Cost of Living Comparison Between Washington, DC and San Jose 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in San Jose is 35.2% lower than in Washington, DC (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in San Jose is 50.8% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Rent Prices in San Jose are 74.0% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Restaurant Prices in San Jose are 44.7% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Groceries Prices in San Jose are 30.0% lower than in Washington, DC | |
| Local Purchasing Power in San Jose is 66.3% lower than in Washington, DC | |
Restaurants | Washington, DC Edit |
San Jose Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
25.00 $ (12,570.65 ₡) |
11.93 $ (6,000.00 ₡) |
-52.3 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
120.00 $ (60,339.12 ₡) |
59.66 $ (30,000.00 ₡) |
-50.3 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
12.00 $ (6,033.91 ₡) |
9.94 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
-17.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
8.00 $ (4,022.61 ₡) |
2.98 $ (1,500.00 ₡) |
-62.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
10.00 $ (5,028.26 ₡) |
4.97 $ (2,500.00 ₡) |
-50.3 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
5.59 $ (2,810.44 ₡) |
3.95 $ (1,986.46 ₡) |
-29.3 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
3.02 $ (1,518.33 ₡) |
1.92 $ (964.49 ₡) |
-36.5 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
2.56 $ (1,285.83 ₡) |
1.56 $ (784.87 ₡) |
-39.0 % |
Markets | Washington, DC Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
4.22 $ (2,122.86 ₡) |
7.05 $ (3,544.52 ₡) |
+67.0 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
3.95 $ (1,988.35 ₡) |
2.29 $ (1,149.57 ₡) |
-42.2 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
2.92 $ (1,470.05 ₡) |
0.92 $ (463.67 ₡) |
-68.5 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
4.11 $ (2,065.70 ₡) |
2.89 $ (1,451.40 ₡) |
-29.7 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
7.42 $ (3,729.32 ₡) |
4.57 $ (2,300.36 ₡) |
-38.3 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
6.96 $ (3,499.90 ₡) |
4.21 $ (2,118.93 ₡) |
-39.5 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
8.94 $ (4,494.92 ₡) |
6.39 $ (3,212.95 ₡) |
-28.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.76 $ (1,387.27 ₡) |
2.14 $ (1,075.66 ₡) |
-22.5 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
0.98 $ (493.09 ₡) |
0.70 $ (350.27 ₡) |
-29.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.40 $ (1,204.47 ₡) |
1.88 $ (944.99 ₡) |
-21.5 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
2.85 $ (1,433.84 ₡) |
1.62 $ (812.84 ₡) |
-43.3 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
1.57 $ (790.14 ₡) |
1.57 $ (791.73 ₡) |
+0.2 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
1.75 $ (879.94 ₡) |
1.42 $ (714.41 ₡) |
-18.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
2.52 $ (1,266.40 ₡) |
0.97 $ (488.33 ₡) |
-61.4 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
2.51 $ (1,260.84 ₡) |
2.86 $ (1,440.00 ₡) |
+14.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
16.00 $ (8,045.22 ₡) |
19.89 $ (10,000.00 ₡) |
+24.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
2.87 $ (1,441.20 ₡) |
2.39 $ (1,199.30 ₡) |
-16.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
4.71 $ (2,367.05 ₡) |
3.04 $ (1,528.57 ₡) |
-35.4 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
11.00 $ (5,531.09 ₡) |
5.27 $ (2,650.00 ₡) |
-52.1 % |
Transportation | Washington, DC Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.50 $ (1,257.07 ₡) |
0.99 $ (500.00 ₡) |
-60.2 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
75.00 $ (37,711.95 ₡) |
41.37 $ (20,800.00 ₡) |
-44.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
4.00 $ (2,011.30 ₡) |
1.83 $ (922.50 ₡) |
-54.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
4.00 $ (2,011.30 ₡) |
2.91 $ (1,464.50 ₡) |
-27.2 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
30.00 $ (15,084.78 ₡) |
7.49 $ (3,767.50 ₡) |
-75.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
3.48 $ (1,750.60 ₡) |
5.45 $ (2,742.87 ₡) |
+56.7 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
32,500.00 $ (16,341,846.04 ₡) |
37,786.43 $ (19,000,000.00 ₡) |
+16.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
25,882.60 $ (13,014,445.06 ₡) |
32,847.67 $ (16,516,663.70 ₡) |
+26.9 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Washington, DC Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
210.68 $ (105,934.03 ₡) |
96.51 $ (48,526.28 ₡) |
-54.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
60.39 $ (30,364.59 ₡) |
25.17 $ (12,657.89 ₡) |
-58.3 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
66.25 $ (33,312.76 ₡) |
58.49 $ (29,412.14 ₡) |
-11.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Washington, DC Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
115.29 $ (57,972.59 ₡) |
61.37 $ (30,860.02 ₡) |
-46.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
38.41 $ (19,314.80 ₡) |
38.26 $ (19,237.32 ₡) |
-0.4 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
17.00 $ (8,548.04 ₡) |
9.94 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
-41.5 % |
Childcare | Washington, DC Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
2,498.25 $ (1,256,185.13 ₡) |
602.59 $ (303,000.00 ₡) |
-75.9 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
40,166.67 $ (20,196,845.62 ₡) |
12,645.48 $ (6,358,478.10 ₡) |
-68.5 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Washington, DC Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
79.98 $ (40,218.04 ₡) |
69.42 $ (34,903.98 ₡) |
-13.2 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
50.97 $ (25,630.98 ₡) |
53.75 $ (27,028.26 ₡) |
+5.5 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
105.01 $ (52,801.76 ₡) |
125.95 $ (63,333.33 ₡) |
+19.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
137.65 $ (69,212.89 ₡) |
124.58 $ (62,641.30 ₡) |
-9.5 % |
Rent Per Month | Washington, DC Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
2,518.27 $ (1,266,251.32 ₡) |
825.62 $ (415,143.79 ₡) |
-67.2 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
2,084.33 $ (1,048,057.06 ₡) |
506.09 $ (254,472.82 ₡) |
-75.7 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
5,784.38 $ (2,908,534.33 ₡) |
1,439.56 $ (723,846.90 ₡) |
-75.1 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
4,071.47 $ (2,047,241.40 ₡) |
991.90 $ (498,752.70 ₡) |
-75.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Washington, DC Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
700.01 $ (351,982.79 ₡) |
270.98 $ (136,256.66 ₡) |
-61.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
566.57 $ (284,883.78 ₡) |
159.55 $ (80,226.66 ₡) |
-71.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | Washington, DC Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
5,962.56 $ (2,998,132.45 ₡) |
989.96 $ (497,777.78 ₡) |
-83.4 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 6.48 | 10.17 | +56.8 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | March 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 142 | 57 |
Moving to Washington, DC? Explore:
Moving to San Jose? Explore:
Cities near Washington, DC: | Cost of Living in Arlington, Virginia | 4.38 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chevy Chase, Maryland | 7.01 miles |
| Cost of Living in Springfield, Virginia | 13.51 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rockville, Maryland | 17.91 miles |
| Cost of Living in Baltimore, Maryland | 38.92 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fredericksburg, Virginia | 52.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lexington Park, Maryland | 61.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in Richmond, Virginia | 106.83 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania | 113.70 miles |
| Cost of Living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | 117.62 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 Perez Zeledon | 89.36 miles |
| Cost of Living in Liberia | 131.27 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tamarindo | 161.02 miles |