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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,969 per month in San Jose vs $1,518 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,939 per month in San Jose vs $2,284 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,908 per month in San Jose vs $3,050 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

San Jose costs about 30% more than Santa Teresa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Jose and Santa Teresa sit above the global median – San Jose by 44%, Santa Teresa by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.34 ₡5,486

$10.03 ₡4,456

23.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.9 ₡26.6K

$42.84 ₡19.0K

39.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 ₡5,066

$9.47 ₡4,208

20.38%

Cappuccino

$4.31 ₡1,914

$3.89 ₡1,729

10.80%

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

$2.71 ₡1,203

$2.07 ₡922

30.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₡835

$1.65 ₡735

13.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 ₡1,443

$3.01 ₡1,340

7.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,962

$4.71 ₡2,096

-6.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 ₡1,044

$2.06 ₡916

14.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 ₡1,401

$2.82 ₡1,251

11.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.47 ₡1,096

$2.20 ₡979

12.27%

Eggs

$3.51 ₡1,561

$2.90 ₡1,288

21.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.74 ₡4,771

$9.93 ₡4,412

8.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.56 ₡4,694

$9.02 ₡4,008

17.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 ₡6,377

$13.71 ₡6,093

4.67%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 ₡2,317

$4.42 ₡1,963

17.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ₡746

$1.46 ₡650

15.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.90 ₡2,179

$4.28 ₡1,904

14.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 ₡1,785

$3.22 ₡1,430

24.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.79 ₡1,684

$3.33 ₡1,482

13.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,640

$2.64 ₡1,174

39.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₡479

$1.00 ₡445

8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.16 ₡1,405

$2.94 ₡1,307

7.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.11 ₡2,714

$4.87 ₡2,165

25.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.20 ₡8,980

$14.05 ₡6,243

43.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,309

$2.41 ₡1,069

21.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 ₡1,592

$2.54 ₡1,128

40.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₡502

$1.02 ₡453

10.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₡29.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 ₡1,081

$1.85 ₡822

31.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 ₡727

$1.78 ₡792

-7.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.79 ₡3,906

$7.78 ₡3,456

12.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 ₡686

$1.41 ₡629

9.22%

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

$21.9K ₡9.8M

$37.2K ₡16.5M

-41.01%

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

$34.6K ₡15.4M

$32.0K ₡14.2M

8.19%

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

$95.4 ₡42.4K

$82.0 ₡36.5K

16.27%

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

$36.83 ₡16.4K

$26.18 ₡11.6K

40.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 ₡28.2K

$49.27 ₡21.9K

28.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 ₡33.0K

$49.15 ₡21.8K

50.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.97 ₡11.5K

$23.85 ₡10.6K

8.89%

Cinema Ticket

$8.49 ₡3,775

$8.83 ₡3,926

-3.85%

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

$1,001 ₡444.8K

$574 ₡255.1K

74.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K ₡7.7M

$12.5K ₡5.5M

39.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.4 ₡32.6K

$61.9 ₡27.5K

18.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 ₡25.6K

$50.6 ₡22.5K

13.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡56.9K

$128 ₡56.7K

0.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 ₡60.1K

$106 ₡47.1K

27.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$965 ₡428.7K

$703 ₡312.5K

37.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$769 ₡341.7K

$603 ₡268.1K

27.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,911 ₡849.5K

$1,423 ₡632.4K

34.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 ₡578.3K

$967 ₡429.7K

34.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,319 ₡1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,793 ₡796.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,071 ₡475.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

10.17

-13.67%

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

Last update for San Jose: September 14, 2026

Last update for Santa Teresa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $965 in San Jose versus $703 in Santa Teresa. 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 $60.0 in San Jose versus $43.00 in Santa Teresa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $349 – making Santa Teresa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Santa Teresa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Jose is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,954 per month in San Jose and $2,277 in Santa Teresa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Teresa, 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 $1,969 in San Jose and $1,518 in Santa Teresa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,001 per month in San Jose and $574 in Santa Teresa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santa Teresa, where all-in costs run around $1,518, than in San Jose at $1,969. In Santa Teresa it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Jose it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Santa Teresa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Santa Teresa. 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.