Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Angeles, CA and San Jose 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in San Jose is 31.4% lower than in Los Angeles, CA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in San Jose is 45.8% lower than in Los Angeles, CA | |
| Rent Prices in San Jose are 68.4% lower than in Los Angeles, CA | |
| Restaurant Prices in San Jose are 44.2% lower than in Los Angeles, CA | |
| Groceries Prices in San Jose are 29.7% lower than in Los Angeles, CA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in San Jose is 61.9% lower than in Los Angeles, CA | |
Restaurants | Los Angeles, CA Edit |
San Jose Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
25.00 $ (12,485.63 ₡) |
10.01 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
-60.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
100.00 $ (49,942.50 ₡) |
60.07 $ (30,000.00 ₡) |
-39.9 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
13.00 $ (6,492.53 ₡) |
10.01 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
-23.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
8.00 $ (3,995.40 ₡) |
2.70 $ (1,350.00 ₡) |
-66.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
9.75 $ (4,869.39 ₡) |
4.41 $ (2,200.00 ₡) |
-54.8 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
5.85 $ (2,920.74 ₡) |
3.88 $ (1,938.83 ₡) |
-33.6 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
2.95 $ (1,473.30 ₡) |
2.08 $ (1,037.38 ₡) |
-29.6 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
2.35 $ (1,173.25 ₡) |
1.69 $ (844.10 ₡) |
-28.1 % |
Markets | Los Angeles, CA Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
1.30 $ (649.12 ₡) |
2.07 $ (1,032.31 ₡) |
+59.0 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
4.10 $ (2,049.45 ₡) |
2.40 $ (1,197.01 ₡) |
-41.6 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
2.41 $ (1,205.18 ₡) |
0.99 $ (494.61 ₡) |
-59.0 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
7.85 $ (3,922.88 ₡) |
2.97 $ (1,483.68 ₡) |
-62.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
6.25 $ (3,120.26 ₡) |
4.37 $ (2,183.50 ₡) |
-30.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
7.10 $ (3,548.28 ₡) |
4.15 $ (2,071.33 ₡) |
-41.6 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
9.23 $ (4,607.20 ₡) |
6.16 $ (3,077.95 ₡) |
-33.2 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.64 $ (1,318.48 ₡) |
1.98 $ (990.34 ₡) |
-24.9 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
1.28 $ (639.82 ₡) |
0.69 $ (344.14 ₡) |
-46.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.16 $ (1,076.89 ₡) |
1.97 $ (982.78 ₡) |
-8.7 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
2.19 $ (1,092.27 ₡) |
1.59 $ (794.22 ₡) |
-27.3 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.45 $ (722.84 ₡) |
1.52 $ (756.82 ₡) |
+4.7 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.26 $ (626.93 ₡) |
1.39 $ (694.79 ₡) |
+10.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
1.91 $ (951.72 ₡) |
1.00 $ (500.00 ₡) |
-47.5 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.32 $ (1,159.84 ₡) |
2.89 $ (1,441.67 ₡) |
+24.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
15.00 $ (7,491.38 ₡) |
18.02 $ (9,000.00 ₡) |
+20.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
3.05 $ (1,522.42 ₡) |
2.54 $ (1,269.13 ₡) |
-16.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.13 $ (1,560.90 ₡) |
3.04 $ (1,518.38 ₡) |
-2.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
11.71 $ (5,848.27 ₡) |
5.41 $ (2,700.00 ₡) |
-53.8 % |
Transportation | Los Angeles, CA Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
1.75 $ (873.99 ₡) |
1.00 $ (500.00 ₡) |
-42.8 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
105.00 $ (52,439.63 ₡) |
60.07 $ (30,000.00 ₡) |
-42.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
3.10 $ (1,548.22 ₡) |
2.22 $ (1,110.00 ₡) |
-28.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
2.98 $ (1,486.93 ₡) |
2.34 $ (1,166.77 ₡) |
-21.5 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
32.11 $ (16,036.54 ₡) |
87.10 $ (43,500.00 ₡) |
+171.3 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
1.25 $ (624.71 ₡) |
1.43 $ (712.03 ₡) |
