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

🙂 Solo nomad: Arenal is 3.4% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 0.1% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Arenal is 11.4% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 3.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.9 ₡5,456

$10.76 ₡5,385

1.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡29.3K

$59 ₡29.5K

-0.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 ₡4,918

$9.85 ₡4,931

-0.30%

Cappuccino

$3.8 ₡1,904

$3.88 ₡1,942

-2.06%

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

$1.98 ₡990

$1.96 ₡983

1.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₡805

$1.59 ₡794

1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3 ₡1,502

$3.04 ₡1,522

-1.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 ₡2,367

$4.59 ₡2,300

3.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡1,033

$2.02 ₡1,013

1.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,428

$2.88 ₡1,443

-1.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ₡1,112

$2.13 ₡1,067

4.23%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,469

$2.94 ₡1,472

-0.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₡4,874

$9.69 ₡4,852

0.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 ₡4,546

$9.22 ₡4,617

-1.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.84 ₡6,931

$13.64 ₡6,831

1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.4 ₡2,203

$4.47 ₡2,238

-1.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₡756

$1.45 ₡728

4.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 ₡2,183

$4.38 ₡2,192

-0.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,779

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₡1,765

$3.55 ₡1,777

-0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.21 ₡1,605

$3.25 ₡1,628

-1.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡484

$1.04 ₡519

-6.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,427

$2.8 ₡1,403

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 ₡2,695

$5.43 ₡2,716

-0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ₡9,343

$18.98 ₡9,503

-1.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₡1,259

$2.41 ₡1,205

4.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₡1,476

$2.92 ₡1,461

1.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 ₡520

$1 ₡501

4.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 ₡891

$1.88 ₡939

-5.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 ₡921

$1.86 ₡930

-1.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ₡4,058

$7.8 ₡3,904

3.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.4 ₡700

$1.4 ₡699

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

$37.7K ₡18.9M

-0.10%

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

$33.1K ₡16.6M

$32.7K ₡16.4M

1.28%

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

$94.5 ₡47.3K

$92.9 ₡46.5K

1.74%

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

$25.71 ₡12.9K

$25.98 ₡13K

-1.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.1 ₡29.6K

$60.2 ₡30.1K

-1.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡28.9K

$56.2 ₡28.2K

2.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.97 ₡12K

$38.51 ₡19.3K

-37.76%

Cinema Ticket

$9.73 ₡4,873

$9.89 ₡4,953

-1.62%

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

$561 ₡280.7K

$567 ₡283.6K

-1.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.4M

$12.8K ₡6.4M

-0.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ₡30.8K

$63.5 ₡31.8K

-3.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 ₡26.2K

$50.8 ₡25.4K

3.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡63.1K

$125 ₡62.6K

0.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡54K

$107 ₡53.7K

0.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₡380.1K

$865 ₡433K

-12.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₡299K

$536 ₡268.3K

11.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₡767.2K

$1,427 ₡714.5K

7.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$968 ₡484.4K

$1,034 ₡517.9K

-6.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,869 ₡1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 ₡849.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.4K

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 Arenal: October 27, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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