Costa Rica

San José

capital of Costa Rica

20°C · this month$2,800/mo335,0071,161 m89 missions from 84 countries

Photo: Xlionheartx · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Live & travel in San José

Monthly budget

$2,800/mo

Prices vs USA: 63%

Exchange rate

1 USD = 452.89 CRC

US travel advisory

Level 2

Homicides / 100k: 17.7

travel.state.gov

Internet access

87%

of people online

Air quality

17.7

PM2.5 (µg/m³)

Official languages

Spanish

Emergency

911 · 112

Plug types

NEMA 1-15, NEMA 5-15

Calling code

+506

Estimate for a remote worker (rent + living) from World Bank price levels. Capitals can be higher. · US travel advisory: Apr 1, 2026

Climate by month

Now

November

Temperature: 25°16°
Rain: 339 mm
Humidity: 90%

Temperature, °C

Best months: January, February, March, and April

TerraClimate 1991–2020 · NASA POWER

Embassies & consulates in San José

89 missions from 84 countries

Honorary Consulate 34

Where to eat in San José

Restaurants and cafés

El Lobo MestizoBudget
Av. 2, Soledad
+506 8383 7098 facebook.com Map
Café RojoMid-range
corner of Ave 7 and Calle 3
+506 2221 2425 caferojo.net Map
Machu Picchu RestaurantMid-range
Paseo Colón 1st Ave
+506 2222 7384 facebook.com Map
La Esquina de Buenos AiresSplurge
Calle 11 esquina Ave 4
+506 2223 1909 laesquinadebuenosaires.net Map
Restaurante Grano de OroSplurge
Calle 30 Avenida 2/4
+506 2255 3322 hotelgranodeoro.com Map
Tin JoSplurge
Paseo de los estudiantes
+506 2221 7605 tinjo.com Map
ColoniaMid-range
+506 4030 4418 colonia.cr Map
LimoncelloMid-range
+506 2257 6616 restaurantelimoncello.com Map
DoMA EscalanteSplurge
El Farolito, Barrio Escalante
domaescalante.com Map
Restaurante SilvestreSplurge
+506 2221 2465 restaurantesilvestre.com Map
Pupusería SalvadoreñaBudget
Avenida 3, Calle 22
+506 2222-7214 Map
Mercado Central
Calle 8 / Av. Central
Map

Bars and nightlife

Bar Poás
Avenida 7, Calle 3 y 5
+506 2-223-8677 Map
Bar La Bohemia
+506 2222-0225 Map

Source and corrections: Wikivoyage guide to San José · CC BY-SA 4.0

Restaurants, cafés and dishes in Costa Rica

Frequently asked questions

Where can you eat in San José?

The travel guide to San José lists El Lobo Mestizo, Café Rojo, Machu Picchu Restaurant, La Esquina de Buenos Aires, and Restaurante Grano de Oro.

Is San José safe for travellers?

The U.S. State Department currently rates Costa Rica at Level 2. The national intentional-homicide rate is 17.7 per 100,000 people.

How much does it cost to live in San José?

Roughly $2,800 per month for a remote worker, based on Costa Rica price levels (63% of US prices).

What is the weather like in San José in November?

In November San José averages a high of 25°C, a low of 16°C and about 339 mm of rain.

Which embassies and consulates are in San José?

89 diplomatic missions, including Argentina (Embassy), Bolivia (Embassy), Brazil (Embassy), Canada (Embassy), Chile (Embassy), China (Embassy), China (Consulate General), and Colombia (Embassy).

Sources: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), TerraClimate (CC0), NASA POWER, U.S. Department of State, Wikidata (CC0), Wikimedia Commons, ExchangeRate-API.