Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Santa Ana Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Santa Ana

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose is 1% cheaper than Santa Ana without rent, and 1.2% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 19.2% more expensive than Santa Ana without rent, and 4.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Santa Ana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$9.73 ₡4,870
10.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$60.2 ₡30.1K
-1.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$9.48 ₡4,747
3.90%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$3.91 ₡1,955
-0.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$1.94 ₡971
1.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1.54 ₡770
3.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$2.93 ₡1,468
3.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$4.62 ₡2,313
-0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Santa Ana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$2 ₡999
1.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$2.77 ₡1,386
3.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$2.16 ₡1,081
-1.39%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.9 ₡1,451
1.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$9.97 ₡4,993
-2.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$9.05 ₡4,531
1.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$13.81 ₡6,916
-1.23%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$4.61 ₡2,307
-3.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.45 ₡726
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$1.61 ₡805
172.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$3.54 ₡1,772
0.28%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$2.84 ₡1,422
25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$3.13 ₡1,566
3.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$1.04 ₡519
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$2.08 ₡1,040
34.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$5.14 ₡2,573
5.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$15.68 ₡7,852
21.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$2.44 ₡1,222
-1.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.65 ₡1,324
10.19%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Santa Ana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$0.96 ₡478
4.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
$20.19 ₡10.1K
105.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$1.88 ₡943
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.79 ₡896
3.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$3.89 ₡1,949
100.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.47 ₡736
-4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$31.2K ₡15.6M
20.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$32K ₡16M
2.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Santa Ana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$79.9 ₡40K
16.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$26.2 ₡13.1K
-0.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$45.64 ₡22.8K
31.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Santa Ana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$56.9 ₡28.5K
-1.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$24.19 ₡12.1K
59.20%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$9.93 ₡4,970
-0.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Santa Ana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$563 ₡281.7K
0.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$12.5K ₡6.3M
2.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Santa Ana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$62.2 ₡31.1K
2.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$51.1 ₡25.6K
-0.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$123 ₡61.7K
1.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$109 ₡54.7K
-1.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Santa Ana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$884 ₡442.7K
-2.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$639 ₡320K
-16.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$1,480 ₡741K
-3.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$1,401 ₡701.6K
-26.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
$4,044 ₡2M
-29.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
$2,277 ₡1.1M
-25.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Santa Ana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
$1,402 ₡701.9K
-28.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
10
1.70%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

Last update for Santa Ana: October 28, 2025

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