Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Yes, Nairobi is 21% cheaper than San José (CR) based on our cost of living index. Nairobi has a COLI of 24.7, while San José (CR) has a COLI of 31.2. 21% cheaper
Overall, Nairobi is approximately 21% cheaper than San José (CR) based on our cost of living index. Nairobi has a COLI of 24.7 (ranked #98 of 182 cities), while San José (CR) has a COLI of 31.2 (ranked #80).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Nairobi averages $500/month compared to $550/month in San José (CR). That makes Nairobi approximately 9% cheaper for rent alone.
San José (CR) has lower total deductions (11.2%) compared to Nairobi (33.4%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in San José (CR). When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn KSh 9,685,617 in Nairobi, you would need approximately ₡47,939,125 in San José (CR) to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 21% more due to higher cost of living.
Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:
| Job Title | Nairobi (KES) | San José (CR) (CRC) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | KSh 5,741,634 | ₡28,418,313 |
| Software Engineer | KSh 2,711,327 | ₡13,419,759 |
| Product Manager | KSh 3,189,797 | ₡15,787,952 |
| Lawyer | KSh 3,189,797 | ₡15,787,952 |
| Data Scientist | KSh 3,030,307 | ₡14,998,554 |
| Marketing Manager | KSh 2,296,654 | ₡11,367,325 |
| Teacher | KSh 1,531,102 | ₡7,578,217 |
| Nurse | KSh 1,850,082 | ₡9,157,012 |
Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Runda | 1.28x (+28%) |
| Westlands | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Karen | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Muthaiga | 1.20x (+20%) |
| Kilimani | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Escazú | 1.28x (+28%) |
| Santa Ana | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Rohrmoser | 1.12x (+12%) |
| Barrio Escalante | 1.10x (+10%) |
| Los Yoses | 1.08x (+8%) |
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Open Salary ConverterSan José (CR) is more expensive overall. Nairobi has a COLI of 24.7 while San José (CR) has a COLI of 31.2, making Nairobi approximately 21% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as KSh 9,685,617 in Nairobi, you would need approximately ₡47,939,125 in San José (CR).
Average one-bedroom rent in Nairobi is $500/month compared to $550/month in San José (CR). Nairobi has lower rent by approximately 9%.
San José (CR) has lower total deductions (11.2%) compared to Nairobi (33.4%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in San José (CR).
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.