Offset
The time difference between Central Time and San José is 1 hour.
Central Time (CDT) is ahead of San José (CST).
CDT: UTC-5
CST: UTC-6
Central Time is currently observing daylight saving time; San José is not.
When to schedule
Business-hours overlap: 10 AM–5 PM in Central Time (9 AM–4 PM in San José).
Both teams are in working hours during this window on weekdays.
Suggested time: 1:00 PM Central Time (12:00 PM San José).
This window may shift by an hour during daylight saving time.
Public holidays in 2026
National public holidays can affect availability — a counterpart is likely off work on their own holidays, so it's worth planning meetings and deadlines around them.
United States
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. DayMon, Jan 19
- Presidents DayMon, Feb 16
- Memorial DayMon, May 25
- Juneteenth National Independence DayFri, Jun 19
- Independence DayFri, Jul 3
- Labour DayMon, Sep 7
- Columbus DayMon, Oct 12
- Veterans DayWed, Nov 11
- Thanksgiving DayThu, Nov 26
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
Costa Rica
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Maundy ThursdayThu, Apr 2
- Good FridayFri, Apr 3
- Juan Santamaría DaySat, Apr 11
- Labour DayFri, May 1
- Annexation of the Party of Nicoya to Costa RicaSat, Jul 25
- Feast of Our Lady of the AngelsSun, Aug 2
- Mother's DaySat, Aug 15
- Independence DayTue, Sep 15
- Army Abolition DayTue, Dec 1
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
About these zones
Central Time is also known as CST, or CDT. To call United States, dial +1.
San José uses Central Standard Time. To call Costa Rica, dial +506.
San José is approximately 2,200 miles south of Central Time.
Quick reference
Full 24-hour conversion table — tap any time to open it in the converter.
| CST | San José | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | 11:00 pm | -1 day |
| 1:00 am | 12:00 am | Same day |
| 2:00 am | 1:00 am | Same day |
| 3:00 am | 2:00 am | Same day |
| 4:00 am | 3:00 am | Same day |
| 5:00 am | 4:00 am | Same day |
| 6:00 am | 5:00 am | Same day |
| 7:00 am | 6:00 am | Same day |
| 8:00 am | 7:00 am | Same day |
| 9:00 am | 8:00 am | Same day |
| 10:00 am | 9:00 am | Same day |
| 11:00 am | 10:00 am | Same day |
| 12:00 pm | 11:00 am | Same day |
| 1:00 pm | 12:00 pm | Same day |
| 2:00 pm | 1:00 pm | Same day |
| 3:00 pm | 2:00 pm | Same day |
| 4:00 pm | 3:00 pm | Same day |
| 5:00 pm | 4:00 pm | Same day |
| 6:00 pm | 5:00 pm | Same day |
| 7:00 pm | 6:00 pm | Same day |
| 8:00 pm | 7:00 pm | Same day |
| 9:00 pm | 8:00 pm | Same day |
| 10:00 pm | 9:00 pm | Same day |
| 11:00 pm | 10:00 pm | Same day |
Daylight saving time
Central Time observes daylight saving time; San José does not. The offset between the two zones changes when Central Time transitions: on Sunday, November 1, 2026, clocks fall back from CDT to CST.
See the daylight saving time page for transition dates across every time zone.
Daylight today
- Sunrise
- 5:17 AM
- Sunset
- 8:23 PM
- Day length
- 15h 5m
- Sunrise
- 5:15 AM
- Sunset
- 5:56 PM
- Day length
- 12h 41m
Daylight overlap: 12h 41m — 6:15 AM–6:56 PM in Central Time (5:15 AM–5:56 PM in San José). Both locations are in daylight during this window.
Cities in these zones
Cities in Central Time
Browse all cities to see the current local time anywhere.
Airports in these zones
Airports in Central Time
- GYY
- MDW
- ORD
- HOU
- IAH
- SAT
- DAL
- DFW
- AUS
- BNA
Airports in Central Standard Time
- SJO
- SYQ
Related conversions
Common conversions
- What is 9:00 am CST in San José?
- 9:00 am CST is 8:00 am San José.
- What is 12:00 pm CST in San José?
- 12:00 pm CST is 11:00 am San José.
- What is 12:30 pm CST in San José?
- 12:30 pm CST is 11:30 am San José.
- What is 2:00 pm CST in San José?
- 2:00 pm CST is 1:00 pm San José.
- What is 5:00 pm CST in San José?
- 5:00 pm CST is 4:00 pm San José.
- What is 11:30 pm CST in San José?
- 11:30 pm CST is 10:30 pm San José.