San Jose vs Toulouse: cost of living for digital nomads
San Jose, Costa Rica and Toulouse, France, 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
- Toulouse is about 3% cheaper than San Jose for a month of nomad living ($1,850 vs $1,900).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $780 in Toulouse against $900 in San Jose.
- Toulouse scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Toulouse: 200 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
- San Jose is tropical; Toulouse is temperate.
San Jose wins 2 of the measured lines; Toulouse wins 6.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, San Jose or Toulouse?
Toulouse is cheaper: about $1,850/month against $1,900/month in San Jose, roughly 3% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, San Jose or Toulouse?
Toulouse scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 7/10 for San Jose.
Which has faster internet, San Jose or Toulouse?
Toulouse has faster typical internet: 200 Mbps against 80 Mbps in San Jose.
| Line | San Jose | Toulouse |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,900 | $1,850 |
| Rent | $900 | $780 |
| Food | $480 | $470 |
| Transport | $55 | $60 |
| Coworking | $140 | $135 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 80 | 200 |
| Climate | tropical | temperate |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | inland | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Toulouse 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): San Jose November 7, 2026, Toulouse September 11, 2026.