Three numbers. The ones that decide the meeting.
When the world meets at work.
Read the day in both zones.
If it's this in San José, it's that in Istanbul.
When it's 8:00 am in San José, it's 5:00 pm in Istanbul — afternoon there, the same day.
When it's 10:00 am in San José, it's 7:00 pm in Istanbul — evening there, the same day.
When it's 12:00 pm in San José, it's 9:00 pm in Istanbul — night there, the same day.
When it's 3:00 pm in San José, it's 12:00 am in Istanbul — late night there, the next day.
When it's 5:00 pm in San José, it's 2:00 am in Istanbul — late night there, the next day.
When it's 9:00 pm in San José, it's 6:00 am in Istanbul — morning there, the next day.
Crossing the border. Money, language, plugs.
Money changes hands at the border: San José uses the CRC (₡) and Istanbul uses the TRY (₺). Language shifts too — Spanish in San José, Turkish in Istanbul. Cars drive on the right in both, so rentals feel familiar.
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Capital
- San José
- Currency
- Costa Rican colón (CRC · ₡)
- Language
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +506
- Drives on
- Right
- Country
- Turkey
- Capital
- Ankara
- Currency
- Turkish lira (TRY · ₺)
- Language
- Turkish
- Calling code
- +90
- Drives on
- Right
Quick answers. Before you book the call.
What's the time difference between San José and Istanbul?
San José is 9 hours ahead of Istanbul. San José runs on GMT-6 and Istanbul on GMT+3. The gap can shift by an hour when either side enters or leaves daylight saving — the live clocks above always reflect the current offset.
When it's 10 am in San José, what time is it in Istanbul?
10:00 am in San José is 7:00 pm in Istanbul on the same day — evening there. The same shift applies to any hour; the quick-conversion cards and the 24-hour table above cover the full day.
When it's 3 pm in San José, what time is it in Istanbul?
3:00 pm in San José is 12:00 am in Istanbul the next day — late night there. The same shift applies to any hour; the quick-conversion cards and the 24-hour table above cover the full day.
When's the best time to schedule a meeting?
Standard 09:00–17:00 workdays don't intersect. Most teams compromise with one side meeting early (before 09:00) or late (after 17:00).
Does daylight saving time change the difference?
Yes, if either city observes DST. When one side shifts and the other doesn't, the gap changes by one hour. The DST badges under each clock show whether each zone is currently shifted and when the next transition lands.
How far is San José from Istanbul?
About 11,148 km as the crow flies (great-circle distance). A non-stop commercial flight cruises that in roughly 13h 37m, not counting airport time, winds, or routing around restricted airspace.
Can I send this meeting time as a calendar invite?
Yes. Pick a time on the slider above, open the meeting card, customize the title and duration, then download the .ics file. It imports cleanly into Google Calendar, Outlook, and Apple Calendar with the correct timezone attached.
What currency do San José and Istanbul use?
San José uses the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); Istanbul uses the Turkish lira (TRY, ₺). Check the live rate before transferring money or paying with a card abroad — most banks add a 1–3 % FX margin on top of the mid-market rate.
How do I call San José from Istanbul?
Dial the international prefix used by your carrier (often 00), then +506, then the local number — drop any leading zero of the city or mobile code. For free calls, WhatsApp, Signal, and FaceTime work over Wi-Fi regardless of country code.
What language is spoken in San José and Istanbul?
San José primarily speaks Spanish; Istanbul speaks Turkish. English is widely used in business contexts in major cities of both, but written contracts may need translation.
Do San José and Istanbul drive on the same side of the road?
Yes — both drive on the right. Rental cars feel identical between the two.