Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Williamsport, PA and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $2,107 a month against $2,197 in Williamsport, PA, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Williamsport, PA, United States
San Jose, Costa Rica
Williamsport, PA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,197
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$2,107
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Williamsport, PA 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 Williamsport, PA and in San Jose actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,197 per month in Williamsport, PA vs $2,107 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Williamsport, PA $2,197
  • San Jose $2,107

A couple spends around $3,203 per month in Williamsport, PA vs $3,081 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Williamsport, PA $3,203
  • San Jose $3,081

A family of three spends $4,210 per month in Williamsport, PA vs $4,054 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Williamsport, PA $4,210
  • San Jose $4,054

Williamsport, PA costs about 4% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Williamsport, PA and San Jose sit above the global median – Williamsport, PA by 62%, San Jose by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Williamsport, PA
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.73 $18.73
$12.37 ₡5,563
51.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6 $60.6
$62.4 ₡28.0K
-2.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.18 $10.18
$11.71 ₡5,264
-13.07%
Cappuccino
$4.93 $4.93
$4.54 ₡2,040
8.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.75 ₡1,238
-25.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.86 ₡837
-20.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.05 $9.05
$3.35 ₡1,505
170.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 $3.04
$4.32 ₡1,944
-29.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Williamsport, PA
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$2.36 ₡1,061
-44.49%
White Bread (500g)
$4.38 $4.38
$3.07 ₡1,379
42.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.99 $5.99
$2.51 ₡1,128
138.65%
Eggs
$6.85 $6.85
$3.53 ₡1,585
94.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.14 $14.14
$10.54 ₡4,738
34.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.39 $10.39
$10.57 ₡4,754
-1.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.92 $19.92
$13.92 ₡6,261
43.10%
Apples (1kg)
$5.89 $5.89
$5.20 ₡2,338
13.27%
Banana (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.65 ₡740
109.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.89 ₡2,198
-12.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$3.84 ₡1,728
38.54%
Potato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.91 ₡1,757
-21.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 $2.94
$3.76 ₡1,692
-21.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.12 ₡504
166.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$3.22 ₡1,447
-5.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.98 $14.98
$6.02 ₡2,706
148.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.88 $14.88
$19.84 ₡8,919
-25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.81 ₡1,264
-36.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.65 ₡1,643
-4.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Williamsport, PA
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.08 ₡487
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$65.2 ₡29.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.26 ₡1,018
34.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.78 ₡799
24.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.17 $42.17
$7.90 ₡3,551
433.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.50 ₡673
-31.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K $28.2K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-15.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-39.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williamsport, PA
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$93.2 ₡41.9K
84.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.6 $51.6
$36.13 ₡16.2K
42.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.18 $30.18
$60.6 ₡27.2K
-50.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Williamsport, PA
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.43 $44.43
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-35.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.87 $19.87
$7.67 ₡3,449
159.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Williamsport, PA
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,759 $1,759
$972 ₡436.9K
81.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.4K $20.4K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
7.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Williamsport, PA
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1 $50.1
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-29.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.1 $81.1
$56.7 ₡25.5K
43.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 $85.7
$129 ₡57.8K
-33.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$131 ₡58.8K
-20.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Williamsport, PA
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$1,170 ₡525.9K
10.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$930 $930
$943 ₡424.1K
-1.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,574 $1,574
$1,984 ₡892.0K
-20.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,398 $1,398
$1,400 ₡629.5K
-0.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,420 $1,420
$2,681 ₡1.2M
-47.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,434 $1,434
$2,037 ₡915.8K
-29.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Williamsport, PA
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,068 $4,068
$987 ₡443.6K
312.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.72
8.62
-22.04%

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

Last update for Williamsport, PA: 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
Williamsport, PA
$930
San Jose
$943 1.4% $13
Groceries & Markets
Williamsport, PA
$466
San Jose
$403 13.5% $63
Eating Out
Williamsport, PA
$305
San Jose
$232 23.8% $73
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williamsport, PA
$254
San Jose
$190 25.2% $64
Clothing & Footwear
Williamsport, PA
$144
San Jose
$174 20.6% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Williamsport, PA
$84
San Jose
$84 0.1% $0.1
Getting Around
Williamsport, PA
$14 *
San Jose
$81 474% $67

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,290 in Williamsport, PA 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.

Salaries in Williamsport, PA are about 4.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Williamsport, PA versus $62 in San Jose. Groceries tell a different story – $466 in Williamsport, PA vs $403 in San Jose – so San Jose wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Williamsport, PA
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
18:08 6:08 PM
17:08 5:08 PM
1 h behind Williamsport, PA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
27,754
342,188 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.895 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 502 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Williamsport, PA San Jose 3,550 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Williamsport, PA
  • 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
Williamsport, PA vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Jose cheaper than Williamsport, PA?
Yes – Williamsport, PA is pricier by about 4%, 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 $3,295 per month in Williamsport, PA 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 Williamsport, PA and San Jose?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,290 in Williamsport, PA and $1,170 in San Jose. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do food prices compare in Williamsport, PA and in San Jose?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Williamsport, PA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,759 per month in Williamsport, PA and $972 in San Jose. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough for either Williamsport, PA or San Jose?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,197 in Williamsport, PA and $2,107 in San Jose, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Williamsport, PA or San Jose 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, Williamsport, PA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Williamsport, PA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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