Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Cuba

For one person, living is cheaper in Cuba: $1,277 a month against $2,107 in San Jose, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

San Jose, Costa Rica
Cuba
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
🇨🇺 Cuba
$1,277
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 36.7% more expensive than Cuba without rent, and 65% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 63% more expensive than Cuba without rent, and 83.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Cuba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.37 ₡5,563
$5.55 CUP 133
122.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 ₡28.0K
$24.58 CUP 590
153.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 ₡5,264
$6.61 CUP 159
77.16%
Cappuccino
$4.54 ₡2,040
$1.65 CUP 39.71
175.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$1.76 CUP 42.27
56.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₡837
$1.12 CUP 26.77
66.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₡1,505
$2.02 CUP 48.57
65.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 ₡1,944
$2.41 CUP 57.9
79.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Cuba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 ₡1,061
$2.82 CUP 67.7
-16.31%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 ₡1,379
$1.20 CUP 28.79
155.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,128
$2.01 CUP 48.17
24.88%
Eggs
$3.53 ₡1,585
$3.30 CUP 79.2
6.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.54 ₡4,738
$5.81 CUP 139
81.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 ₡4,754
$5.29 CUP 127
99.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.92 ₡6,261
$11.04 CUP 265
26.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 ₡2,338
$4.15 CUP 99.7
25.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₡740
$1.12 CUP 26.86
47.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.89 ₡2,198
$1.81 CUP 43.45
170.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 ₡1,728
$1.93 CUP 46.35
98.96%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ₡1,757
$1.96 CUP 47.03
99.49%
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,692
$2.53 CUP 60.7
48.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₡504
$0.98 CUP 23.56
14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.22 ₡1,447
$0.95 CUP 22.71
238.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.02 ₡2,706
$3.19 CUP 76.6
88.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.84 ₡8,919
$9.67 CUP 232
105.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,264
$1.72 CUP 41.30
63.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 ₡1,643
$2.21 CUP 53.0
65.16%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Cuba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡487
$0.21 CUP 5.16
414.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₡29.3K
$19.72 CUP 473
230.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 ₡1,018
$2.24 CUP 53.7
0.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 ₡799
$0.38 CUP 9.15
368.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ₡3,551
$20.11 CUP 483
-60.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₡673
$1.23 CUP 29.62
21.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K ₡15.1M
$68.9K CUP 1.7M
-51.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K ₡19.0M
$74.3K CUP 1.8M
-43.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Cuba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 ₡41.9K
$37.50 CUP 900
148.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.13 ₡16.2K
$35.07 CUP 842
3.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡27.2K
$229 CUP 5,501
-73.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Cuba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.9 ₡31.0K
$38.43 CUP 922
79.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.94 ₡11.2K
$12.74 CUP 306
95.76%
Cinema Ticket
$7.67 ₡3,449
$0.98 CUP 23.56
682.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Cuba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$972 ₡436.9K
$116 CUP 2,785
737.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K ₡8.5M
$13.4K CUP 322.4K
40.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Cuba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 ₡31.8K
$46.50 CUP 1,116
51.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7 ₡25.5K
$35.13 CUP 843
61.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 ₡57.8K
$72.4 CUP 1,738
77.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 ₡58.8K
$72.6 CUP 1,743
80.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Cuba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 ₡525.9K
$327 CUP 7,840
258.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$943 ₡424.1K
$456 CUP 10.9K
106.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 ₡892.0K
$858 CUP 20.6K
131.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 ₡629.5K
$603 CUP 14.5K
132.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,681 ₡1.2M
$352 CUP 8,441
662.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,037 ₡915.8K
$344 CUP 8,267
491.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Cuba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$987 ₡443.6K
$35.85 CUP 860
2652.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
9.38
-8.10%

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

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Last update for Cuba: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$943
Cuba
$456 51.6% $487
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$403
Cuba
$241 40% $161
Eating Out
San Jose
$232
Cuba
$111 52.4% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$190
Cuba
$302 58.9% $112
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$174
Cuba
$102 41.4% $72
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$84
Cuba
$40 52.1% $44
Getting Around
San Jose
$81
Cuba
$25 69.4% $56
Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇨🇺 Cuba
🕒 Local time
21:39 9:39 PM
22:39 10:39 PM
1 h ahead of San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
10,985,974
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CUP, 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).

Cuban Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 24 CUP (100 CUP = 4.17 USD). 1 EUR = 26.94 CUP (100 CUP = 3.71 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Jose Cuba 1,480 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Cuba

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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