Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Hot Springs, AR

For one person, living is cheaper in Hot Springs, AR: $1,710 a month against $1,938 in San Jose, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

94

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
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San Jose Living Index
83

Cost of Living Index in Hot Springs, AR
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Hot Springs, AR Living Index

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San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,938

/mo nomad

Hot Springs, AR

🇺🇸 United States

$1,710

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, AR actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,938 per month in San Jose vs $1,710 in Hot Springs, AR, rent included.

San Jose $1,938
Hot Springs, AR $1,710

A couple spends around $2,936 per month in San Jose vs $2,571 in Hot Springs, AR, rent included.

San Jose $2,936
Hot Springs, AR $2,571

A family of three spends $3,934 per month in San Jose vs $3,432 in Hot Springs, AR, rent included.

San Jose $3,934
Hot Springs, AR $3,432

San Jose costs about 13% more than Hot Springs, AR, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both San Jose and Hot Springs, AR sit above the global median – San Jose by 44%, Hot Springs, AR by 27%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.38 ₡5,551

$16.17 $16.17

-23.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 ₡27.3K

$69.0 $69.0

-11.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.45 ₡5,135

$9.35 $9.35

22.46%

Cappuccino

$4.39 ₡1,967

$5.02 $5.02

-12.55%

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

$2.70 ₡1,211

$2.77 $2.77

-2.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₡864

$1.53 $1.53

26.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ₡1,433

$4.87 $4.87

-34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,979

$6.01 $6.01

-26.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 ₡1,093

$0.92 $0.92

165.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ₡1,369

$2.97 $2.97

2.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,081

$2.03 $2.03

18.72%

Eggs

$3.40 ₡1,523

$2.31 $2.31

47.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ₡4,823

$10.88 $10.88

-1.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.43 ₡4,679

$12.73 $12.73

-18.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 ₡6,273

$19.27 $19.27

-27.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ₡2,353

$3.60 $3.60

45.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₡712

$1.38 $1.38

15.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.69 ₡2,103

$3.74 $3.74

25.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 ₡1,770

$3.72 $3.72

6.18%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 ₡1,760

$1.79 $1.79

118.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 ₡1,651

$2.73 $2.73

34.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₡503

$2.34 $2.34

-52.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 ₡1,429

$1.09 $1.09

192.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.00 ₡2,692

$8.54 $8.54

-29.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.56 ₡8,771

$18.84 $18.84

3.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,263

$2.56 $2.56

10.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ₡1,611

$4.57 $4.57

-21.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡503

$1.22 $1.22

-8.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.8 ₡30.0K

$28.39 $28.39

135.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₡1,119

$2.72 $2.72

-8.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡733

$2.20 $2.20

-25.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.50 ₡3,812

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$0.87 $0.87

79.31%

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

$22.4K ₡10.0M

$16.8K $16.8K

33.66%

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

$35.6K ₡16.0M

$23.1K $23.1K

54.02%

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

$95.2 ₡42.7K

$179 $179

-46.76%

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

$35.58 ₡16.0K

$56.1 $56.1

-36.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 ₡26.3K

$39.40 $39.40

48.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 ₡32.6K

$34.69 $34.69

109.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.85 ₡11.1K

$9.92 $9.92

150.50%

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 ₡3,401

$10.13 $10.13

-25.17%

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

$1,001 ₡449.0K

$593 $593

68.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ₡7.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 ₡31.6K

$40.76 $40.76

72.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.0K

$40.11 $40.11

39.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 ₡58.2K

$102 $102

27.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 ₡58.7K

$78.7 $78.7

66.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$927 ₡415.8K

$722 $722

28.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₡347.2K

$582 $582

33.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,967 ₡882.0K

$1,088 $1,088

80.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,288 ₡577.6K

$905 $905

42.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,274 ₡1.0M

$1,950 $1,950

16.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,831 ₡821.0K

$1,942 $1,942

-5.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,016 ₡455.8K

$3,532 $3,532

-71.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.49

32.82%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Last update for Hot Springs, AR: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

San Jose

$774 40%

Hot Springs, AR

$582 34% 24.8% $192

Groceries & Markets

San Jose

$401 20.7%

Hot Springs, AR

$363 21.2% 9.5% $38

Eating Out

San Jose

$229 11.8%

Hot Springs, AR

$271 15.9% 18.3% $42

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Jose

$189 9.8%

Hot Springs, AR

$274 16% 44.8% $85

Clothing & Footwear

San Jose

$174 9%

Hot Springs, AR

$118 6.9% 32.4% $56

Sport & Entertainment

San Jose

$88 4.5%

Hot Springs, AR

$55 3.2% 37.4% $33

Getting Around

San Jose

$82 4.2%

Hot Springs, AR

$47 2.8% 42.6% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $927 in San Jose versus $722 in Hot Springs, AR. 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 248% higher in Hot Springs, AR, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in San Jose versus $69.0 in Hot Springs, AR. Groceries tell a different story – $401 in San Jose vs $363 in Hot Springs, AR – so Hot Springs, AR wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇨🇷 San Jose

🇺🇸 Hot Springs, AR

🕒 Local time

05:34 5:34 AM

06:34 6:34 AM

1 h ahead of San Jose

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

342,188 Capital

37,930

💱 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 Hot Springs, AR 2,880 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

San Jose
Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose costs about 13% more than Hot Springs, AR, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,907 per month in San Jose and $2,565 in Hot Springs, AR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hot Springs, AR, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,001 per month in San Jose and $593 in Hot Springs, AR. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in San Jose, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hot Springs, AR, where all-in costs run around $1,710, than in San Jose at $1,938. In Hot Springs, AR it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Jose it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hot Springs, AR costs $1,710 versus $1,938 in San Jose. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Hot Springs, AR. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Jose makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.