Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Lisbon

😐 Solo nomad: Alajuela is 22.3% more expensive than Lisbon without rent, and 30.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Alajuela is 7.9% cheaper than Lisbon without rent, and 27% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alajuela
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.9 ₡4,957
$16.09 €13.89
-38.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.44 ₡19.7K
$64.1 €55.3
-38.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 ₡4,614
$10.28 €8.88
-10.31%
Cappuccino
$3.76 ₡1,881
$2.78 €2.4
35.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2 ₡1,003
$2.23 €1.92
-10.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡648
$1.57 €1.35
-17.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ₡1,105
$3.41 €2.95
-35.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,818
$3.82 €3.3
-4.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alajuela
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ₡936
$1.14 €0.98
64.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 ₡1,210
$1.73 €1.49
39.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ₡1,120
$1.67 €1.44
34.13%
Eggs
$2.21 ₡1,108
$3.13 €2.7
-29.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.87 ₡4,940
$13.31 €11.5
-25.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.15 ₡4,582
$7.99 €6.9
14.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.48 ₡6,749
$15.97 €13.79
-15.59%
Apples (1kg)
$4 ₡2,003
$2.28 €1.97
75.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡727
$1.7 €1.47
-14.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.14 ₡2,073
$2.04 €1.76
102.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,426
$2.55 €2.2
11.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 ₡1,408
$1.76 €1.52
59.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,258
$2.05 €1.77
22.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡507
$1.98 €1.71
-48.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 ₡1,309
$0.81 €0.7
222.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.92 ₡2,461
$6.59 €5.69
-25.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.86 ₡9,443
$5.87 €5.07
221.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 ₡1,042
$1.33 €1.15
56.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,270
$2.92 €2.52
-13.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Alajuela
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.81 ₡405
$2.27 €1.96
-64.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$110 ₡55.3K
$46.15 €39.85
139.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 ₡721
$4.23 €3.66
-65.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ₡648
$0.86 €0.75
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.07 ₡4,038
$18.68 €16.13
-56.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 ₡697
$2.09 €1.81
-33.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K ₡19.1M
$34.5K €29.8K
10.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K ₡16.2M
$39.6K €34.2K
-18.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alajuela
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.25 ₡22.7K
$148 €128
-69.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.72 ₡9,873
$20.98 €18.11
-6.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.46 ₡16.2K
$39.65 €34.24
-18.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alajuela
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.6 ₡32.3K
$47.92 €41.37
34.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.61 ₡22.3K
$18.57 €16.03
140.23%
Cinema Ticket
$8.88 ₡4,444
$9.38 €8.1
-5.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alajuela
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 ₡148.5K
$607 €524
-51.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,329 ₡1.2M
$16.1K €13.9K
-85.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alajuela
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6 ₡30.8K
$104 €90.1
-41.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$41.09 €35.48
23.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 ₡59.7K
$92.7 €80
28.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ₡50.7K
$119 €102
-14.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alajuela
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$709 ₡355K
$1,592 €1,375
-55.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 ₡301.3K
$1,262 €1,090
-52.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,004 ₡502.8K
$3,046 €2,630
-67.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$936 ₡468.5K
$2,069 €1,787
-54.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ₡1M
$7,280 €6,286
-72.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,481 ₡741.5K
$4,549 €3,928
-67.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alajuela
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,217 ₡609K
$1,462 €1,263
-16.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
3.81
166.93%

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

Last update for Alajuela: October 28, 2025

Last update for Lisbon: October 28, 2025

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