+14.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
36,753.89 $ (18,355,813.16 ₡) |
38,043.75 $ (19,000,000.00 ₡) |
+3.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
26,178.09 $ (13,073,990.47 ₡) |
34,671.91 $ (17,316,020.31 ₡) |
+32.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Los Angeles, CA Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
203.82 $ (101,792.47 ₡) |
93.54 $ (46,716.10 ₡) |
-54.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
65.18 $ (32,552.52 ₡) |
30.59 $ (15,277.94 ₡) |
-53.1 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
72.04 $ (35,980.31 ₡) |
60.52 $ (30,226.52 ₡) |
-16.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Los Angeles, CA Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
48.87 $ (24,406.68 ₡) |
57.92 $ (28,926.82 ₡) |
+18.5 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
11.84 $ (5,913.19 ₡) |
38.26 $ (19,106.64 ₡) |
+223.1 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
18.00 $ (8,989.65 ₡) |
9.96 $ (4,975.99 ₡) |
-44.6 % |
Childcare | Los Angeles, CA Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
1,791.70 $ (894,822.06 ₡) |
868.83 $ (433,916.28 ₡) |
-51.5 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
29,453.89 $ (14,710,008.69 ₡) |
14,902.35 $ (7,442,607.39 ₡) |
-49.4 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Los Angeles, CA Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
61.82 $ (30,873.55 ₡) |
69.57 $ (34,742.70 ₡) |
+12.5 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
45.50 $ (22,723.84 ₡) |
51.69 $ (25,813.32 ₡) |
+13.6 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
99.14 $ (49,514.42 ₡) |
118.68 $ (59,273.05 ₡) |
+19.7 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
149.85 $ (74,836.53 ₡) |
108.12 $ (54,000.00 ₡) |
-27.8 % |
Rent Per Month | Los Angeles, CA Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
2,592.38 $ (1,294,699.06 ₡) |
923.46 $ (461,198.17 ₡) |
-64.4 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,088.22 $ (1,042,907.99 ₡) |
601.73 $ (300,519.57 ₡) |
-71.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
4,599.35 $ (2,297,029.32 ₡) |
1,561.35 $ (779,779.23 ₡) |
-66.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
3,783.92 $ (1,889,782.61 ₡) |
1,023.54 $ (511,181.49 ₡) |
-73.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Los Angeles, CA Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
690.05 $ (344,630.07 ₡) |
210.24 $ (104,997.99 ₡) |
-69.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
652.64 $ (325,947.21 ₡) |
161.67 $ (80,741.64 ₡) |
-75.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Los Angeles, CA Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
4,415.75 $ (2,205,333.79 ₡) |
912.55 $ (455,751.45 ₡) |
-79.3 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.65 | 9.62 | +44.6 % |
| Last update: | 13 December 2025 | 13 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 251 | 74 |
Moving to Los Angeles, CA? Explore:
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Cities near Los Angeles, CA: | Cost of Living in Glendale, California | 8.97 miles |
| Cost of Living in Alhambra, California | 9.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hermosa Beach, California | 20.55 miles |
| Cost of Living in Long Beach, California | 24.55 miles |
| Cost of Living in Anaheim, California | 26.50 miles |
| Cost of Living in Westminster, California | 31.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Santa Ana, California | 33.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Santa Clarita, California | 35.39 miles |
| Cost of Living in Huntington Beach, California | 36.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in Thousand Oaks, California | 39.61 miles |
Cities near San Jose: | Cost of Living in San Juan | 2.95 miles |
| Cost of Living in Cartago | 38.87 miles |
| Cost of Living in Heredia | 53.21 miles |
| Cost of Living in Quesada | 57.88 miles |
| Cost of Living in Siquirres | 63.16 miles |
| Cost of Living in Perez Zeledon | 89.36 miles |
| Cost of Living in Liberia | 131.27 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tamarindo | 161.02 miles |