Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and San Jose Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and San Jose

😐 Solo nomad: Alajuela is 12.9% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Alajuela is 10.8% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 8.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.9 ₡4,957

$10.76 ₡5,385

-7.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.44 ₡19.7K

$59 ₡29.5K

-33.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ₡4,614

$9.85 ₡4,931

-6.40%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ₡1,881

$3.88 ₡1,942

-3.09%

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

$2 ₡1,003

$1.96 ₡983

2.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₡648

$1.59 ₡794

-18.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ₡1,105

$3.04 ₡1,522

-27.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,818

$4.59 ₡2,300

-20.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ₡936

$2.02 ₡1,013

-7.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ₡1,210

$2.88 ₡1,443

-15.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ₡1,120

$2.13 ₡1,067

5.16%

Eggs

$2.21 ₡1,108

$2.94 ₡1,472

-24.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 ₡4,940

$9.69 ₡4,852

1.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.15 ₡4,582

$9.22 ₡4,617

-0.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 ₡6,749

$13.64 ₡6,831

-1.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4 ₡2,003

$4.47 ₡2,238

-10.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡727

$1.45 ₡728

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 ₡2,073

$4.38 ₡2,192

-5.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,426

$3.55 ₡1,779

-19.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 ₡1,408

$3.55 ₡1,777

-20.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 ₡1,258

$3.25 ₡1,628

-22.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡507

$1.04 ₡519

-2.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₡1,309

$2.8 ₡1,403

-6.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ₡2,461

$5.43 ₡2,716

-9.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.86 ₡9,443

$18.98 ₡9,503

-0.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₡1,042

$2.41 ₡1,205

-13.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,270

$2.92 ₡1,461

-13.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ₡405

$1 ₡501

-19.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 ₡55.3K

$41.57 ₡20.8K

165.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ₡721

$1.88 ₡939

-23.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ₡648

$1.86 ₡930

-30.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.07 ₡4,038

$7.8 ₡3,904

3.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡697

$1.4 ₡699

-0.71%

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

$38.1K ₡19.1M

$37.7K ₡18.9M

1.10%

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

$32.4K ₡16.2M

$32.7K ₡16.4M

-1.05%

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

$45.25 ₡22.7K

$92.9 ₡46.5K

-51.27%

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

$19.72 ₡9,873

$25.98 ₡13K

-24.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.46 ₡16.2K

$60.2 ₡30.1K

-46.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 ₡32.3K

$56.2 ₡28.2K

14.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.61 ₡22.3K

$38.51 ₡19.3K

15.84%

Cinema Ticket

$8.88 ₡4,444

$9.89 ₡4,953

-10.21%

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

$297 ₡148.5K

$567 ₡283.6K

-47.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,329 ₡1.2M

$12.8K ₡6.4M

-81.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₡30.8K

$63.5 ₡31.8K

-3.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

-0.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡59.7K

$125 ₡62.6K

-4.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₡50.7K

$107 ₡53.7K

-5.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₡355K

$865 ₡433K

-18.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₡301.3K

$536 ₡268.3K

12.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 ₡502.8K

$1,427 ₡714.5K

-29.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$936 ₡468.5K

$1,034 ₡517.9K

-9.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,022 ₡1M

$2,869 ₡1.4M

-29.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,481 ₡741.5K

$1,697 ₡849.3K

-12.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,217 ₡609K

$996 ₡498.4K

22.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Alajuela: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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