Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Oak Harbor, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,938 a month against $3,280 in Oak Harbor, WA, rent and utilities included – about $16,100 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
159

Cost of Living Index in Oak Harbor, WA
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Oak Harbor, WA Living Index

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San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,938

/mo nomad

Oak Harbor, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,280

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Oak Harbor, WA

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 Oak Harbor, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,938 in San Jose versus $3,280 in Oak Harbor, WA.

San Jose $1,938
Oak Harbor, WA $3,280

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,936 in San Jose versus $4,561 in Oak Harbor, WA.

San Jose $2,936
Oak Harbor, WA $4,561

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,934 in San Jose versus $5,843 in Oak Harbor, WA.

San Jose $3,934
Oak Harbor, WA $5,843

Living in San Jose costs roughly 41% less than in Oak Harbor, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Jose 44% above, Oak Harbor, WA 143% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.38 ₡5,551

$18.15 $18.15

-31.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 ₡27.3K

$69.4 $69.4

-12.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.45 ₡5,135

$18.78 $18.78

-39.03%

Cappuccino

$4.39 ₡1,967

$5.40 $5.40

-18.70%

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

$2.70 ₡1,211

$2.43 $2.43

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₡864

$1.58 $1.58

22.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ₡1,433

$8.06 $8.06

-60.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,979

$7.29 $7.29

-39.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 ₡1,093

$1.63 $1.63

49.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ₡1,369

$4.59 $4.59

-33.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,081

$6.49 $6.49

-62.87%

Eggs

$3.40 ₡1,523

$5.57 $5.57

-38.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ₡4,823

$20.14 $20.14

-46.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.43 ₡4,679

$12.98 $12.98

-19.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 ₡6,273

$24.75 $24.75

-43.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ₡2,353

$8.01 $8.01

-34.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₡712

$1.32 $1.32

20.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.69 ₡2,103

$6.90 $6.90

-32.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 ₡1,770

$6.79 $6.79

-41.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 ₡1,760

$4.18 $4.18

-6.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 ₡1,651

$4.63 $4.63

-20.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₡503

$2.52 $2.52

-55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 ₡1,429

$2.22 $2.22

43.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.00 ₡2,692

$9.79 $9.79

-38.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.56 ₡8,771

$14.51 $14.51

34.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,263

$2.78 $2.78

1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ₡1,611

$3.94 $3.94

-8.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡503

$2.02 $2.02

-44.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.8 ₡30.0K

$29.85 $29.85

123.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₡1,119

$3.26 $3.26

-23.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡733

$1.53 $1.53

6.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.50 ₡3,812

$29.59 $29.59

-71.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$1.16 $1.16

34.48%

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

$22.4K ₡10.0M

$36.0K $36.0K

-37.77%

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

$35.6K ₡16.0M

$26.1K $26.1K

36.34%

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

$95.2 ₡42.7K

$378 $378

-74.80%

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

$35.58 ₡16.0K

$63.4 $63.4

-43.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 ₡26.3K

$97.3 $97.3

-39.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 ₡32.6K

$34.66 $34.66

109.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.85 ₡11.1K

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 ₡3,401

$14.76 $14.76

-48.64%

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

$1,001 ₡449.0K

$1,503 $1,503

-33.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ₡7.7M

$23.0K $23.0K

-25.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 ₡31.6K

$58.2 $58.2

21.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.0K

$38.18 $38.18

46.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 ₡58.2K

$132 $132

-1.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 ₡58.7K

$195 $195

-32.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$927 ₡415.8K

$2,343 $2,343

-60.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₡347.2K

$1,571 $1,571

-50.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,967 ₡882.0K

$3,239 $3,239

-39.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,288 ₡577.6K

$2,344 $2,344

-45.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,274 ₡1.0M

$4,045 $4,045

-43.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,831 ₡821.0K

$4,142 $4,142

-55.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,016 ₡455.8K

$3,295 $3,295

-69.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

23.14%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Last update for Oak Harbor, WA: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

San Jose

$774 40%

Oak Harbor, WA

$1.6K 47.9% 103% $797

Groceries & Markets

San Jose

$401 20.7%

Oak Harbor, WA

$529 16.1% 31.9% $128

Eating Out

San Jose

$229 11.8%

Oak Harbor, WA

$337 10.3% 47.1% $108

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Jose

$189 9.8%

Oak Harbor, WA

$539 16.4% 184% $349

Clothing & Footwear

San Jose

$174 9%

Oak Harbor, WA

$190 5.8% 9.3% $16

Sport & Entertainment

San Jose

$88 4.5%

Oak Harbor, WA

$64 2% 26.9% $24

Getting Around

San Jose

$82 4.2%

Oak Harbor, WA

$49 1.5% 40.4% $33

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $927 in San Jose and $2,343 in Oak Harbor, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oak Harbor, WA pays 224% 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 $69.0 in Oak Harbor, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $529 per month, with San Jose cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇷 San Jose

🇺🇸 Oak Harbor, WA

🕒 Local time

13:12 1:12 PM

12:12 12:12 PM

1 h behind San Jose

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

342,188 Capital

24,622

💱 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 = 0.889 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 17, 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 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

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San Jose Oak Harbor, WA 5,570 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

San Jose
Oak Harbor, WA

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 Oak Harbor, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Oak Harbor, WA. 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 224% lower in Oak Harbor, WA. 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 $2,343 in Oak Harbor, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Oak Harbor, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in San Jose – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $69.0 in Oak Harbor, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,938 in San Jose versus $3,280 in Oak Harbor, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Oak Harbor, WA. 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.

Safety-wise, San Jose and Oak Harbor, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find San Jose gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Oak Harbor, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.