Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Windsor, CT

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $3,182 in Windsor, CT, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

San Jose, Costa Rica
Windsor, CT, United States
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Windsor, CT
🇺🇸 United States
$3,182
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Windsor, CT

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 Windsor, CT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,107 per month in San Jose vs $3,182 in Windsor, CT, rent included.

  • San Jose $2,107
  • Windsor, CT $3,182

A couple spends around $3,081 per month in San Jose vs $4,395 in Windsor, CT, rent included.

  • San Jose $3,081
  • Windsor, CT $4,395

A family of three spends $4,054 per month in San Jose vs $5,608 in Windsor, CT, rent included.

  • San Jose $4,054
  • Windsor, CT $5,608

San Jose is about 34% cheaper than Windsor, CT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both San Jose and Windsor, CT sit above the global median – San Jose by 56%, Windsor, CT by 135%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Windsor, CT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.37 ₡5,563
$29.80 $29.80
-58.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 ₡28.0K
$99.2 $99.2
-37.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 ₡5,264
$11.98 $11.98
-2.25%
Cappuccino
$4.54 ₡2,040
$5.27 $5.27
-13.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$2.91 $2.91
-5.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₡837
$2.37 $2.37
-21.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₡1,505
$7.07 $7.07
-52.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 ₡1,944
$7.56 $7.56
-42.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Windsor, CT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 ₡1,061
$1.46 $1.46
61.64%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 ₡1,379
$4.73 $4.73
-35.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,128
$6.99 $6.99
-64.09%
Eggs
$3.53 ₡1,585
$5.57 $5.57
-36.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.54 ₡4,738
$20.73 $20.73
-49.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 ₡4,754
$14.17 $14.17
-25.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.92 ₡6,261
$19.11 $19.11
-27.16%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 ₡2,338
$7.46 $7.46
-30.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ₡740
$2.06 $2.06
-19.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.89 ₡2,198
$5.34 $5.34
-8.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 ₡1,728
$4.39 $4.39
-12.53%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ₡1,757
$2.26 $2.26
73.01%
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,692
$2.65 $2.65
41.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₡504
$2.95 $2.95
-62.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.22 ₡1,447
$2.97 $2.97
8.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.02 ₡2,706
$13.75 $13.75
-56.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.84 ₡8,919
$16.06 $16.06
23.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,264
$3.11 $3.11
-9.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 ₡1,643
$4.47 $4.47
-18.34%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Windsor, CT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 ₡487
$1.73 $1.73
-37.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 ₡29.3K
$60.4 $60.4
8.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 ₡1,018
$2.55 $2.55
-11.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 ₡799
$1.77 $1.77
0.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ₡3,551
$27.91 $27.91
-71.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₡673
$1.16 $1.16
29.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K ₡15.1M
$28.9K $28.9K
15.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.3K ₡19.0M
$26.1K $26.1K
62.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Windsor, CT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.2 ₡41.9K
$215 $215
-56.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.13 ₡16.2K
$55.1 $55.1
-34.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.6 ₡27.2K
$78.6 $78.6
-22.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Windsor, CT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.9 ₡31.0K
$40.61 $40.61
69.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.94 ₡11.2K
$19.94 $19.94
25.08%
Cinema Ticket
$7.67 ₡3,449
$15.26 $15.26
-49.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Windsor, CT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$972 ₡436.9K
$1,184 $1,184
-17.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K ₡8.5M
$36.1K $36.1K
-47.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Windsor, CT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 ₡31.8K
$68.8 $68.8
2.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7 ₡25.5K
$50.2 $50.2
12.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 ₡57.8K
$78.6 $78.6
63.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 ₡58.8K
$99.5 $99.5
31.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Windsor, CT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 ₡525.9K
$2,001 $2,001
-41.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$943 ₡424.1K
$1,628 $1,628
-42.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,984 ₡892.0K
$2,608 $2,608
-23.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 ₡629.5K
$2,082 $2,082
-32.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,681 ₡1.2M
$2,766 $2,766
-3.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,037 ₡915.8K
$2,293 $2,293
-11.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Windsor, CT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$987 ₡443.6K
$5,805 $5,805
-83.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.59
30.80%

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

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Last update for Windsor, CT: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$943
Windsor, CT
$1.6K 72.6% $685
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$403
Windsor, CT
$512 27.1% $109
Eating Out
San Jose
$232
Windsor, CT
$409 76.1% $177
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$190
Windsor, CT
$349 83.8% $159
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$174
Windsor, CT
$134 23.2% $40
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$84
Windsor, CT
$71 15.6% $13
Getting Around
San Jose
$81
Windsor, CT
$79 2.6% $2.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,170 in San Jose versus $2,001 in Windsor, CT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Windsor, CT are about 5.9 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in San Jose versus $99 in Windsor, CT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $403 vs $512 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇺🇸 Windsor, CT
🕒 Local time
19:35 7:35 PM
20:35 8:35 PM
1 h ahead of San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
22,522
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.891 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Jose Windsor, CT 3,720 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Windsor, CT

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 Windsor, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Jose cheaper than Windsor, CT?
Yes – Windsor, CT is pricier by about 51%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,161 per month in San Jose and $4,772 in Windsor, CT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,170 there versus $2,001 in Windsor, CT.
Is eating out cheaper in San Jose or in Windsor, CT?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in San Jose and $99 in Windsor, CT. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in San Jose and in Windsor, CT?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,107 in San Jose and $3,182 in Windsor, CT. That makes San Jose about 34% cheaper.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in San Jose or in Windsor, CT?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $2,107, than in Windsor, CT at $3,182. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Windsor, CT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Jose or Windsor, CT more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Jose – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Windsor, CT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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