Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Stephenville and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $2,248 in Stephenville, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Stephenville outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Stephenville, Canada
San Jose, Costa Rica
Stephenville
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,248
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Stephenville and in San Jose

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Stephenville and in San Jose actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,248 per month in Stephenville vs $2,107 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Stephenville $2,248
  • San Jose $2,107

A couple spends around $3,259 per month in Stephenville vs $3,081 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Stephenville $3,259
  • San Jose $3,081

A family of three spends $4,271 per month in Stephenville vs $4,054 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Stephenville $4,271
  • San Jose $4,054

Stephenville costs about 7% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Stephenville and San Jose sit above the global median – Stephenville by 66%, San Jose by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stephenville
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.15 CA$25.44
$12.37 ₡5,563
46.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.4 CA$91.7
$62.4 ₡28.0K
4.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 CA$14.74
$11.71 ₡5,264
-10.25%
Cappuccino
$3.68 CA$5.15
$4.54 ₡2,040
-18.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 CA$2.88
$2.75 ₡1,238
-25.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 CA$2.26
$1.86 ₡837
-12.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.18 CA$7.27
$3.35 ₡1,505
54.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73 CA$8.03
$4.32 ₡1,944
32.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stephenville
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.54 CA$3.57
$2.36 ₡1,061
7.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 CA$3.56
$3.07 ₡1,379
-17.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.37 CA$4.72
$2.51 ₡1,128
34.26%
Eggs
$3.42 CA$4.79
$3.53 ₡1,585
-3.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.27 CA$14.40
$10.54 ₡4,738
-2.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.36 CA$15.93
$10.57 ₡4,754
7.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.83 CA$20.79
$13.92 ₡6,261
6.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.88 CA$5.44
$5.20 ₡2,338
-25.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 CA$1.88
$1.65 ₡740
-18.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.56 CA$4.99
$4.89 ₡2,198
-27.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.82 CA$5.35
$3.84 ₡1,728
-0.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.44 CA$3.41
$3.91 ₡1,757
-37.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 CA$3.19
$3.76 ₡1,692
-39.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.36 CA$6.11
$1.12 ₡504
289.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.21
$3.22 ₡1,447
-50.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.53 CA$20.36
$6.02 ₡2,706
141.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.14 CA$15.62
$19.84 ₡8,919
-43.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 CA$3.80
$2.81 ₡1,264
-3.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 CA$4.45
$3.65 ₡1,643
-13.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Stephenville
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 CA$3.18
$1.08 ₡487
110.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.6 CA$89.1
$65.2 ₡29.3K
-2.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.89 CA$4.06
$2.26 ₡1,018
27.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.08
$1.78 ₡799
-16.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.74 CA$33.28
$7.90 ₡3,551
200.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 CA$1.64
$1.50 ₡673
-22.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K CA$38.1K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-18.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K CA$30.0K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-49.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stephenville
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 CA$190
$93.2 ₡41.9K
45.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.96 CA$54.6
$36.13 ₡16.2K
7.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2 CA$75.9
$60.6 ₡27.2K
-10.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stephenville
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.25 CA$52.2
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-45.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.82 CA$24.98
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-28.55%
Cinema Ticket
$10.80 CA$15.14
$7.67 ₡3,449
40.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stephenville
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$643 CA$901
$972 ₡436.9K
-33.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K CA$18.8K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
-28.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stephenville
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.9 CA$76.9
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-22.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.47 CA$53.9
$56.7 ₡25.5K
-32.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.5 CA$120
$129 ₡57.8K
-33.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 CA$147
$131 ₡58.8K
-19.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stephenville
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,286 CA$1,803
$1,170 ₡525.9K
9.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 CA$1,563
$943 ₡424.1K
18.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,036 CA$2,855
$1,984 ₡892.0K
2.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,707 CA$2,393
$1,400 ₡629.5K
21.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,445 CA$6,230
$2,681 ₡1.2M
65.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,591 CA$5,033
$2,037 ₡915.8K
76.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stephenville
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$987 ₡443.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.68
8.62
-45.71%

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

Last update for Stephenville: November 2, 2026

Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Stephenville
$1.1K
San Jose
$943 15.4% $172
Groceries & Markets
Stephenville
$361
San Jose
$403 11.4% $41
Eating Out
Stephenville
$273
San Jose
$232 14.9% $41
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stephenville
$229
San Jose
$190 17% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Stephenville
$128
San Jose
$174 36.3% $46
Getting Around
Stephenville
$83
San Jose
$81 2.7% $2.2
Sport & Entertainment
Stephenville
$59
San Jose
$84 43.2% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,286 in Stephenville versus $1,170 in San Jose. 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 $65 in Stephenville versus $62 in San Jose. Groceries tell a different story – $361 in Stephenville vs $403 in San Jose – so Stephenville wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Stephenville
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
10:31 10:31 AM
08:01 8:01 AM
2 h 30 min behind Stephenville
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,600
342,188 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Stephenville San Jose 4,910 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Stephenville
  • San Jose

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
Stephenville vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Jose cheaper than Stephenville?
Yes – Stephenville is pricier by about 7%, 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 $3,372 per month in Stephenville and $3,161 in San Jose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Stephenville and San Jose?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,286 in Stephenville and $1,170 in San Jose. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Is eating out cheaper in Stephenville or in San Jose?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65 in Stephenville and $62 in San Jose. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Stephenville and in San Jose?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,248 in Stephenville and $2,107 in San Jose. That makes San Jose about 6% cheaper.
Is $2,500 enough for either Stephenville or San Jose?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,248 in Stephenville and $2,107 in San Jose, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Stephenville or in San Jose?
It depends on your priorities. San Jose has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,107 in San Jose to $2,248 in Stephenville. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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