Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Quesada Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Quesada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,565 per month in San Jose vs $1,497 in Quesada, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,517 per month in San Jose vs $2,295 in Quesada, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,469 per month in San Jose vs $3,092 in Quesada, rent included.

San Jose costs about 5% more than Quesada, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Jose and Quesada sit above the global median – San Jose by 16%, Quesada by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.84 ₡4,899

$10.89 ₡4,921

-0.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.7 ₡27.4K

$60.5 ₡27.3K

0.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 ₡4,392

$10.07 ₡4,549

-3.48%

Cappuccino

$3.82 ₡1,726

$3.79 ₡1,711

0.79%

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

$2.04 ₡921

$1.96 ₡886

4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₡749

$1.61 ₡726

3.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,365

$2.91 ₡1,317

3.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 ₡2,056

$2.25 ₡1,014

102.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 ₡920

$2.04 ₡922

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₡1,300

$2.86 ₡1,292

0.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ₡1,001

$2.13 ₡964

4.23%

Eggs

$3.04 ₡1,372

$2.32 ₡1,048

31.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.21 ₡4,611

$9.98 ₡4,510

2.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.88 ₡4,011

$9.35 ₡4,224

-5.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.85 ₡6,257

$13.81 ₡6,239

0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 ₡2,092

$4.52 ₡2,040

2.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡654

$1.46 ₡658

-0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 ₡1,882

$0.96 ₡435

334.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 ₡1,624

$3.40 ₡1,537

5.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ₡1,583

$3.49 ₡1,578

0.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.23 ₡1,459

$3.24 ₡1,465

-0.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₡460

$0.95 ₡427

7.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₡1,323

$2.91 ₡1,313

0.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.37 ₡2,424

$5.17 ₡2,335

3.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.41 ₡9,673

$15.24 ₡6,887

40.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,086

$2.50 ₡1,128

-4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,280

$2.94 ₡1,327

-3.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₡457

$1.02 ₡459

-0.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.98 ₡18.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₡808

$1.37 ₡621

30.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡800

$1.36 ₡613

30.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 ₡3,473

$7.77 ₡3,512

-1.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡628

$1.39 ₡627

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

$37.5K ₡16.9M

$37.9K ₡17.1M

-1.02%

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

$32.8K ₡14.8M

0.04%

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

$93.1 ₡42.1K

$95.2 ₡43.0K

-2.22%

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

$25.45 ₡11.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.0 ₡27.1K

$49.46 ₡22.3K

21.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 ₡26.1K

$40.26 ₡18.2K

43.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.21 ₡17.3K

$23.58 ₡10.7K

62.04%

Cinema Ticket

$9.74 ₡4,403

$5.38 ₡2,430

81.04%

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

$558 ₡252.1K

$229 ₡103.4K

143.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.8M

$3,815 ₡1.7M

235.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.3 ₡28.1K

$61.4 ₡27.8K

1.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 ₡23.7K

$50.6 ₡22.9K

3.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡58.0K

$119 ₡53.8K

7.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ₡49.2K

$97.5 ₡44.1K

11.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 ₡397.5K

$772 ₡349.0K

13.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₡241.1K

$605 ₡273.2K

-11.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,421 ₡642.0K

$1,549 ₡699.8K

-8.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,042 ₡471.0K

$972 ₡439.0K

7.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,303 ₡1.0M

$4,138 ₡1.9M

-44.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,816 ₡820.7K

$2,150 ₡971.5K

-15.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,060 ₡479.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for San Jose: June 8, 2026

Last update for Quesada: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $880 in San Jose versus $772 in Quesada. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in San Jose versus $61.0 in Quesada. Groceries tell a different story – $370 in San Jose vs $342 in Quesada – so Quesada wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Quesada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,565 in San Jose, $1,497 in Quesada – roughly 5% apart. San Jose costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,347 per month in San Jose and $2,245 in Quesada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quesada, 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 $1,565 in San Jose and $1,497 in Quesada. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $558 per month in San Jose and $229 in Quesada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Quesada, where all-in costs run around $1,497, than in San Jose at $1,565. In Quesada it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Jose it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. San Jose has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,497 in Quesada to $1,565 in San Jose. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Quesada. 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.