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

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Barbara is 0.7% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 5.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Barbara is 3.6% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 9.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.03 ₡5,520

$10.76 ₡5,385

2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 ₡29.4K

$59 ₡29.5K

-0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 ₡5,043

$9.85 ₡4,931

2.23%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ₡1,971

$3.88 ₡1,942

1.55%

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

$1.96 ₡984

$1.96 ₡983

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₡788

$1.59 ₡794

-1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 ₡1,526

$3.04 ₡1,522

0.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.8 ₡2,404

$4.59 ₡2,300

4.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡991

$2.02 ₡1,013

-1.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 ₡1,423

$2.88 ₡1,443

-1.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ₡1,064

$2.13 ₡1,067

-0.47%

Eggs

$2.91 ₡1,454

$2.94 ₡1,472

-1.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.79 ₡4,400

$9.69 ₡4,852

-9.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.16 ₡4,585

$9.22 ₡4,617

-0.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.92 ₡6,968

$13.64 ₡6,831

2.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 ₡2,266

$4.47 ₡2,238

1.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ₡655

$1.45 ₡728

-9.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 ₡1,212

$4.38 ₡2,192

-44.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 ₡1,798

$3.55 ₡1,779

1.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 ₡1,511

$3.55 ₡1,777

-14.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 ₡1,461

$3.25 ₡1,628

-10.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₡359

$1.04 ₡519

-30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 ₡1,415

$2.8 ₡1,403

1.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.33 ₡2,667

$5.43 ₡2,716

-1.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.09 ₡6,052

$18.98 ₡9,503

-36.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 ₡1,231

$2.41 ₡1,205

2.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,428

$2.92 ₡1,461

-2.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₡504

$1 ₡501

1.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 ₡922

$1.88 ₡939

-2.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.95 ₡473

$1.86 ₡930

-48.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ₡4,050

$7.8 ₡3,904

3.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡695

$1.4 ₡699

-0.71%

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

$37.1K ₡18.6M

$37.7K ₡18.9M

-1.51%

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

$32.9K ₡16.5M

$32.7K ₡16.4M

0.65%

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

$66.8 ₡33.5K

$92.9 ₡46.5K

-28.03%

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

$26.29 ₡13.2K

$25.98 ₡13K

1.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60 ₡30K

$60.2 ₡30.1K

-0.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.5 ₡28.3K

$56.2 ₡28.2K

0.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.94 ₡12K

$38.51 ₡19.3K

-37.83%

Cinema Ticket

$9.15 ₡4,580

$9.89 ₡4,953

-7.48%

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

$572 ₡286.1K

$567 ₡283.6K

0.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡6.4M

-0.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 ₡31.3K

$63.5 ₡31.8K

-1.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.5 ₡25.3K

$50.8 ₡25.4K

-0.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡63.1K

$125 ₡62.6K

0.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ₡54.3K

$107 ₡53.7K

1.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₡376.5K

$865 ₡433K

-13.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ₡293K

$536 ₡268.3K

9.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,537 ₡769.3K

$1,427 ₡714.5K

7.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$980 ₡490.7K

$1,034 ₡517.9K

-5.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,666 ₡834.1K

$2,869 ₡1.4M

-41.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,661 ₡831.4K

$1,697 ₡849.3K

-2.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

-11.50%

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

Last update for Santa Barbara: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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