Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Montgomery, AL

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,938 a month against $2,354 in Montgomery, AL, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Montgomery, AL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

94

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
Learn more

San Jose Living Index
115

Cost of Living Index in Montgomery, AL
Learn more

Montgomery, AL Living Index

Jump to prices

San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,938

/mo nomad

Montgomery, AL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,354

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Montgomery, AL

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 Montgomery, AL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,938 in San Jose versus $2,354 in Montgomery, AL.

San Jose $1,938
Montgomery, AL $2,354

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,936 in San Jose versus $3,197 in Montgomery, AL.

San Jose $2,936
Montgomery, AL $3,197

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,934 in San Jose versus $4,039 in Montgomery, AL.

San Jose $3,934
Montgomery, AL $4,039

Living in San Jose costs roughly 18% less than in Montgomery, AL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Jose 44% above, Montgomery, AL 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.38 ₡5,551

$16.11 $16.11

-23.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 ₡27.3K

$55.6 $55.6

9.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.45 ₡5,135

$10.30 $10.30

11.17%

Cappuccino

$4.39 ₡1,967

$5.36 $5.36

-18.10%

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

$2.70 ₡1,211

$2.62 $2.62

3.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₡864

$2.07 $2.07

-6.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ₡1,433

$4.37 $4.37

-26.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,979

$4.89 $4.89

-9.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 ₡1,093

$0.85 $0.85

187.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ₡1,369

$3.59 $3.59

-15.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,081

$2.05 $2.05

17.56%

Eggs

$3.40 ₡1,523

$3.14 $3.14

8.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ₡4,823

$7.96 $7.96

35.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.43 ₡4,679

$7.39 $7.39

41.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 ₡6,273

$14.27 $14.27

-1.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ₡2,353

$3.98 $3.98

31.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₡712

$1.28 $1.28

24.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.69 ₡2,103

$1.96 $1.96

139.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 ₡1,770

$4.16 $4.16

-5.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 ₡1,760

$3.11 $3.11

26.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 ₡1,651

$2.66 $2.66

38.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₡503

$2.09 $2.09

-46.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 ₡1,429

$2.18 $2.18

46.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.00 ₡2,692

$8.89 $8.89

-32.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.56 ₡8,771

$15.07 $15.07

29.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,263

$1.94 $1.94

45.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ₡1,611

$3.86 $3.86

-6.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡503

$2.04 $2.04

-45.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.8 ₡30.0K

$45.02 $45.02

48.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₡1,119

$2.53 $2.53

-1.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡733

$1.60 $1.60

1.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.50 ₡3,812

$25.54 $25.54

-66.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$0.90 $0.90

73.33%

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

$22.4K ₡10.0M

$31.7K $31.7K

-29.38%

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

$35.6K ₡16.0M

$25.9K $25.9K

37.14%

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

$95.2 ₡42.7K

$309 $309

-69.20%

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

$35.58 ₡16.0K

$50.7 $50.7

-29.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 ₡26.3K

$72.5 $72.5

-19.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 ₡32.6K

$37.83 $37.83

92.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.85 ₡11.1K

$28.52 $28.52

-12.87%

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 ₡3,401

$9.81 $9.81

-22.73%

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

$1,001 ₡449.0K

$1,380 $1,380

-27.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ₡7.7M

$13.7K $13.7K

24.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 ₡31.6K

$48.94 $48.94

44.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.0K

$35.52 $35.52

57.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 ₡58.2K

$86.2 $86.2

50.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 ₡58.7K

$96.5 $96.5

35.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$927 ₡415.8K

$1,287 $1,287

-27.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₡347.2K

$1,084 $1,084

-28.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,967 ₡882.0K

$1,589 $1,589

23.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,288 ₡577.6K

$1,455 $1,455

-11.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,274 ₡1.0M

$1,368 $1,368

66.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,831 ₡821.0K

$1,309 $1,309

39.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,016 ₡455.8K

$3,632 $3,632

-72.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.54

31.80%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Last update for Montgomery, AL: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

San Jose

$774 40%

Montgomery, AL

$1.1K 46% 40% $310

Groceries & Markets

San Jose

$401 20.7%

Montgomery, AL

$322 13.7% 19.8% $79

Eating Out

San Jose

$229 11.8%

Montgomery, AL

$274 11.7% 19.7% $45

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Jose

$189 9.8%

Montgomery, AL

$432 18.4% 128% $243

Clothing & Footwear

San Jose

$174 9%

Montgomery, AL

$120 5.1% 30.9% $54

Sport & Entertainment

San Jose

$88 4.5%

Montgomery, AL

$57 2.4% 34.6% $30

Getting Around

San Jose

$82 4.2%

Montgomery, AL

$64 2.7% 22.2% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $927 in San Jose and $1,287 in Montgomery, AL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montgomery, AL pays 257% 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 $56.0 in Montgomery, AL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $322 per month, with Montgomery, AL cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇷 San Jose

🇺🇸 Montgomery, AL

🕒 Local time

10:03 10:03 AM

11:03 11:03 AM

1 h ahead of San Jose

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

342,188 Capital

200,603

💱 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

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

San Jose Montgomery, AL 2,510 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

San Jose
Montgomery, AL

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 Montgomery, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose and Montgomery, AL differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,938 vs $2,354 including rent). San Jose is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 257% lower in Montgomery, AL. 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 $1,287 in Montgomery, AL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in San Jose – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $56.0 in Montgomery, AL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,938 per month in San Jose versus $2,354 in Montgomery, AL – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,938 in San Jose versus $2,354 in Montgomery, AL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Montgomery, AL. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find San Jose gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Montgomery, AL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.