San José×St. John's
Three numbers. The ones that decide the meeting.
When the world meets at work.
Read the day in both zones.
Crossing the border. Money, language, plugs.
Money changes hands at the border: San José uses the CRC (₡) and St. John's uses the CAD ($). Language shifts too — Spanish in San José, English in St. John's. 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
- Canada
- Capital
- Ottawa
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (CAD · $)
- Language
- English, French
- Calling code
- +1
- Drives on
- Right
Quick answers. Before you book the call.
What's the time difference between San José and St. John's?
San José is 3.5 hours ahead of St. John's. San José runs on GMT-6 and St. John's on GMT-2:30. 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's the best time to schedule a meeting?
There are 5 hours where both cities are inside a 09:00–17:00 workday. Aim for the middle of that window so neither side is starting or closing out.
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 St. John's?
About 5,114 km as the crow flies (great-circle distance). A non-stop commercial flight cruises that in roughly 6h 31m, 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 St. John's use?
San José uses the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); St. John's uses the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). 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 St. John's?
Dial the international prefix used by your carrier (often 011), 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 St. John's?
San José primarily speaks Spanish; St. John's speaks English, French. English is widely used in business contexts in major cities of both, but written contracts may need translation.
Do San José and St. John's drive on the same side of the road?
Yes — both drive on the right. Rental cars feel identical between the two.