San Jose, Costa Rica
Editor
March 12, 2023
San Jose, California is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a vibrant and diverse city to explore. With a population of over one million people, San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area and the tenth largest city in the United States. It is home to a thriving tech industry, with some of the world’s most innovative companies such as Apple, Google, and Adobe located in the city. San Jose also offers a wide range of cultural attractions, from the Tech Museum of Innovation to the San Jose Museum of Art. The city is also known for its excellent public transportation system, making it easy to get around. Additionally, San Jose has a low cost of living compared to other cities in the Bay Area, making it an attractive option for digital nomads. With its diverse population, vibrant culture, and excellent public transportation, San Jose is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a place to call home.
Living in San Jose, Costa Rica: Overview
Overall score | Worksplorer index
-
75%
Quality of life -
36%
Cost of living -
62%
Connectivity -
99%
Weather
53
General
| Currency | CRC |
| Population (in millions) | 1.03 |
| Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200) | 83 |
| Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA | 8% more expensive |
| Best neighborhood to stay | Willow Glen, Almaden Valley |
Culture
| Number of museums and galleries | 30 |
| Top selling local beer | IPA |
| Most popular local dish | Tamales |
Travel
| Most popular tourist attraction(s) | Winchester Mystery House, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, San Jose Museum of Art |
| Discount airline | Southwest |
| Major airline | Southwest Airlines |
| Largest ride sharing company | Lyft |
| Primary train stations | San Jose Diridon Station, Santa Clara Station, Tamien Station |
| Primary airports | San Jose International, Reid-Hillview Airport, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International |
| Best rental car company | Enterprise Rent-A-Car |
| Used car costs | 15000 USD |
Connectivity
| Apple store addresses | Westfield Valley Fair, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050 |
| Internet connection (in Mbps) | 200 Mbps |
| Power socket type | Type A and Type B |
| Supply voltage | 120V |
| Best electronics store | BestBuy |
| Best internet carrier | Comcast |
| Primary cellular carrier | Verizon |
| Average monthly cost for internet | $60.00 |
Shopping
| The best drug store | CVS |
| Best restaurant chain | The Table |
| The best grocery store | Safeway |
| The most popular fashion brand | Gap |
Regulatory
| GDP per capita | $63,845 / year |
| Average annual income | $100,000 |
| Sales tax rate | 8.75% |
| Income tax rate | 9.3% |
| Tourist visa valid (in days) | 30 |
Financial
| Average mortgage rate | 3.5% |
| Suggested ATM take out | 500 USD |
| Bank that has the most ATM machines | Wells Fargo |
| Average tip in restaurant | 15% |
| Pay using credit or debit card | Becoming more common |
Health
| Emergency Phone Numbers | 911 (general), 408-277-8911 (police), 408-947-8300 (ambulance), 408-277-8900 |
| Polution per square meter | 4,845 |
| Health quality rank (according to WHO) | 28 |
| Main religion | Christianity |
Quality of life
75%
-
44%
Safety, freedom, rights -
99%
Traffic -
89%
Property to income -
56%
Crime -
63%
Healthcare -
99%
Weather
Salaries
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | CRC 449,015 |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 8.21% |
Childcare
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | CRC 192,898 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | CRC 4,711,490 |
Cost of living
36%
-
Purchasing Power
38%
-
Rent
19%
-
Food
50%
-
Restaurant
48%
-
Workspace
48%
-
Transport
64%
Rent
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Per Month | CRC 364,254.22 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Per Month | CRC 223,063.30 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre Per Month | CRC 746,075.86 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre Per Month | CRC 452,675.09 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend), Sports And Leisure | CRC 15,092.35 |
Food
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | CRC 987.07 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | CRC 1,120.72 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | CRC 1,574.00 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | CRC 4,094.09 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | CRC 1,088.89 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | CRC 7,750.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | CRC 1,175.70 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | CRC 1,516.67 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | CRC 2,350.00 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | CRC 4,510.21 |
| Apples (1kg) | CRC 2,468.58 |
| Oranges (1kg) | CRC 1,037.39 |
| Potato (1kg) | CRC 1,141.11 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | CRC 575.56 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | CRC 1,195.33 |
| Tomato (1kg) | CRC 1,305.91 |
| Banana (1kg) | CRC 672.17 |
| Onion (1kg) | CRC 1,428.91 |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | CRC 6,617.78 |
Restaurants
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | CRC 5,495.51 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | CRC 30,000.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | CRC 4,500.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | CRC 1,400.00 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | CRC 2,400.00 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | CRC 938.74 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | CRC 857.30 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | CRC 1,647.23 |
Connectivity
94%
Infrastructure
89/100
Internet speed
92/100
Internet cost
95/100
Pre-paid plan
98/100
Utilities (Monthly)
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | CRC 33,921.15 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | CRC 34.10 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | CRC 29,047.20 |
Sports
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | CRC 30,222.22 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | CRC 15,092.35 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | CRC 4,000.00 |
Transportation
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | CRC 400.00 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | CRC 19,340.02 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | CRC 861.40 |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | CRC 17,500,000.00 |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | CRC 16,319,505.57 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | CRC 650.00 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | CRC 824.33 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | CRC 3,535.00 |
