🇦🇺 Australia
125
Cost of Living Index in Australia
Learn more Last update: Nov 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and San Jose
For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $2,720 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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😐 Solo nomad: The United States is 8.9% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 29.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United States is 10.9% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 27.9% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
United States
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.75 $19.75
$12.37 ₡5,563
59.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3 $79.3
$62.4 ₡28.0K
27.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 $11.78
$11.71 ₡5,264
0.60%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.54 ₡2,040
23.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.75 ₡1,238
-2.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.86 ₡837
12.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.98 $5.98
$3.35 ₡1,505
78.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.89 $7.89
$4.32 ₡1,944
82.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$2.36 ₡1,061
-53.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.61 $3.61
$3.07 ₡1,379
17.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$2.51 ₡1,128
83.67%
Eggs
$4.34 $4.34
$3.53 ₡1,585
22.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 $12.86
$10.54 ₡4,738
22.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.50 $12.50
$10.57 ₡4,754
18.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.41 $17.41
$13.92 ₡6,261
25.07%
Apples (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$5.20 ₡2,338
4.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.65 ₡740
0.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$4.89 ₡2,198
-10.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$3.84 ₡1,728
29.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$3.91 ₡1,757
-27.11%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$3.76 ₡1,692
-18.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.12 ₡504
104.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$3.22 ₡1,447
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.01 $11.01
$6.02 ₡2,706
82.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.94 $14.94
$19.84 ₡8,919
-24.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.81 ₡1,264
-24.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 $3.79
$3.65 ₡1,643
3.84%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.08 ₡487
88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.1 $59.1
$65.2 ₡29.3K
-9.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 $3.48
$2.26 ₡1,018
53.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.78 ₡799
6.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.76 $29.76
$7.90 ₡3,551
276.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.50 ₡673
-28.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K $28.0K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-16.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-39.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$93.2 ₡41.9K
132.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.7 $62.7
$36.13 ₡16.2K
73.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.0 $73.0
$60.6 ₡27.2K
20.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.08 $42.08
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-38.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.10 $23.10
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-7.38%
Cinema Ticket
$14.77 $14.77
$7.67 ₡3,449
92.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,490 $1,490
$972 ₡436.9K
53.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.7K $21.7K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
15.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 $53.5
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-24.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.69 $42.69
$56.7 ₡25.5K
-24.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 $92.7
$129 ₡57.8K
-27.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$131 ₡58.8K
-10.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 $1,671
$1,170 ₡525.9K
42.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,338 $1,338
$943 ₡424.1K
41.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,723 $2,723
$1,984 ₡892.0K
37.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,131 $2,131
$1,400 ₡629.5K
52.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,269 $3,269
$2,681 ₡1.2M
21.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,553 $2,553
$2,037 ₡915.8K
25.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,253 $4,253
$987 ₡443.6K
331.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
8.62
-23.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: November 2, 2026
Last update for San Jose: November 2, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United States $1.3K 49.2%
San Jose $943 44.8% 29.5% $395
Groceries & Markets
United States $415 15.3%
San Jose $403 19.1% 3% $12
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States $352 13%
San Jose $190 9% 46.1% $163
Eating Out
United States $326 12%
San Jose $232 11% 28.6% $93
Clothing & Footwear
United States $137 5.1%
San Jose $174 8.3% 26.6% $37
Getting Around
United States $80 3%
San Jose $81 3.8% 0.7% $0.5
Sport & Entertainment
United States $72 2.6%
San Jose $84 4% 17.7% $13
Accommodation & Living
United States $2.1K 41.1%
San Jose $1.4K 34.5% 34.3% $731
Groceries & Markets
United States $952 18.4%
San Jose $911 22.5% 4.3% $41
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States $415 8%
San Jose $226 5.6% 45.5% $189
Eating Out
United States $1.1K 20.3%
San Jose $774 19.1% 26.6% $280
Clothing & Footwear
United States $305 5.9%
San Jose $387 9.5% 26.6% $81
Getting Around
United States $164 3.2%
San Jose $164 4% 0.5% $0.8
Sport & Entertainment
United States $166 3.2%
San Jose $193 4.8% 16.3% $27
Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇨🇷 San Jose
Weather
Population
340,110,988
342,188 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- United States San Jose 2,870 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
- United States
- 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
United States vs other spots: cost of living compared
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