Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Windsor, CT and San Jose

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Windsor, CT costs about 51% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Windsor, CT
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.80 $29.80
$12.37 ₡5,572
140.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.2 $99.2
$62.4 ₡28.1K
59.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.98 $11.98
$11.71 ₡5,272
2.31%
Cappuccino
$5.27 $5.27
$4.54 ₡2,043
16.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.75 ₡1,239
5.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.86 ₡839
27.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.07 $7.07
$3.35 ₡1,508
111.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.56 $7.56
$4.32 ₡1,947
75.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Windsor, CT
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.36 ₡1,062
-38.14%
White Bread (500g)
$4.73 $4.73
$3.07 ₡1,381
54.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.99 $6.99
$2.51 ₡1,129
178.49%
Eggs
$5.57 $5.57
$3.53 ₡1,588
57.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.73 $20.73
$10.54 ₡4,746
96.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.17 $14.17
$10.57 ₡4,761
34.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.11 $19.11
$13.92 ₡6,270
37.28%
Apples (1kg)
$7.46 $7.46
$5.20 ₡2,341
43.46%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.65 ₡742
24.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$4.89 ₡2,201
9.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$3.84 ₡1,730
14.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$3.91 ₡1,760
-42.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.65 $2.65
$3.76 ₡1,694
-29.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.12 ₡505
163.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.22 ₡1,449
-7.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.75 $13.75
$6.02 ₡2,711
128.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.06 $16.06
$19.84 ₡8,932
-19.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.81 ₡1,266
10.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 $4.47
$3.65 ₡1,646
22.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Windsor, CT
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.08 ₡488
60.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.4 $60.4
$65.2 ₡29.4K
-7.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.26 ₡1,019
12.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.78 ₡800
-0.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.91 $27.91
$7.90 ₡3,557
253.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.50 ₡674
-22.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K $28.9K
$33.5K ₡15.1M
-13.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$42.3K ₡19.0M
-38.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Windsor, CT
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 $215
$93.2 ₡42.0K
131.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.1 $55.1
$36.13 ₡16.3K
52.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.6 $78.6
$60.6 ₡27.3K
29.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Windsor, CT
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.61 $40.61
$68.9 ₡31.0K
-41.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.94 $19.94
$24.94 ₡11.2K
-20.05%
Cinema Ticket
$15.26 $15.26
$7.67 ₡3,454
98.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Windsor, CT
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,184 $1,184
$972 ₡437.6K
21.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$36.1K $36.1K
$18.9K ₡8.5M
91.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Windsor, CT
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8 $68.8
$70.6 ₡31.8K
-2.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.2 $50.2
$56.7 ₡25.5K
-11.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 $78.6
$129 ₡57.9K
-38.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.5 $99.5
$131 ₡58.9K
-23.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Windsor, CT
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,001 $2,001
$1,170 ₡526.7K
71.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 $1,628
$943 ₡424.7K
72.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,608 $2,608
$1,984 ₡893.3K
31.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,082 $2,082
$1,400 ₡630.5K
48.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,766 $2,766
$2,681 ₡1.2M
3.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 $2,293
$2,037 ₡917.1K
12.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Windsor, CT
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,805 $5,805
$987 ₡444.3K
488.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
8.62
-23.55%

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

Last update for Windsor, CT: 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
Windsor, CT
$1.6K
San Jose
$943 42.1% $685
Groceries & Markets
Windsor, CT
$512
San Jose
$403 21.3% $109
Eating Out
Windsor, CT
$409
San Jose
$232 43.2% $177
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Windsor, CT
$349
San Jose
$190 45.6% $159
Clothing & Footwear
Windsor, CT
$134
San Jose
$174 30.2% $40
Getting Around
Windsor, CT
$79
San Jose
$81 2.6% $2.1
Sport & Entertainment
Windsor, CT
$71
San Jose
$84 18.5% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,001 in Windsor, CT 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 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 $99 in Windsor, CT versus $62 in San Jose. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $512 vs $403 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Windsor, CT
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
22:33 10:33 PM
21:33 9:33 PM
1 h behind Windsor, CT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
22,522
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 = 0.891 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Windsor, CT San Jose 3,720 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Windsor, CT
  • 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
Windsor, CT vs San Jose: 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 $4,772 per month in Windsor, CT and $3,161 in San Jose. 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 Windsor, CT or in San Jose?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $99 in Windsor, CT 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 Windsor, CT and in San Jose?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,182 in Windsor, CT and $2,107 in San Jose. That makes San Jose about 34% cheaper.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Windsor, CT or in San Jose?
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 Windsor, CT 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, Windsor, CT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Windsor, CT vs other spots: cost of living compared

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