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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose is 1.1% cheaper than San Francisco without rent, and 0.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 3.4% more expensive than San Francisco without rent, and 7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
San Francisco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$10.98 ₡5,499
-2.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$59.4 ₡29.7K
-0.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$10.23 ₡5,123
-3.71%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$3.86 ₡1,934
0.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$1.98 ₡993
-1.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1.58 ₡791
0.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$2.91 ₡1,459
4.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$4.55 ₡2,278
0.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
San Francisco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$2.07 ₡1,034
-2.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$2.79 ₡1,396
3.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$2.14 ₡1,069
-0.47%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.88 ₡1,442
2.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$9.66 ₡4,837
0.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$8.93 ₡4,468
3.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$13.58 ₡6,796
0.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$4.49 ₡2,246
-0.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.51 ₡755
-3.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$4.23 ₡2,118
3.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$3.43 ₡1,715
3.50%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$3.54 ₡1,770
0.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$3.24 ₡1,620
0.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$1.02 ₡508
1.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$2.96 ₡1,483
-5.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$5.28 ₡2,646
2.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$19.11 ₡9,568
-0.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$2.48 ₡1,243
-2.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.88 ₡1,443
1.39%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
San Francisco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$1.01 ₡507
-0.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$1.86 ₡929
1.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.84 ₡922
1.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$7.77 ₡3,889
0.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.4 ₡699
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$38.4K ₡19.2M
-1.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$32.7K ₡16.4M
0.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
San Francisco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$93 ₡46.6K
-0.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$25.64 ₡12.8K
1.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$39.8 ₡19.9K
51.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
San Francisco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$57.3 ₡28.7K
-1.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$24.15 ₡12.1K
59.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$9.89 ₡4,952
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
San Francisco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$578 ₡289.4K
-1.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$12.5K ₡6.2M
2.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
San Francisco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$61.5 ₡30.8K
3.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$52.2 ₡26.1K
-2.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$125 ₡62.6K
-0.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$107 ₡53.7K
-0.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
San Francisco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$766 ₡383.4K
12.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$601 ₡301K
-10.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$1,541 ₡771.3K
-7.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$970 ₡485.4K
6.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
San Francisco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
10.17
-

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

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

Last update for San Francisco: October 29, 2025

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