Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Oshkosh, WI

For one person, living is cheaper in Oshkosh, WI: $1,719 a month against $1,924 in San Jose, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. The total is higher in San Jose despite lower rent and utilities.

San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,924
/mo nomad
Oshkosh, WI
🇺🇸 United States
$1,719
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Oshkosh, WI

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 Oshkosh, WI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,924 per month in San Jose vs $1,719 in Oshkosh, WI, rent included.

  • San Jose $1,924
  • Oshkosh, WI $1,719

A couple spends around $2,926 per month in San Jose vs $2,605 in Oshkosh, WI, rent included.

  • San Jose $2,926
  • Oshkosh, WI $2,605

A family of three spends $3,929 per month in San Jose vs $3,491 in Oshkosh, WI, rent included.

  • San Jose $3,929
  • Oshkosh, WI $3,491

San Jose costs about 12% more than Oshkosh, WI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both San Jose and Oshkosh, WI sit above the global median – San Jose by 42%, Oshkosh, WI by 27%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Oshkosh, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.29 ₡5,513
$14.24 $14.24
-13.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 ₡27.9K
$59.2 $59.2
5.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.53 ₡5,171
$12.08 $12.08
-4.55%
Cappuccino
$4.35 ₡1,953
$5.45 $5.45
-20.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 ₡1,183
$2.93 $2.93
-9.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₡836
$2.38 $2.38
-21.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 ₡1,490
$4.55 $4.55
-27.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 ₡2,026
$6.80 $6.80
-33.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Oshkosh, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.39 ₡1,073
$0.79 $0.79
202.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₡1,381
$2.79 $2.79
10.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.50 ₡1,119
$2.92 $2.92
-14.38%
Eggs
$3.48 ₡1,562
$3.47 $3.47
0.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.74 ₡4,815
$7.82 $7.82
37.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.32 ₡4,629
$11.59 $11.59
-10.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.10 ₡6,325
$10.61 $10.61
32.89%
Apples (1kg)
$5.03 ₡2,256
$5.67 $5.67
-11.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₡714
$1.74 $1.74
-8.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.84 ₡2,171
$3.57 $3.57
35.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.96 ₡1,776
$5.47 $5.47
-27.61%
Potato (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,684
$1.72 $1.72
118.60%
Onion (1kg)
$3.73 ₡1,674
$3.31 $3.31
12.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ₡485
$1.68 $1.68
-35.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.25 ₡1,456
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.86 ₡2,627
$9.24 $9.24
-36.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.28 ₡9,095
$8.23 $8.23
146.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.71 $1.71
69.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ₡1,673
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Oshkosh, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡486
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.5 ₡29.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.50 ₡1,123
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 ₡732
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 ₡3,904
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 ₡709
$0.91 $0.91
73.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K ₡15.1M
$24.6K $24.6K
36.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7K ₡18.7M
$25.6K $25.6K
62.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Oshkosh, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.7 ₡42.0K
$176 $176
-46.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.42 ₡15.9K
$52.8 $52.8
-32.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.0 ₡26.9K
$51.7 $51.7
15.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Oshkosh, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$28.51 $28.51
154.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.83 ₡11.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.74 ₡3,471
$11.11 $11.11
-30.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Oshkosh, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,005 ₡450.9K
$1,484 $1,484
-32.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K ₡7.6M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Oshkosh, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.1 ₡32.8K
$40.47 $40.47
80.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.9K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 ₡57.5K
$88.7 $88.7
44.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 ₡58.5K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Oshkosh, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$932 ₡418.0K
$975 $975
-4.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$760 ₡340.8K
$758 $758
0.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,922 ₡862.0K
$1,880 $1,880
2.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,276 ₡572.1K
$1,381 $1,381
-7.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,301 ₡1.0M
$2,017 $2,017
14.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,833 ₡821.9K
$1,998 $1,998
-8.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Oshkosh, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,029 ₡461.3K
$3,644 $3,644
-71.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.43
34.06%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 18, 2026

Last update for Oshkosh, WI: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$760
Oshkosh, WI
$758 0.2% $1.6
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$403
Oshkosh, WI
$299 * 25.9% $105
Eating Out
San Jose
$229
Oshkosh, WI
$273 19.3% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$189
Oshkosh, WI
$280 48.3% $91
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$174
Oshkosh, WI
$58 * 66.7% $116
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$88
Oshkosh, WI
$51 42.4% $37
Getting Around
San Jose
$80
Oshkosh, WI
- * 100%

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $932 in San Jose versus $975 in Oshkosh, WI. 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 254% higher in Oshkosh, WI, 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 $62.0 in San Jose versus $59.0 in Oshkosh, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $403 vs $299 – making Oshkosh, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇺🇸 Oshkosh, WI
🕒 Local time
02:45 2:45 AM
03:45 3:45 AM
1 h ahead of San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
66,083
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 22, 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 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Jose Oshkosh, WI 3,810 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Oshkosh, WI

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 Oshkosh, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, San Jose or Oshkosh, WI?
San Jose costs about 12% more than Oshkosh, WI, 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in San Jose and in Oshkosh, WI?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,886 per month in San Jose and $2,579 in Oshkosh, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, San Jose or Oshkosh, WI?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Oshkosh, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in San Jose and in Oshkosh, WI?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in San Jose and $59.0 in Oshkosh, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in San Jose or in Oshkosh, WI?
Groceries cost about 35% 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.
Can you live on $2,000/month in San Jose or in Oshkosh, WI?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oshkosh, WI, where all-in costs run around $1,719, than in San Jose at $1,924. In Oshkosh, WI it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Jose it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, San Jose or Oshkosh, WI?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Oshkosh, WI costs $1,719 versus $1,924 in San Jose. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to San Jose or to Oshkosh, WI?
If budget matters most, go with Oshkosh, WI. 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.

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