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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose is 0.7% cheaper than Santa Barbara without rent, and 5.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 3.8% more expensive than Santa Barbara without rent, and 10.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.76 ₡5,385

$11.03 ₡5,520

-2.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59 ₡29.5K

$58.7 ₡29.4K

0.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 ₡4,931

$10.07 ₡5,043

-2.18%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₡1,942

$3.94 ₡1,971

-1.52%

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

$1.96 ₡983

$1.96 ₡984

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡794

$1.57 ₡788

1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,522

$3.05 ₡1,526

-0.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 ₡2,300

$4.8 ₡2,404

-4.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ₡1,013

$1.98 ₡991

2.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₡1,443

$2.84 ₡1,423

1.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡1,067

$2.12 ₡1,064

0.47%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,472

$2.91 ₡1,454

1.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 ₡4,852

$8.79 ₡4,400

10.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.22 ₡4,617

$9.16 ₡4,585

0.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.64 ₡6,831

$13.92 ₡6,968

-2.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 ₡2,238

$4.53 ₡2,266

-1.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡728

$1.31 ₡655

10.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,192

$2.42 ₡1,212

80.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,779

$3.59 ₡1,798

-1.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,777

$3.02 ₡1,511

17.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 ₡1,628

$2.92 ₡1,461

11.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₡519

$0.72 ₡359

44.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.8 ₡1,403

$2.83 ₡1,415

-1.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 ₡2,716

$5.33 ₡2,667

1.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 ₡9,503

$12.09 ₡6,052

56.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,205

$2.46 ₡1,231

-2.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,461

$2.85 ₡1,428

2.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1 ₡501

$1.01 ₡504

-0.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡939

$1.84 ₡922

2.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡930

$0.95 ₡473

95.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.8 ₡3,904

$8.09 ₡4,050

-3.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.4 ₡699

$1.39 ₡695

0.72%

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

$37.7K ₡18.9M

$37.1K ₡18.6M

1.54%

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

$32.7K ₡16.4M

$32.9K ₡16.5M

-0.65%

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

$92.9 ₡46.5K

$66.8 ₡33.5K

38.96%

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

$25.98 ₡13K

$26.29 ₡13.2K

-1.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 ₡30.1K

$60 ₡30K

0.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 ₡28.2K

$56.5 ₡28.3K

-0.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.51 ₡19.3K

$23.94 ₡12K

60.86%

Cinema Ticket

$9.89 ₡4,953

$9.15 ₡4,580

8.09%

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

$567 ₡283.6K

$572 ₡286.1K

-0.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡6.4M

0.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡31.8K

$62.5 ₡31.3K

1.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

$50.5 ₡25.3K

0.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.6K

$126 ₡63.1K

-0.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡53.7K

$109 ₡54.3K

-1.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ₡433K

$752 ₡376.5K

15.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₡268.3K

$585 ₡293K

-8.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 ₡714.5K

$1,537 ₡769.3K

-7.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,034 ₡517.9K

$980 ₡490.7K

5.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,869 ₡1.4M

$1,666 ₡834.1K

72.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 ₡849.3K

$1,661 ₡831.4K

2.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

13.00%

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 Barbara: October 28, 2025

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