Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Paradise Island

San Jose, Costa Rica
Paradise Island, Bahamas
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Paradise Island
🇧🇸 Bahamas
-
/mo nomad
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Paradise Island
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.37 ₡5,563
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 ₡28.0K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 ₡5,264
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.54 ₡2,040
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₡837
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₡1,505
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 ₡1,944
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Paradise Island
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 ₡1,061
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 ₡1,379
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,128
-
-
Eggs
$3.53 ₡1,585
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.54 ₡4,738
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 ₡4,754
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.92 ₡6,261
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 ₡2,338
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₡740
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.89 ₡2,198
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 ₡1,728
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ₡1,757
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,692
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₡504
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.22 ₡1,447
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.02 ₡2,706
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$19.84 ₡8,919
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,264
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 ₡1,643
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Paradise Island
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡487
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₡29.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 ₡1,018
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 ₡799
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ₡3,551
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₡673
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Paradise Island
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 ₡41.9K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.13 ₡16.2K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡27.2K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Paradise Island
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.67 ₡3,449
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Paradise Island
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$972 ₡436.9K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K ₡8.5M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Paradise Island
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7 ₡25.5K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 ₡57.8K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 ₡58.8K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Paradise Island
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 ₡525.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$943 ₡424.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 ₡892.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 ₡629.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,681 ₡1.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,037 ₡915.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Paradise Island
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$987 ₡443.6K
$2,538 BSD 2,538
-61.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
0
-

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

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Last update for Paradise Island: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$943
Paradise Island
–
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$403
Paradise Island
–
Eating Out
San Jose
$232
Paradise Island
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$190
Paradise Island
–
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$174
Paradise Island
–
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$84
Paradise Island
–
Getting Around
San Jose
$81
Paradise Island
–

Cost Breakdown

Paradise Island pays about 2.6 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇧🇸 Paradise Island
🕒 Local time
13:17 1:17 PM
14:17 2:17 PM
1 h ahead of San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
227,940
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BSD, USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Bahamian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1 BSD (1 BSD = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 BSD (1 BSD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Jose Paradise Island 1,830 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Paradise Island

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 Paradise Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Are salaries higher in San Jose or in Paradise Island?
On paper, salaries run 61% lower in San Jose. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

San Jose vs other spots: cost of living compared

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