San José vs Cartago
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. San José leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Cartago where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Cartago's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | San José | Cartago |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 66 | 70 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 47 | 53 |
| Climate | 100 | 100 |
| Safety | 57 | 62 |
| Summer °C | 20.9 | 17.2 |
| Winter °C | 19.0 | 15.4 |
| Top disaster risk | earthquake | earthquake |
San José vs Cartago: the short answer
Cartago comes out ahead on overall livability (70/100), modestly above San José (66/100). The two cities diverge most on cost of living. On affordability Cartago is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (San José 47 vs Cartago 53, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, San José runs warmer in summer (about 20.9°C peak vs 17.2°C in Cartago), while winter lows sit near 19.0°C in San José and 15.4°C in Cartago. On natural-disaster exposure Cartago is the safer choice (safety 62/100); the dominant modelled hazard is earthquake for San José and earthquake for Cartago.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Cartago — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → San José — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Cartago — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Cartago — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is San José or Cartago better to live in?
Cartago scores higher overall — 70 vs 66 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, San José or Cartago?
Cartago has the lower cost of living (cost index 53 vs 47; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, San José or Cartago?
San José — summer highs reach about 20.9°C versus 17.2°C in Cartago.
Which is safer from natural disasters, San José or Cartago?
Cartago (disaster-safety 62/100). Main hazard: earthquake in San José, earthquake in Cartago.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in San José?
earthquake is the dominant modelled hazard for San José on our risk index.
How is the San José vs Cartago comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.