Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Davenport, IA

For one person, living costs are similar in San Jose and in Davenport, IA: $1,938 and $2,001 a month, rent and utilities included.

San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,938
/mo nomad
Davenport, IA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,001
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Davenport, IA

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 Davenport, IA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,938 per month in San Jose vs $2,001 in Davenport, IA, rent included.

  • San Jose $1,938
  • Davenport, IA $2,001

A couple spends around $2,936 per month in San Jose vs $3,136 in Davenport, IA, rent included.

  • San Jose $2,936
  • Davenport, IA $3,136

A family of three spends $3,934 per month in San Jose vs $4,270 in Davenport, IA, rent included.

  • San Jose $3,934
  • Davenport, IA $4,270

San Jose is about 3% cheaper than Davenport, IA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both San Jose and Davenport, IA sit above the global median – San Jose by 44%, Davenport, IA by 48%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Davenport, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.38 ₡5,551
$19.95 $19.95
-37.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.9 ₡27.3K
$74.5 $74.5
-18.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.45 ₡5,135
$8.55 $8.55
33.92%
Cappuccino
$4.39 ₡1,967
$5.16 $5.16
-14.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 ₡1,211
$2.85 $2.85
-5.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 ₡864
$1.99 $1.99
-3.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.20 ₡1,433
$6.07 $6.07
-47.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 ₡1,979
$7.38 $7.38
-40.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Davenport, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.44 ₡1,093
$0.77 $0.77
216.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 ₡1,369
$3.17 $3.17
-3.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.41 ₡1,081
$5.10 $5.10
-52.75%
Eggs
$3.40 ₡1,523
$2.77 $2.77
22.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.75 ₡4,823
$6.50 $6.50
65.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.43 ₡4,679
$12.48 $12.48
-16.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 ₡6,273
$15.51 $15.51
-9.80%
Apples (1kg)
$5.25 ₡2,353
$5.22 $5.22
0.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₡712
$1.43 $1.43
11.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.69 ₡2,103
$4.49 $4.49
4.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 ₡1,770
$5.02 $5.02
-21.31%
Potato (1kg)
$3.92 ₡1,760
$2.58 $2.58
51.94%
Onion (1kg)
$3.68 ₡1,651
$2.60 $2.60
41.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₡503
$2.27 $2.27
-50.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.19 ₡1,429
$2.18 $2.18
46.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.00 ₡2,692
$7.86 $7.86
-23.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.56 ₡8,771
$15.58 $15.58
25.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 ₡1,263
$1.96 $1.96
43.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ₡1,611
$3.55 $3.55
1.13%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Davenport, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡503
$0.99 $0.99
13.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.8 ₡30.0K
$22.08 $22.08
202.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.50 ₡1,119
$2.74 $2.74
-8.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 ₡733
$0.57 $0.57
185.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.50 ₡3,812
$12.06 $12.06
-29.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$0.88 $0.88
77.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K ₡10.0M
$28.5K $28.5K
-21.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6K ₡16.0M
$25.7K $25.7K
38.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Davenport, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.2 ₡42.7K
$200 $200
-52.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.58 ₡16.0K
$68.7 $68.7
-48.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.6 ₡26.3K
$72.8 $72.8
-19.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Davenport, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.7 ₡32.6K
$32.23 $32.23
125.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.85 ₡11.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.58 ₡3,401
$14.17 $14.17
-46.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Davenport, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,001 ₡449.0K
$329 $329
204.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K ₡7.7M
$23.9K $23.9K
-28.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Davenport, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.5 ₡31.6K
$53.2 $53.2
32.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 ₡25.0K
$35.73 $35.73
56.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 ₡58.2K
$59.0 $59.0
119.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 ₡58.7K
$75.6 $75.6
73.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Davenport, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$927 ₡415.8K
$1,447 $1,447
-35.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₡347.2K
$782 $782
-0.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,967 ₡882.0K
$2,255 $2,255
-12.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,288 ₡577.6K
$1,598 $1,598
-19.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,274 ₡1.0M
$1,555 $1,555
46.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,831 ₡821.0K
$1,416 $1,416
29.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Davenport, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,016 ₡455.8K
$3,773 $3,773
-73.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.26
37.70%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Last update for Davenport, IA: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$774
Davenport, IA
$782 1% $7.5
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$401
Davenport, IA
$373 6.9% $28
Eating Out
San Jose
$229
Davenport, IA
$312 35.9% $82
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$189
Davenport, IA
$342 80.4% $152
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$174
Davenport, IA
$101 42.2% $73
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$88
Davenport, IA
$61 31% $27
Getting Around
San Jose
$82
Davenport, IA
$32 61.4% $50

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $927 in San Jose versus $1,447 in Davenport, IA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 271% higher in Davenport, IA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in San Jose versus $75.0 in Davenport, IA. Groceries tell a different story – $401 in San Jose vs $373 in Davenport, IA – so Davenport, IA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇺🇸 Davenport, IA
🕒 Local time
06:43 6:43 AM
07:43 7:43 AM
1 h ahead of San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
101,724
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Jose Davenport, IA 3,570 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Davenport, IA

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 Davenport, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in San Jose and in Davenport, IA compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,938 in San Jose, $2,001 in Davenport, IA – roughly 3% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in San Jose compared to Davenport, IA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,907 per month in San Jose and $3,002 in Davenport, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between San Jose and Davenport, IA?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Davenport, IA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in San Jose and $75.0 in Davenport, IA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
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 $1,938, than in Davenport, IA at $2,001. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Davenport, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between San Jose and Davenport, IA?
It depends on your priorities. San Jose has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,938 in San Jose to $2,001 in Davenport, IA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is San Jose or Davenport, IA safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between San Jose and Davenport, IA?
If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Davenport, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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