Cost Of Living For a Couple in San Jose 2025

Average monthly spending for couples in San Jose

How much money does a couple need in a month to survive in San Jose?

Couples in San Jose spend around 2.1M CRC per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a couple can survive with a monthly budget as low as 680,000 CRC or as high as 11M CRC. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Couple expenditure to income ratio in San Jose

Analysing the how affordable it is for couples to live in San Jose

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Couples usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a couple of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Couples in San Jose spend around 91% of their monthly income. Some couples spend as low as 81% of their income while some as high as 100%.

How do couples spend their money in San Jose?

We asked thousands of couples about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for couples

Couples in San Jose typically spend from 22% to 39% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 29% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 700,000 CRC with expenditure ranging from 230,000 CRC to 3.7M CRC. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for couples

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in San Jose ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most couples. The average monthly cost of utilities is 92,000 CRC with 27,000 CRC and 600,000 CRC being the upper and lower limits for a couple of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for couples

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a couple resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a couple would expect to spend from 82,000 CRC to 1.3M CRC in a month on commuting with 250,000 CRC being the norm for most couples. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 10% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 15%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for couples

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical couple in a month in San Jose is 290,000 CRC. The cost of groceries can range between 96,000 CRC to 1.5M CRC. Couples spend on average about 16% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 11% and 21% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for couples

Couples in San Jose allocate 7% to 17% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 13%. The range of medical expenses range from 75,000 CRC to 1.2M CRC with 230,000 CRC being the norm for most couples.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for couples

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 41,000 CRC to 660,000 CRC with 120,000 CRC being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most couples.

Education and schooling expenditure for couples

Spending on education can vary drastically between different couples. On average, education constitutes 2% of the monthly expenditure of couples with 1% and 4% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 41,000 CRC per month with 14,000 CRC being the minimum spent amount and 220,000 CRC being the maximum.

What percentage of couples in San Jose are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of couples that reported their ability to save money

Almost 71% of surveyed couples in San Jose said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 29% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do couples manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples that are able to save money can put anywhere from 14% to 36% of their monthly income to their savings, with 24% being the average for most couples. The average monthly amount of money that couples can put aside is 760,000 CRC with 250,000 CRC and 4M CRC being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in San Jose

Reasons that make it difficult for couples to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping couples from maximizing their savings in San Jose. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the couples said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 17% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 10% of couples blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 18% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 11% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for couples in San Jose

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in San Jose

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked couples one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in San Jose?

Around 78% of surveyed couples think that living in San Jose is affordable with proper budgeting while 22% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in San Jose

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked couples how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options69%

Few low-cost options31%

Based on the survey, 69% of the couples living in San Jose have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 31% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Couples

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked couples of San Jose whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes78%

No22%

Based on the survey, 22% of the couples living in San Jose said that they don't have an emergency fund while 78% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Costa Rica

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy64%

We asked couple guardians and parents in San Jose whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 36% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 64% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether couples of Costa Rica have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 26% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 74% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance26%

Easily manages finances74%

Financial goals of couples in San Jose

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in San Jose, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of couples said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 35% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 8% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 8% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 10% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 10% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in San Jose

Percentage of couples who are in debt

According to the survey, 27% of the couples in San Jose have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 73% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in San Jose

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 33% of a couple's monthly income in San Jose goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in San Jose pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 13% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 12% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 14% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 14% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in San Jose

12% of debtors in San Jose confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 26% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 21% of people and personal loans rose at 38%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in San Jose.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in San Jose

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked couples of San Jose how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in San Jose

Rent Cost in San Jose

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

160,000 CRC

230,000 CRC

620,000 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$300

$460

$1,200

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

230,000 CRC

370,000 CRC

940,000 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$460

$730

$1,800

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

310,000 CRC

470,000 CRC

1.2M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$610

$910

$2,400

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

370,000 CRC

620,000 CRC

1.7M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$730

$1,200

$3,300

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

750,000 CRC

1.9M CRC

3.7M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,500

$3,600

$7,300

Townhouse monthly rent cost

620,000 CRC

940,000 CRC

2.7M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$1,800

$5,200

House monthly rent cost

750,000 CRC

1.9M CRC

3.7M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,500

$3,600

$7,300

Villa monthly rent cost

940,000 CRC

2.3M CRC

3.7M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,800

$4,600

$7,300

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in San Jose ranges between 160,000 CRC and 620,000 CRC, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 230,000 CRC to 940,000 CRC. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 310,000 CRC and 1.2M CRC per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 370,000 CRC to 1.7M CRC. The average rent of a townhouse in San Jose is around 940,000 CRC while house rental costs can be as high as 1.9M CRC per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 940,000 CRC to 3.7M CRC per month.

