Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Newport Beach, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,938 a month against $5,162 in Newport Beach, CA, rent and utilities included – about $38,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

94

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
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San Jose Living Index
251

Cost of Living Index in Newport Beach, CA
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Newport Beach, CA Living Index

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San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,938

/mo nomad

Newport Beach, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$5,162

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Newport Beach, CA

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 Newport Beach, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,938 per month in San Jose vs $5,162 in Newport Beach, CA, rent included.

San Jose $1,938
Newport Beach, CA $5,162

A couple spends around $2,936 per month in San Jose vs $7,336 in Newport Beach, CA, rent included.

San Jose $2,936
Newport Beach, CA $7,336

A family of three spends $3,934 per month in San Jose vs $9,509 in Newport Beach, CA, rent included.

San Jose $3,934
Newport Beach, CA $9,509

San Jose is about 62% cheaper than Newport Beach, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both San Jose and Newport Beach, CA sit above the global median – San Jose by 44%, Newport Beach, CA by 282%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.38 ₡5,551

$25.34 $25.34

-51.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 ₡27.3K

$101 $101

-39.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.45 ₡5,135

$14.86 $14.86

-22.95%

Cappuccino

$4.39 ₡1,967

$5.79 $5.79

-24.18%

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

$2.70 ₡1,211

$3.04 $3.04

-11.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₡864

$2.45 $2.45

-21.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ₡1,433

$7.06 $7.06

-54.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,979

$9.44 $9.44

-53.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 ₡1,093

$1.22 $1.22

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ₡1,369

$5.74 $5.74

-46.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,081

$4.22 $4.22

-42.89%

Eggs

$3.40 ₡1,523

$5.27 $5.27

-35.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ₡4,823

$12.68 $12.68

-15.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.43 ₡4,679

$9.04 $9.04

15.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 ₡6,273

$14.16 $14.16

-1.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ₡2,353

$4.81 $4.81

9.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₡712

$1.72 $1.72

-7.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.69 ₡2,103

$4.08 $4.08

14.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 ₡1,770

$5.45 $5.45

-27.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 ₡1,760

$3.65 $3.65

7.40%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 ₡1,651

$3.07 $3.07

19.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₡503

$2.14 $2.14

-47.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 ₡1,429

$2.26 $2.26

41.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.00 ₡2,692

$11.59 $11.59

-48.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.56 ₡8,771

$15.11 $15.11

29.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,263

$1.76 $1.76

60.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ₡1,611

$3.10 $3.10

15.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡503

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.8 ₡30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₡1,119

$4.56 $4.56

-45.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡733

$1.85 $1.85

-11.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.50 ₡3,812

$36.59 $36.59

-76.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$1.47 $1.47

6.12%

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

$22.4K ₡10.0M

$37.2K $37.2K

-39.70%

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

$35.6K ₡16.0M

$26.1K $26.1K

36.29%

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

$95.2 ₡42.7K

$216 $216

-55.95%

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

$35.58 ₡16.0K

$80.0 $80.0

-55.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 ₡26.3K

$71.3 $71.3

-17.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 ₡32.6K

$116 $116

-37.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.85 ₡11.1K

$27.65 $27.65

-10.13%

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 ₡3,401

$20.16 $20.16

-62.40%

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

$1,001 ₡449.0K

$1,756 $1,756

-42.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ₡7.7M

$36.2K $36.2K

-52.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 ₡31.6K

$62.7 $62.7

12.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.0K

$41.05 $41.05

35.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 ₡58.2K

$78.4 $78.4

65.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 ₡58.7K

$102 $102

27.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$927 ₡415.8K

$4,355 $4,355

-78.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₡347.2K

$3,694 $3,694

-79.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,967 ₡882.0K

$7,177 $7,177

-72.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,288 ₡577.6K

$6,170 $6,170

-79.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,274 ₡1.0M

$16.0K $16.0K

-85.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,831 ₡821.0K

$16.0K $16.0K

-88.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,016 ₡455.8K

$6,204 $6,204

-83.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.45

33.64%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Last update for Newport Beach, CA: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

San Jose

$774 40%

Newport Beach, CA

$3.7K 71.6% 377% $2.9K

Groceries & Markets

San Jose

$401 20.7%

Newport Beach, CA

$409 7.9% 2.1% $8.3

Eating Out

San Jose

$229 11.8%

Newport Beach, CA

$393 7.6% 71.4% $164

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Jose

$189 9.8%

Newport Beach, CA

$367 7.1% 94% $178

Clothing & Footwear

San Jose

$174 9%

Newport Beach, CA

$128 2.5% 26.5% $46

Sport & Entertainment

San Jose

$88 4.5%

Newport Beach, CA

$157 3% 78.4% $69

Getting Around

San Jose

$82 4.2%

Newport Beach, CA

$14 * 0.3% 83.2% $68

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $927 in San Jose versus $4,355 in Newport Beach, CA. 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 510% higher in Newport Beach, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in San Jose versus $101 in Newport Beach, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $409 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇷 San Jose

🇺🇸 Newport Beach, CA

🕒 Local time

11:45 11:45 AM

10:45 10:45 AM

1 h behind San Jose

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

342,188 Capital

85,186

💱 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 Newport Beach, CA 4,340 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

San Jose
Newport Beach, CA

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 Newport Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Newport Beach, CA is pricier by about 166%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,907 per month in San Jose and $7,743 in Newport Beach, CA. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,938 in San Jose and $5,162 in Newport Beach, CA. That's a gap of about 166%.

Kindergarten costs $1,001 per month in San Jose and $1,756 in Newport Beach, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $1,938, than in Newport Beach, CA at $5,162. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Newport Beach, CA 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.

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 San Jose. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Newport Beach, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.