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: $1,557 in San Jose versus $2,032 in Escazu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,467 in San Jose versus $2,800 in Escazu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,377 in San Jose versus $3,569 in Escazu.

Living in San Jose costs roughly 23% less than in Escazu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Jose 16% above, Escazu 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.03 ₡5,023

$10.96 ₡4,993

0.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 ₡27.5K

$59.7 ₡27.2K

1.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.09 ₡4,598

$9.90 ₡4,512

1.92%

Cappuccino

$3.78 ₡1,720

$3.90 ₡1,777

-3.08%

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

$1.97 ₡899

$2.06 ₡937

-4.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₡717

$1.66 ₡758

-5.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 ₡1,349

$3.02 ₡1,374

-1.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 ₡2,137

$4.65 ₡2,120

0.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ₡926

$2.06 ₡938

-1.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 ₡1,263

$2.75 ₡1,252

0.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ₡1,012

$2.21 ₡1,008

0.45%

Eggs

$2.92 ₡1,328

$2.94 ₡1,340

-0.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.23 ₡4,660

$9.86 ₡4,492

3.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.02 ₡4,109

$9.28 ₡4,226

-2.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.94 ₡6,349

$13.73 ₡6,254

1.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.62 ₡2,104

$4.63 ₡2,110

-0.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₡669

$1.49 ₡679

-1.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 ₡1,960

$4.21 ₡1,919

2.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.40 ₡1,550

$3.20 ₡1,459

6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 ₡1,543

$3.57 ₡1,627

-5.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 ₡1,452

$3.24 ₡1,475

-1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡459

$0.95 ₡431

6.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,328

$2.96 ₡1,347

-1.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 ₡2,359

$4.83 ₡2,200

7.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.79 ₡9,925

$18.74 ₡8,537

16.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 ₡1,133

$1.76 ₡804

41.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₡1,345

$2.73 ₡1,244

8.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₡469

$0.96 ₡439

7.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.53 ₡18.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡821

$1.66 ₡758

8.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 ₡841

$1.77 ₡806

4.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 ₡3,624

$8.10 ₡3,688

-1.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡664

$1.39 ₡633

5.04%

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

$37.9K ₡17.2M

$31.4K ₡14.3M

20.75%

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

$32.7K ₡14.9M

$32.5K ₡14.8M

0.54%

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

$94.3 ₡42.9K

$66.2 ₡30.2K

42.34%

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

$26.12 ₡11.9K

$25.87 ₡11.8K

0.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.4 ₡27.1K

$50.1 ₡22.8K

18.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.7 ₡25.4K

$108 ₡49.1K

-48.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.69 ₡17.2K

$10.16 ₡4,629

270.96%

Cinema Ticket

$9.68 ₡4,410

$9.78 ₡4,454

-1.02%

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

$570 ₡259.8K

$580 ₡264.0K

-1.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡5.8M

$14.3K ₡6.5M

-11.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 ₡29.0K

$61.7 ₡28.1K

3.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 ₡23.8K

$51.2 ₡23.3K

1.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡57.7K

$126 ₡57.5K

0.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.9K

$105 ₡48.0K

1.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$872 ₡397.1K

$1,065 ₡485.3K

-18.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₡244.2K

$1,059 ₡482.4K

-49.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 ₡655.6K

$1,681 ₡765.7K

-14.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ₡470.1K

$1,312 ₡597.5K

-21.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,332 ₡1.1M

$1,625 ₡740.0K

43.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,797 ₡818.8K

$1,132 ₡515.8K

58.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,050 ₡478.1K

$1,759 ₡801.2K

-40.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for San Jose: April 27, 2026

Last update for Escazu: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $872 in San Jose and $1,065 in Escazu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Escazu pays 68% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $60.0 in San Jose vs $60.0 in Escazu. Groceries flip the comparison at $370 vs $359, with Escazu cheaper for home cooking.

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

San Jose is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Escazu earns 68% less. 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: $872 in San Jose versus $1,065 in Escazu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Escazu pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,557 per month in San Jose versus $2,032 in Escazu – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,557 in San Jose versus $2,032 in Escazu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Escazu. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, San Jose is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Escazu, 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 San Jose gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.