Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Highlands Ranch, CO

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $3,464 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent and utilities included – about $16,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

101

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
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San Jose Living Index
165

Cost of Living Index in Highlands Ranch, CO
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Highlands Ranch, CO Living Index

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San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$2,107

/mo nomad

Highlands Ranch, CO

🇺🇸 United States

$3,464

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Highlands Ranch, CO

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 Highlands Ranch, CO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,107 per month in San Jose vs $3,464 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

San Jose $2,107
Highlands Ranch, CO $3,464

A couple spends around $3,081 per month in San Jose vs $4,105 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

San Jose $3,081
Highlands Ranch, CO $4,105

A family of three spends $4,054 per month in San Jose vs $4,746 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent included.

San Jose $4,054
Highlands Ranch, CO $4,746

San Jose is about 39% cheaper than Highlands Ranch, CO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both San Jose and Highlands Ranch, CO sit above the global median – San Jose by 56%, Highlands Ranch, CO by 156%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.37 ₡5,563

$15.27 $15.27

-18.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.4 ₡28.0K

$80.9 $80.9

-22.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.71 ₡5,264

$9.80 $9.80

19.49%

Cappuccino

$4.54 ₡2,040

$6.20 $6.20

-26.77%

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

$2.75 ₡1,238

$2.55 $2.55

7.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ₡837

$2.08 $2.08

-10.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 ₡1,505

$4.88 $4.88

-31.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₡1,944

$5.82 $5.82

-25.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 ₡1,061

$0.98 $0.98

140.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 ₡1,379

$2.97 $2.97

3.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,128

$2.74 $2.74

-8.39%

Eggs

$3.53 ₡1,585

$4.33 $4.33

-18.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.54 ₡4,738

$10.89 $10.89

-3.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.57 ₡4,754

$9.14 $9.14

15.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.92 ₡6,261

$19.48 $19.48

-28.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 ₡2,338

$4.97 $4.97

4.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₡740

$1.58 $1.58

4.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.89 ₡2,198

$4.88 $4.88

0.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 ₡1,728

$5.17 $5.17

-25.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.91 ₡1,757

$3.46 $3.46

13.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 ₡1,692

$4.65 $4.65

-19.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₡504

$2.32 $2.32

-51.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.22 ₡1,447

$1.70 $1.70

89.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.02 ₡2,706

$10.24 $10.24

-41.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.84 ₡8,919

$16.25 $16.25

22.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₡1,264

$2.59 $2.59

8.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 ₡1,643

$2.74 $2.74

33.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₡487

$2.01 $2.01

-46.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.2 ₡29.3K

$52.5 $52.5

24.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 ₡1,018

$2.53 $2.53

-10.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡799

$1.82 $1.82

-2.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.90 ₡3,551

$24.64 $24.64

-67.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ₡673

$1.12 $1.12

33.93%

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

$33.5K ₡15.1M

$28.2K $28.2K

18.49%

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

$42.3K ₡19.0M

$26.3K $26.3K

60.89%

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

$93.2 ₡41.9K

$211 $211

-55.78%

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

$36.13 ₡16.2K

$55.8 $55.8

-35.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 ₡27.2K

$70.1 $70.1

-13.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.9 ₡31.0K

$45.53 $45.53

51.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.94 ₡11.2K

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 ₡3,449

$12.24 $12.24

-37.34%

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

$972 ₡436.9K

$1,334 $1,334

-27.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K ₡8.5M

$11.5K $11.5K

63.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.6 ₡31.8K

$60.3 $60.3

17.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.7 ₡25.5K

$69.2 $69.2

-18.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 ₡57.8K

$80.2 $80.2

60.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 ₡58.8K

$117 $117

11.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,170 ₡525.9K

$1,574 $1,574

-25.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$943 ₡424.1K

$2,173 $2,173

-56.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,984 ₡892.0K

$2,791 $2,791

-28.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,400 ₡629.5K

$1,882 $1,882

-25.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,681 ₡1.2M

$2,806 $2,806

-4.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,037 ₡915.8K

$2,287 $2,287

-10.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$987 ₡443.6K

$7,126 $7,126

-86.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.7

28.66%

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

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Last update for Highlands Ranch, CO: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

San Jose

$943 44.8%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$2.2K 62.7% 130% $1.2K

Groceries & Markets

San Jose

$403 19.1%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$385 11.1% 4.5% $18

Eating Out

San Jose

$232 11%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$281 8.1% 20.7% $48

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Jose

$190 9%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$337 9.7% 77.3% $147

Clothing & Footwear

San Jose

$174 8.3%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$147 4.3% 15.4% $27

Sport & Entertainment

San Jose

$84 4%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$70 2% 16.9% $14

Getting Around

San Jose

$81 3.8%

Highlands Ranch, CO

$72 2.1% 10.6% $8.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,170 in San Jose versus $1,574 in Highlands Ranch, CO. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Highlands Ranch, CO are about 7.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in San Jose versus $81 in Highlands Ranch, CO. Groceries tell a different story – $403 in San Jose vs $385 in Highlands Ranch, CO – so Highlands Ranch, CO wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇨🇷 San Jose

🇺🇸 Highlands Ranch, CO

🕒 Local time

09:23 9:23 AM

08:23 8:23 AM

1 h behind San Jose

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

342,188 Capital

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.22 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 November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

San Jose Highlands Ranch, CO 3,890 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

San Jose
Highlands Ranch, CO

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 Highlands Ranch, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,107 in San Jose, $3,464 in Highlands Ranch, CO – San Jose comes out roughly 39% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,161 per month in San Jose and $5,196 in Highlands Ranch, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,170 there versus $1,574 in Highlands Ranch, CO.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Highlands Ranch, CO – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in San Jose and $81 in Highlands Ranch, CO. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $2,107, than in Highlands Ranch, CO at $3,464. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highlands Ranch, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Jose – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Highlands Ranch, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.