Leuven vs San Jose: cost of living for digital nomads
Leuven, Belgium 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
- Leuven is about 2% cheaper than San Jose for a month of nomad living ($1,865 vs $1,900).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $800 in Leuven against $900 in San Jose.
- Leuven scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Leuven: 180 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
- Leuven is temperate; San Jose is tropical.
Leuven wins 6 of the measured lines; San Jose wins 1.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Leuven or San Jose?
Leuven is cheaper: about $1,865/month against $1,900/month in San Jose, roughly 2% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Leuven or San Jose?
Leuven scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 7/10 for San Jose.
Which has faster internet, Leuven or San Jose?
Leuven has faster typical internet: 180 Mbps against 80 Mbps in San Jose.
| Line | Leuven | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,865 | $1,900 |
| Rent | $800 | $900 |
| Food | $480 | $480 |
| Transport | $45 | $55 |
| Coworking | $130 | $140 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 180 | 80 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | small | metro |
| Setting | inland | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 6/10 | 8/10 |
Compare Leuven with
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): Leuven September 11, 2026, San Jose November 7, 2026.