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ₡1,757
$4.11 $4.11
-4.87%
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,692
$4.89 $4.89
-23.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₡504
$2.52 $2.52
-55.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.22 ₡1,447
$2.46 $2.46
30.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.02 ₡2,706
$11.65 $11.65
-48.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.84 ₡8,919
$17.05 $17.05
16.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,264
$2.42 $2.42
16.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 ₡1,643
$4.52 $4.52
-19.25%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Cherry Hill, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡487
$6.15 $6.15
-82.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₡29.3K
$182 $182
-64.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 ₡1,018
$2.63 $2.63
-14.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 ₡799
$1.81 $1.81
-1.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ₡3,551
$26.22 $26.22
-69.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₡673
$1.11 $1.11
35.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K ₡15.1M
$31.1K $31.1K
7.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K ₡19.0M
$25.5K $25.5K
66.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Cherry Hill, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 ₡41.9K
$227 $227
-59.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.13 ₡16.2K
$59.9 $59.9
-39.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡27.2K
$61.0 $61.0
-0.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Cherry Hill, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.9 ₡31.0K
$51.7 $51.7
33.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.67 ₡3,449
$15.09 $15.09
-49.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Cherry Hill, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$972 ₡436.9K
$2,076 $2,076
-53.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K ₡8.5M
$44.6K $44.6K
-57.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Cherry Hill, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 ₡31.8K
$50.8 $50.8
39.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7 ₡25.5K
$43.72 $43.72
29.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 ₡57.8K
$106 $106
21.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 ₡58.8K
$118 $118
10.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Cherry Hill, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 ₡525.9K
$2,063 $2,063
-43.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$943 ₡424.1K
$1,583 $1,583
-40.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 ₡892.0K
$3,248 $3,248
-38.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 ₡629.5K
$2,936 $2,936
-52.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,681 ₡1.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,037 ₡915.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Cherry Hill, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$987 ₡443.6K
$5,018 $5,018
-80.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.78
27.14%

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

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Last update for Cherry Hill, NJ: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$943
Cherry Hill, NJ
$1.6K 67.8% $640
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$403
Cherry Hill, NJ
$485 20.4% $82
Eating Out
San Jose
$232
Cherry Hill, NJ
$348 49.9% $116
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$190
Cherry Hill, NJ
$348 83.5% $159
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$174
Cherry Hill, NJ
$143 17.7% $31
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$84
Cherry Hill, NJ
$82 2.8% $2.3
Getting Around
San Jose
$81
Cherry Hill, NJ
$218 170% $138

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,170 in San Jose versus $2,063 in Cherry Hill, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Cherry Hill, NJ are about 5.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in San Jose versus $89 in Cherry Hill, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $403 vs $485 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇺🇸 Cherry Hill, NJ
🕒 Local time
16:09 4:09 PM
17:09 5:09 PM
1 h ahead of San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
71,586
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 Cherry Hill, NJ 3,450 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Cherry Hill, NJ

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 Cherry Hill, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in San Jose and in Cherry Hill, NJ compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,107 in San Jose, $3,208 in Cherry Hill, NJ – San Jose comes out roughly 34% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in San Jose compared to Cherry Hill, NJ?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,161 per month in San Jose and $4,812 in Cherry Hill, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between San Jose and Cherry Hill, NJ?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,170 there versus $2,063 in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in San Jose and $89 in Cherry Hill, NJ. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: San Jose or Cherry Hill, NJ?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,107 in San Jose and $3,208 in Cherry Hill, NJ. That makes San Jose about 34% cheaper.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $2,107, than in Cherry Hill, NJ at $3,208. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cherry Hill, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: San Jose or Cherry Hill, NJ?
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.
How do I decide between San Jose and Cherry Hill, NJ?
If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cherry Hill, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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