Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Fort Smith, AR

For one person, living costs are similar in San Jose and in Fort Smith, AR: $1,938 and $1,978 a month, rent and utilities included.

94

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
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San Jose Living Index
95

Cost of Living Index in Fort Smith, AR
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Fort Smith, AR Living Index

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San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,938

/mo nomad

Fort Smith, AR

🇺🇸 United States

$1,978

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Fort Smith, AR

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 Fort Smith, AR actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,938 in San Jose versus $1,978 in Fort Smith, AR.

San Jose $1,938
Fort Smith, AR $1,978

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,936 in San Jose versus $3,030 in Fort Smith, AR.

San Jose $2,936
Fort Smith, AR $3,030

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,934 in San Jose versus $4,081 in Fort Smith, AR.

San Jose $3,934
Fort Smith, AR $4,081

Living in San Jose costs roughly 2% less than in Fort Smith, AR, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Jose 44% above, Fort Smith, AR 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.38 ₡5,551

$20.37 $20.37

-39.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 ₡27.3K

$65.0 $65.0

-6.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.45 ₡5,135

$11.35 $11.35

0.88%

Cappuccino

$4.39 ₡1,967

$5.35 $5.35

-17.94%

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

$2.70 ₡1,211

$2.31 $2.31

16.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₡864

$2.06 $2.06

-6.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ₡1,433

$6.13 $6.13

-47.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,979

$9.09 $9.09

-51.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 ₡1,093

$1.02 $1.02

139.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ₡1,369

$3.44 $3.44

-11.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,081

$3.67 $3.67

-34.33%

Eggs

$3.40 ₡1,523

$2.97 $2.97

14.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ₡4,823

$7.37 $7.37

45.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.43 ₡4,679

$10.94 $10.94

-4.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 ₡6,273

$19.62 $19.62

-28.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ₡2,353

$4.95 $4.95

6.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₡712

$1.42 $1.42

11.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.69 ₡2,103

$2.56 $2.56

83.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 ₡1,770

$2.10 $2.10

88.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 ₡1,760

$1.90 $1.90

106.32%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 ₡1,651

$1.58 $1.58

132.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₡503

$1.81 $1.81

-38.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 ₡1,429

$2.26 $2.26

41.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.00 ₡2,692

$8.08 $8.08

-25.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.56 ₡8,771

$14.13 $14.13

38.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,263

$1.84 $1.84

53.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ₡1,611

$2.52 $2.52

42.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡503

$1.28 $1.28

-12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.8 ₡30.0K

$35.56 $35.56

87.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₡1,119

$2.73 $2.73

-8.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡733

$1.28 $1.28

27.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.50 ₡3,812

$30.11 $30.11

-71.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$0.79 $0.79

97.47%

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

$22.4K ₡10.0M

$25.5K $25.5K

-12.23%

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

$35.6K ₡16.0M

$25.8K $25.8K

37.72%

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

$95.2 ₡42.7K

$274 $274

-65.26%

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

$35.58 ₡16.0K

$70.6 $70.6

-49.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 ₡26.3K

$68.5 $68.5

-14.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 ₡32.6K

$27.02 $27.02

168.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.85 ₡11.1K

$15.73 $15.73

57.98%

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 ₡3,401

$13.27 $13.27

-42.88%

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

$1,001 ₡449.0K

$890 $890

12.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ₡7.7M

$23.9K $23.9K

-28.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 ₡31.6K

$52.9 $52.9

33.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.0K

$41.60 $41.60

34.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 ₡58.2K

$93.6 $93.6

38.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 ₡58.7K

$77.1 $77.1

69.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$927 ₡415.8K

$681 $681

36.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₡347.2K

$668 $668

15.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,967 ₡882.0K

$1,500 $1,500

31.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,288 ₡577.6K

$1,328 $1,328

-3.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,274 ₡1.0M

$1,547 $1,547

47.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,831 ₡821.0K

$1,540 $1,540

18.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,016 ₡455.8K

$3,041 $3,041

-66.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.38

35.11%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Last update for Fort Smith, AR: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

San Jose

$774 40%

Fort Smith, AR

$668 33.8% 13.7% $106

Groceries & Markets

San Jose

$401 20.7%

Fort Smith, AR

$347 17.5% 13.6% $54

Eating Out

San Jose

$229 11.8%

Fort Smith, AR

$328 16.6% 42.8% $98

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Jose

$189 9.8%

Fort Smith, AR

$413 20.9% 118% $224

Clothing & Footwear

San Jose

$174 9%

Fort Smith, AR

$119 6% 31.4% $55

Sport & Entertainment

San Jose

$88 4.5%

Fort Smith, AR

$54 2.7% 39% $34

Getting Around

San Jose

$82 4.2%

Fort Smith, AR

$50 2.5% 39.2% $32

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $927 in San Jose and $681 in Fort Smith, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Smith, AR pays 199% 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: $61.0 in San Jose vs $65.0 in Fort Smith, AR. Groceries flip the comparison at $401 vs $347, with Fort Smith, AR cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇨🇷 San Jose

🇺🇸 Fort Smith, AR

🕒 Local time

09:05 9:05 AM

10:05 10:05 AM

1 h ahead of San Jose

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

342,188 Capital

89,142

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

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).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

San Jose Fort Smith, AR 3,020 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

San Jose
Fort Smith, AR

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 Fort Smith, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Fort Smith, AR. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Jose the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 199% lower in Fort Smith, AR. 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: $927 in San Jose versus $681 in Fort Smith, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,938 per month in San Jose versus $1,978 in Fort Smith, AR – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Jose runs roughly 88% less than in Fort Smith, AR. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,938 in San Jose versus $1,978 in Fort Smith, AR, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Fort Smith, AR. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but San Jose delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,938 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Jose hard to pass up.

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