Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Salina, KS

For one person, living costs are similar in San Jose and in Salina, KS: $1,924 and $1,997 a month, rent and utilities included.

93

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
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San Jose Living Index
96

Cost of Living Index in Salina, KS
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Salina, KS Living Index

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San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,924

/mo nomad

Salina, KS

🇺🇸 United States

$1,997

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Salina, KS

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 Salina, KS actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,924 in San Jose versus $1,997 in Salina, KS.

San Jose $1,924
Salina, KS $1,997

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,926 in San Jose versus $2,997 in Salina, KS.

San Jose $2,926
Salina, KS $2,997

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,929 in San Jose versus $3,997 in Salina, KS.

San Jose $3,929
Salina, KS $3,997

Living in San Jose costs roughly 4% less than in Salina, KS, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Jose 42% above, Salina, KS 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.29 ₡5,513

$15.03 $15.03

-18.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.3 ₡27.9K

$41.89 $41.89

48.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.53 ₡5,171

$9.28 $9.28

24.25%

Cappuccino

$4.35 ₡1,953

$5.48 $5.48

-20.62%

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

$2.64 ₡1,183

$2.06 $2.06

28.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ₡836

$1.73 $1.73

7.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 ₡1,490

$5.09 $5.09

-34.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 ₡2,026

$9.21 $9.21

-50.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 ₡1,073

$0.96 $0.96

148.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 ₡1,381

$3.17 $3.17

-2.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 ₡1,119

$6.27 $6.27

-60.13%

Eggs

$3.48 ₡1,562

$4.69 $4.69

-25.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.74 ₡4,815

$11.78 $11.78

-8.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.32 ₡4,629

$8.65 $8.65

19.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.10 ₡6,325

$14.60 $14.60

-3.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 ₡2,256

$6.90 $6.90

-27.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₡714

$2.16 $2.16

-26.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.84 ₡2,171

$5.78 $5.78

-16.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 ₡1,776

$4.15 $4.15

-4.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 ₡1,684

$3.45 $3.45

8.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.73 ₡1,674

$3.85 $3.85

-3.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₡485

$1.81 $1.81

-40.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₡1,456

$2.06 $2.06

57.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.86 ₡2,627

$7.96 $7.96

-26.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.28 ₡9,095

$17.31 $17.31

17.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₡1,300

$1.83 $1.83

58.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ₡1,673

$2.57 $2.57

45.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ₡486

$2.02 $2.02

-46.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 ₡29.4K

$25.08 $25.08

161.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₡1,123

$5.10 $5.10

-50.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡732

$1.27 $1.27

28.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 ₡3,904

$35.35 $35.35

-75.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 ₡709

$0.90 $0.90

75.56%

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

$33.6K ₡15.1M

$24.6K $24.6K

36.41%

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

$41.7K ₡18.7M

$25.4K $25.4K

64.06%

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

$93.7 ₡42.0K

$145 $145

-35.48%

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

$35.42 ₡15.9K

$47.14 $47.14

-24.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.0 ₡26.9K

$65.2 $65.2

-7.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.6 ₡32.6K

$41.86 $41.86

73.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.83 ₡11.6K

$34.08 $34.08

-24.21%

Cinema Ticket

$7.74 ₡3,471

$14.87 $14.87

-47.95%

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

$1,005 ₡450.9K

$822 $822

22.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.9K ₡7.6M

$9,761 $9,761

73.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.1 ₡32.8K

$48.15 $48.15

51.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.9K

$34.46 $34.46

60.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡57.5K

$76.2 $76.2

68.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 ₡58.5K

$118 $118

10.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$932 ₡418.0K

$762 $762

22.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₡340.8K

$828 $828

-8.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,922 ₡862.0K

$1,298 $1,298

48.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,276 ₡572.1K

$1,476 $1,476

-13.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,301 ₡1.0M

$1,417 $1,417

62.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,833 ₡821.9K

$1,697 $1,697

7.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,029 ₡461.3K

$3,030 $3,030

-66.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

6.37

35.32%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 18, 2026

Last update for Salina, KS: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

San Jose

$760 39.5%

Salina, KS

$828 41.5% 8.9% $68

Groceries & Markets

San Jose

$403 21%

Salina, KS

$398 19.9% 1.4% $5.5

Eating Out

San Jose

$229 11.9%

Salina, KS

$273 13.7% 19.2% $44

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Jose

$189 9.8%

Salina, KS

$257 12.9% 36.2% $68

Clothing & Footwear

San Jose

$174 9.1%

Salina, KS

$125 6.2% 28.4% $50

Sport & Entertainment

San Jose

$88 4.6%

Salina, KS

$72 3.6% 18.7% $16

Getting Around

San Jose

$80 4.2%

Salina, KS

$45 2.2% 44.6% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $932 in San Jose and $762 in Salina, KS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Salina, KS pays 195% 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: $62.0 in San Jose vs $42.00 in Salina, KS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $398 per month, with Salina, KS cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇷 San Jose

🇺🇸 Salina, KS

🕒 Local time

12:02 12:02 PM

13:02 1:02 PM

1 h ahead of San Jose

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

342,188 Capital

47,707

💱 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 20, 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 20, 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 Salina, KS 3,480 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

San Jose
Salina, KS

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 Salina, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Jose and Salina, KS differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,924 vs $1,997 including rent). San Jose is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 195% lower in Salina, KS. 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: $932 in San Jose versus $762 in Salina, KS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in San Jose – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $42.00 in Salina, KS. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,924 per month in San Jose versus $1,997 in Salina, KS – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,924 in San Jose versus $1,997 in Salina, KS, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Jose but tight or insufficient in Salina, KS. The gap between the two cities makes San Jose the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find San Jose gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Salina, KS. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.