San José vs Quepos
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, Quepos where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Quepos's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | San José | Quepos |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 66 | 62 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 47 | 56 |
| Climate | 100 | 83 |
| Safety | 57 | 51 |
| Summer °C | 20.9 | 27.4 |
| Winter °C | 19.0 | 25.0 |
| Top disaster risk | earthquake | storms (hurricane/cyclone) |
San José vs Quepos: the short answer
San José comes out ahead on overall livability (66/100), modestly above Quepos (62/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Quepos is the cheaper base — a moderate gap on our cost index (San José 47 vs Quepos 56, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Quepos runs warmer in summer (about 27.4°C peak vs 20.9°C in San José), while winter lows sit near 19.0°C in San José and 25.0°C in Quepos. On natural-disaster exposure San José is the safer choice (safety 57/100); the dominant modelled hazard is earthquake for San José and storms (hurricane/cyclone) for Quepos.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Quepos — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Quepos — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → San José — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → San José — 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 Quepos better to live in?
San José scores higher overall — 66 vs 62 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, San José or Quepos?
Quepos has the lower cost of living (cost index 56 vs 47; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, San José or Quepos?
Quepos — summer highs reach about 27.4°C versus 20.9°C in San José.
Which is safer from natural disasters, San José or Quepos?
San José (disaster-safety 57/100). Main hazard: earthquake in San José, storms (hurricane/cyclone) in Quepos.
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 Quepos 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.