Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Escazu Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Escazu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,969 in San Jose versus $1,922 in Escazu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,939 in San Jose versus $2,968 in Escazu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,908 in San Jose versus $4,014 in Escazu.

Living in San Jose is roughly 2% more expensive than in Escazu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Jose 44% above, Escazu 40% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.34 ₡5,486

$12.15 ₡5,401

1.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.9 ₡26.6K

$58.9 ₡26.2K

1.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 ₡5,066

$11.48 ₡5,101

-0.70%

Cappuccino

$4.31 ₡1,914

$4.30 ₡1,912

0.23%

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

$2.71 ₡1,203

$2.68 ₡1,192

1.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₡835

$1.93 ₡858

-2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 ₡1,443

$3.31 ₡1,469

-1.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,962

$4.33 ₡1,926

1.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 ₡1,044

$2.34 ₡1,040

0.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 ₡1,401

$3.13 ₡1,391

0.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.47 ₡1,096

$2.42 ₡1,076

2.07%

Eggs

$3.51 ₡1,561

$3.52 ₡1,565

-0.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.74 ₡4,771

$11.00 ₡4,890

-2.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.56 ₡4,694

$10.60 ₡4,713

-0.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 ₡6,377

$14.12 ₡6,278

1.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 ₡2,317

$5.07 ₡2,253

2.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ₡746

$1.61 ₡714

4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.90 ₡2,179

$3.20 ₡1,422

53.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 ₡1,785

$3.16 ₡1,403

27.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.79 ₡1,684

$3.77 ₡1,675

0.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,640

$3.71 ₡1,651

-0.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₡479

$1.00 ₡445

8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.16 ₡1,405

$1.71 ₡759

84.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.11 ₡2,714

$5.54 ₡2,461

10.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.20 ₡8,980

$19.25 ₡8,556

4.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,309

$1.67 ₡743

76.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 ₡1,592

$2.77 ₡1,232

29.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₡502

$1.11 ₡495

1.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₡29.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 ₡1,081

$2.10 ₡932

15.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 ₡727

$1.63 ₡726

0.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.79 ₡3,906

$8.77 ₡3,896

0.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 ₡686

$1.47 ₡652

4.76%

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

$21.9K ₡9.8M

$21.8K ₡9.7M

0.46%

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

$34.6K ₡15.4M

$34.7K ₡15.4M

-0.23%

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

$95.4 ₡42.4K

$97.4 ₡43.3K

-2.10%

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

$36.83 ₡16.4K

$30.08 ₡13.4K

22.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 ₡28.2K

$63.0 ₡28.0K

0.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 ₡33.0K

$109 ₡48.4K

-31.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.97 ₡11.5K

$9.96 ₡4,427

160.74%

Cinema Ticket

$8.49 ₡3,775

$8.36 ₡3,715

1.56%

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

$1,001 ₡444.8K

$450 ₡199.9K

122.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K ₡7.7M

$17.0K ₡7.5M

2.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.4 ₡32.6K

$72.7 ₡32.3K

0.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 ₡25.6K

$55.4 ₡24.6K

3.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡56.9K

$133 ₡58.9K

-3.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 ₡60.1K

$134 ₡59.7K

0.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$965 ₡428.7K

$843 ₡374.7K

14.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$769 ₡341.7K

$836 ₡371.6K

-8.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,911 ₡849.5K

$1,922 ₡854.0K

-0.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 ₡578.3K

$1,497 ₡665.2K

-13.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,319 ₡1.0M

$1,378 ₡612.4K

68.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,793 ₡796.8K

$945 ₡420.1K

89.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,071 ₡475.8K

$1,803 ₡801.3K

-40.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for San Jose: September 14, 2026

Last update for Escazu: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $965 in San Jose and $843 in Escazu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Escazu pays 68% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $60.0 in San Jose vs $59.0 in Escazu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $366 per month, with Escazu cheaper across the board.

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 Escazu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Escazu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 68% lower in Escazu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $965 in San Jose versus $843 in Escazu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in San Jose. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,969 per month in San Jose versus $1,922 in Escazu – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,922 in Escazu versus $1,969 in San Jose, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Escazu but tight or insufficient in San Jose. The gap between the two cities makes Escazu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Escazu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in San Jose, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, San Jose and Escazu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Escazu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in San Jose. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.