San Jose vs Valencia: cost of living for digital nomads

San Jose, Costa Rica and Valencia, Spain, 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

  • San Jose is about 5% cheaper than Valencia for a month of nomad living ($1,900 vs $2,000).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $900 in San Jose against $1,050 in Valencia.
  • Valencia scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Valencia: 300 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • San Jose is tropical; Valencia is mediterranean.

San Jose wins 2 of the measured lines; Valencia wins 6.

LineSan JoseValencia
Monthly total (USD)$1,900$2,000
Rent$900$1,050
Food$480$460
Transport$55$45
Coworking$140$130
Safety (out of 10)7/109/10
Internet (Mbps)80300
Climatetropicalmediterranean
City sizemetrometro
Settinginlandcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)8/109/10

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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.