Nurse Salary in San José (CR) (2026)

Typical local-market pay: ₡4,108,916/year (OECD / estimated Estimated · INEC Costa Rica). Lifestyle equivalent of a New York $58,000 salary: ₡9,157,012/year (COLI-scaled, not market pay). COLI rank #80 of 113.

Local market
₡4,108,916
OECD / estimated Estimated · INEC Costa Rica
Lifestyle equivalent
₡9,157,012
COLI 31.2 · NYC $58,000 scaled · not market pay
Take-home (on market pay)
89%
$604/mo net
COLI (NYC = 100)
31.2
#80 of 113
NYC baseline
$58,000
mid-career USD

Salary Range in San José (CR)

COLI-scaled lifestyle-equivalent range for a nurse in San José (CR) (NYC baseline × COLI 31.2 / 100). This is not local market pay.

Entry Level
₡4,736,386
Mid-Career
₡9,157,012
Senior
₡15,787,952

Top Cities for Nurse Salary

Highest COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalents (not local market pay):

City Local market Lifestyle equivalent Take-Home
ZurichCHF 27,257CHF 57,52167%
GenevaCHF 27,257CHF 55,73563%
New York$58,000$58,00069%
San Francisco$58,000$56,60870%
SingaporeS$34,001S$66,26479%

See all 113 cities for Nurse →

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Other Jobs in San José (CR)

Nurse Salary — Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a nurse earn in San José (CR)?

Local-market pay for a nurse in San José (CR) is approximately ₡4,108,916/year (OECD / estimated · Estimated · INEC Costa Rica). Separately, the lifestyle equivalent of a New York $58,000 salary is ₡9,157,012 (COLI 31.2, NYC = 100). That equivalent is not what someone earns locally. COLI-scaled entry/senior lifestyle equivalents: ₡4,736,386 – ₡15,787,952.

What is the take-home pay for a nurse in San José (CR)?

After income tax and social contributions in Costa Rica, a nurse in San José (CR) takes home approximately 89% of their gross salary, or around $604/month ($7,251/year in USD equivalent).

How does San José (CR) rank for nurse salaries globally?

San José (CR) ranks #80 out of 113 cities on COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalent for nurses (not local market rank). The top city on that equivalent scale is Zurich.