Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Barcelona

😐 Solo nomad: Alajuela is 12.2% more expensive than Barcelona without rent, and 32.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Alajuela is 16.1% cheaper than Barcelona without rent, and 29.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.9 ₡4,957

$17.41 €15.03

-43.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.44 ₡19.7K

$68.7 €59.3

-42.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ₡4,614

$13.71 €11.84

-32.75%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ₡1,881

$2.78 €2.4

35.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2 ₡1,003

$2.8 €2.42

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₡648

$1.98 €1.71

-34.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ₡1,105

$4.43 €3.83

-50.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,818

$4.53 €3.91

-19.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₡936

$1.24 €1.07

50.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ₡1,210

$2.03 €1.75

19.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ₡1,120

$1.98 €1.71

13.13%

Eggs

$2.21 ₡1,108

$3.46 €2.99

-36.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 ₡4,940

$18.32 €15.82

-46.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.15 ₡4,582

$9.82 €8.47

-6.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 ₡6,749

$19.24 €16.61

-29.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4 ₡2,003

$2.61 €2.25

53.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡727

$2.34 €2.02

-38.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 ₡2,073

$2.11 €1.82

96.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,426

$2.77 €2.39

2.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₡1,408

$2.04 €1.76

37.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,258

$1.77 €1.53

41.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡507

$1.5 €1.3

-32.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₡1,309

$0.85 €0.73

207.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ₡2,461

$7 €6.04

-29.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.86 ₡9,443

$7.13 €6.16

164.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₡1,042

$1.43 €1.24

45.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,270

$2.29 €1.98

10.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ₡405

$3.02 €2.6

-73.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 ₡55.3K

$28.97 €25.01

281.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ₡721

$4.59 €3.96

-68.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ₡648

$2.02 €1.74

-36.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 ₡4,038

$29.56 €25.53

-72.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡697

$1.81 €1.56

-23.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$38.1K ₡19.1M

$38.4K €33.1K

-0.68%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.4K ₡16.2M

$32.4K €28K

-0.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$45.25 ₡22.7K

$190 €164

-76.13%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.72 ₡9,873

$22.18 €19.15

-11.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.46 ₡16.2K

$36.37 €31.4

-10.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 ₡32.3K

$57.4 €49.55

12.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.61 ₡22.3K

$20.95 €18.09

112.94%

Cinema Ticket

$8.88 ₡4,444

$10.8 €9.33

-17.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$297 ₡148.5K

$732 €632

-59.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,329 ₡1.2M

$15.1K €13.1K

-84.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₡30.8K

$86.8 €74.9

-29.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

$36.78 €31.76

37.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡59.7K

$102 €88.2

16.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₡50.7K

$117 €101

-13.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₡355K

$1,581 €1,365

-55.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₡301.3K

$1,230 €1,062

-51.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 ₡502.8K

$2,707 €2,337

-62.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$936 ₡468.5K

$2,028 €1,751

-53.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ₡1M

$6,602 €5,700

-69.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,481 ₡741.5K

$5,045 €4,356

-70.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,217 ₡609K

$2,198 €1,898

-44.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

3.39

200.00%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alajuela: October 28, 2025

Last update for Barcelona: October 28, 2025

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