Elevation
San Jose elevation and altitude
San Jose, Costa Rica is 3,717 feet (1,133 meters) above sea level. Elevation and altitude mean the same thing here: the height of the city above the sea.
What 3,717 feet means in San Jose
Among the 689 cities on this site, San Jose is higher than most. At 3,717 ft the thinner air is not something most people notice day to day.
Air pressure. Air pressure falls as you climb, about 1 inHg for every 1,000 ft near the ground. In San Jose a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 26.11 inHg on an average day, while the weather forecast still quotes a sea-level number near 29.92 inHg. See today’s live barometric pressure in San Jose.
Cooking. Water boils at about 205 °F (96.2 °C) here, so boiled foods cook more slowly and baking recipes often need small high-altitude adjustments. Boiling point at altitude
Where the number comes from. The elevation is for the city center point in the GeoNames gazetteer, taken from a digital elevation model. To check the exact height where you are standing, use What is my elevation? or What is my altitude?
Elevation of places near San Jose
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panama City, Panama | 56 | 17 | 318 mi |
| Guatemala City, Guatemala | 4,948 | 1,508 | 542 mi |
| Medellin, Colombia | 4,610 | 1,405 | 636 mi |
| Cali, Colombia | 2,487 | 758 | 687 mi |
| Bogotá, Colombia | 8,471 | 2,582 | 778 mi |
| Cancun, Mexico | 36 | 11 | 798 mi |
| Quito, Ecuador | 9,364 | 2,854 | 800 mi |
| Merida, Mexico | 33 | 10 | 847 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation or altitude of San Jose?
San Jose, Costa Rica is about 3,717 feet (1,133 meters) above sea level, measured at the city center. Neighborhoods higher or lower in the city can differ by a few hundred feet.
What is the air pressure in San Jose because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 3,717 ft is about 26.11 inHg (884 hPa), 87% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 87% as much oxygen as at sea level. Live barometric pressure in San Jose.
At what temperature does water boil in San Jose?
About 205 °F (96.2 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.