Apartment and house prices in San Jose

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

31M CRC

47M CRC

94M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$61,000

$91,000

$180,000

1-bedroom apartment price

37M CRC

62M CRC

230M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$73,000

$120,000

$460,000

2-bedroom apartment price

62M CRC

190M CRC

370M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$360,000

$730,000

3-bedroom apartment price

210M CRC

310M CRC

940M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$410,000

$610,000

$1.8M

Townhouse price

270M CRC

620M CRC

2,300M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$520,000

$1.2M

$4.6M

House price

310M CRC

1,900M CRC

2,700M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$610,000

$3.6M

$5.2M

Villa price

370M CRC

2,100M CRC

3,100M CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$730,000

$4.1M

$6.1M

The average price of a studio apartment in San Jose can range from 31M CRC to 94M CRC depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 37M CRC to 230M CRC. A villa can cost you 2,100M CRC on average with prices ranging from 370M CRC to 3,100M CRC.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in San Jose can be x132 to x238 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x132 multiples of the average monthly salary in San Jose.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in San Jose is around 36%. This means that people pay 36% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 25% to 48% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in San Jose

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in San Jose

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

27,000 CRC

92,000 CRC

600,000 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$53

$180

$1,200

Internet and cable cost

8,500 CRC

17,000 CRC

23,000 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$17

$33

$44

Mobile phone bill and charges

6,800 CRC

11,000 CRC

34,000 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$22

$67

The average monthly energy and water consumption of couples is around 92,000 CRC. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 8,500 CRC to 23,000 CRC with 17,000 CRC being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 11,000 CRC but can range between 6,800 CRC and 34,000 CRC depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in San Jose is around 5.7%. This means that people pay 5.7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.3% to 10% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in San Jose

Prices and cost of goods and services in San Jose

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

1,700 CRC

3,400 CRC

5,700 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.3

$6.7

$11

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in San Jose is approximatly 3,400 CRC with meal cost ranging from 1,700 CRC to 5,700 CRC. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

6,000 CRC

9,000 CRC

18,000 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12

$17

$35

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 6,000 CRC and 18,000 CRC with 9,000 CRC being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in San Jose.

Fine dining meal for one price

12,000 CRC

18,000 CRC

72,000 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$23

$35

$140

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 12,000 CRC to 72,000 CRC with the average cost being 18,000 CRC for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in San Jose.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

1,400 CRC

2,300 CRC

3,400 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.8

$4.4

$6.7

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in San Jose is around 2,300 CRC. Price ranges between 1,400 CRC and 3,400 CRC depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

1,100 CRC

1,400 CRC

1,700 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$2.7

$3.3

The average price of a large bottle of milk in San Jose is 1,400 CRC. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 1,700 CRC and the minimum being 1,100 CRC depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

850 CRC

1,100 CRC

1,700 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.2

$3.3

A dozen eggs costs around 1,100 CRC on average with 850 CRC and 1,700 CRC being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

1,900 CRC

2,500 CRC

3,600 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.8

$4.9

$6.9

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in San Jose is between 1,900 CRC and 3,600 CRC depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 2,500 CRC.

Pack of beef price

2,300 CRC

3,400 CRC

6,800 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.4

$6.7

$13

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 3,400 CRC. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

920 CRC

1,300 CRC

1,800 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.4

$3.5

A bag of rice in San Jose costs around 1,300 CRC on average with prices rangeing between 920 CRC and 1,800 CRC depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

340 CRC

460 CRC

850 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.67

$0.89

$1.7

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 340 CRC to 850 CRC. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

610 CRC

800 CRC

1,300 CRC

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.6

$2.6

A bag of apples costs 800 CRC on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in San Jose is around 30%. This means that couples spend 30% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 36% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for couples