Porto vs San Jose: cost of living for digital nomads

Porto, Portugal 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

  • Porto and San Jose cost about the same per month ($1,900).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $900 in San Jose against $950 in Porto.
  • Porto scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Porto: 120 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • Porto is mediterranean; San Jose is tropical.

Porto wins 6 of the measured lines; San Jose wins 1.

LinePortoSan Jose
Monthly total (USD)$1,900$1,900
Rent$950$900
Food$450$480
Transport$40$55
Coworking$130$140
Safety (out of 10)9/107/10
Internet (Mbps)12080
Climatemediterraneantropical
City sizemetrometro
Settingcoastinland
Nomad score (out of 10)9/108/10

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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. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.