Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Mexico City

😐 Solo nomad: Alajuela is 36% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Alajuela is 2.1% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 2.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.9 ₡4,957

$13.38 MX$253

-26.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.44 ₡19.7K

$52.7 MX$997

-25.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ₡4,614

$9.31 MX$176

-0.97%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ₡1,881

$3.61 MX$68.3

4.16%

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

$2 ₡1,003

$1.64 MX$30.91

21.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₡648

$1.12 MX$21.14

15.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ₡1,105

$3.26 MX$61.7

-32.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,818

$4.82 MX$91.1

-24.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₡936

$1.65 MX$31.24

13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ₡1,210

$2.74 MX$51.7

-11.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ₡1,120

$1.92 MX$36.28

16.67%

Eggs

$2.21 ₡1,108

$2.51 MX$47.53

-11.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 ₡4,940

$9.89 MX$187

-0.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.15 ₡4,582

$8.39 MX$159

9.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 ₡6,749

$11.95 MX$226

12.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4 ₡2,003

$2.87 MX$54.3

39.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡727

$1.74 MX$32.85

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 ₡2,073

$2 MX$37.81

107.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,426

$2.07 MX$39.14

37.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₡1,408

$2.05 MX$38.78

37.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,258

$2.18 MX$41.22

15.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡507

$1.38 MX$26.16

-26.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₡1,309

$1.11 MX$21.06

135.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ₡2,461

$4.16 MX$78.6

18.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.86 ₡9,443

$11.05 MX$209

70.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₡1,042

$1.75 MX$33.16

18.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,270

$3.7 MX$70

-31.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ₡405

$0.38 MX$7.25

113.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 ₡55.3K

$18.97 MX$359

481.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ₡721

$1.36 MX$25.72

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ₡648

$0.28 MX$5.25

360.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 ₡4,038

$5.3 MX$100

52.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡697

$1.36 MX$25.63

2.21%

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

$38.1K ₡19.1M

$18.8K MX$354.6K

103.28%

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

$32.4K ₡16.2M

$23.4K MX$441.7K

38.56%

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

$45.25 ₡22.7K

$39.97 MX$756

13.21%

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

$19.72 ₡9,873

$27.48 MX$519

-28.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.46 ₡16.2K

$30.22 MX$571

7.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 ₡32.3K

$52.6 MX$994

22.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.61 ₡22.3K

$26.84 MX$507

66.21%

Cinema Ticket

$8.88 ₡4,444

$6.32 MX$120

40.51%

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

$297 ₡148.5K

$437 MX$8,258

-32.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,329 ₡1.2M

$10.6K MX$199.9K

-77.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₡30.8K

$57.2 MX$1,082

7.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

$45.14 MX$853

12.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡59.7K

$102 MX$1,928

16.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₡50.7K

$109 MX$2,056

-6.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₡355K

$1,000 MX$18.9K

-29.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₡301.3K

$622 MX$11.8K

-3.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 ₡502.8K

$2,160 MX$40.8K

-53.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$936 ₡468.5K

$1,235 MX$23.3K

-24.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ₡1M

$3,566 MX$67.4K

-43.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,481 ₡741.5K

$2,480 MX$46.9K

-40.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,217 ₡609K

$867 MX$16.4K

40.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

11.34

-10.32%

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

Last update for Alajuela: October 28, 2025

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

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