Borgo Maggiore vs San Jose: cost of living for digital nomads

Borgo Maggiore, San Marino and San Jose, Costa Rica, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Borgo Maggiore is about 4% cheaper than San Jose for a month of nomad living ($1,820 vs $1,900).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $850 in Borgo Maggiore against $900 in San Jose.
  • Borgo Maggiore scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Borgo Maggiore: 110 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • Borgo Maggiore is temperate; San Jose is tropical.

Borgo Maggiore wins 7 of the measured lines; San Jose wins 1.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Borgo Maggiore or San Jose?

Borgo Maggiore is cheaper: about $1,820/month against $1,900/month in San Jose, roughly 4% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Borgo Maggiore or San Jose?

Borgo Maggiore scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 7/10 for San Jose.

Which has faster internet, Borgo Maggiore or San Jose?

Borgo Maggiore has faster typical internet: 110 Mbps against 80 Mbps in San Jose.

LineBorgo MaggioreSan Jose
Monthly total (USD)$1,820$1,900
Rent$850$900
Food$450$480
Transport$35$55
Coworking$110$140
Safety (out of 10)9/107/10
Internet (Mbps)11080
Climatetemperatetropical
City sizesmallmetro
Settingmountaininland
Nomad score (out of 10)5/108/10

Borgo Maggiore

Borgo Maggiore, San Marino.

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Borgo Maggiore September 11, 2026, San Jose November 7, 2026.