Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Alajuela is 91.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 80.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Alajuela is 58% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 70.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.9 ₡4,957

$2.02 ฿65.3

390.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.44 ₡19.7K

$18.78 ฿608

110.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ₡4,614

$7.67 ฿248

20.21%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ₡1,881

$1.98 ฿64.2

89.90%

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

$2 ₡1,003

$0.82 ฿26.64

143.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₡648

$0.33 ฿10.58

290.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ₡1,105

$2.12 ฿68.6

4.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,818

$3.73 ฿121

-2.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₡936

$1.64 ฿53.2

14.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ₡1,210

$1.57 ฿50.9

54.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ₡1,120

$1.19 ฿38.62

88.24%

Eggs

$2.21 ₡1,108

$1.98 ฿64.1

11.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 ₡4,940

$15.99 ฿517

-38.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.15 ₡4,582

$3.12 ฿101

193.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 ₡6,749

$11.16 ฿361

20.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4 ₡2,003

$2.76 ฿89.2

44.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡727

$1.22 ฿39.5

18.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 ₡2,073

$1.71 ฿55.4

142.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,426

$1.55 ฿50.2

83.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₡1,408

$1.34 ฿43.21

109.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,258

$1.21 ฿39.23

107.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡507

$0.72 ฿23.2

40.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₡1,309

$0.53 ฿17.05

392.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ₡2,461

$4.72 ฿153

4.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.86 ₡9,443

$18.39 ฿595

2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₡1,042

$1.79 ฿57.9

16.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,270

$3.21 ฿104

-20.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ₡405

$0.94 ฿30.44

-13.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 ₡55.3K

$18.9 ฿612

484.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ₡721

$1.42 ฿46.08

1.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ₡648

$1.35 ฿43.53

-4.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 ₡4,038

$7.85 ฿254

2.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡697

$1.25 ฿40.4

11.20%

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

$38.1K ₡19.1M

$21.2K ฿684.9K

80.19%

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

$32.4K ₡16.2M

$21.8K ฿706.8K

48.20%

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

$45.25 ₡22.7K

$70.6 ฿2,285

-35.92%

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

$19.72 ₡9,873

$13.72 ฿444

43.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.46 ₡16.2K

$17.56 ฿568

84.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 ₡32.3K

$41.64 ฿1,347

55.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.61 ₡22.3K

$6.9 ฿223

546.52%

Cinema Ticket

$8.88 ₡4,444

$5.8 ฿188

53.10%

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

$297 ₡148.5K

$308 ฿9,963

-3.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,329 ₡1.2M

$14.7K ฿475.8K

-84.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₡30.8K

$55.4 ฿1,793

11.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

$26.4 ฿854

92.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡59.7K

$85.1 ฿2,755

39.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₡50.7K

$71.8 ฿2,323

41.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₡355K

$434 ฿14K

63.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₡301.3K

$235 ฿7,610

155.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 ₡502.8K

$821 ฿26.6K

22.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$936 ₡468.5K

$498 ฿16.1K

87.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ₡1M

$2,180 ฿70.6K

-7.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,481 ₡741.5K

$1,543 ฿49.9K

-3.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,217 ₡609K

$703 ฿22.8K

72.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

103.40%

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

Last update for Alajuela: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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