Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Atenas and San Ramon

For one person, living is cheaper in Atenas: $1,548 a month against $1,729 in San Ramon, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Atenas, Costa Rica
San Ramon, Costa Rica
Atenas
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,548
/mo nomad
San Ramon
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,729
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Atenas and in San Ramon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Atenas and in San Ramon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,548 per month in Atenas vs $1,729 in San Ramon, rent included.

  • Atenas $1,548
  • San Ramon $1,729

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Atenas vs $2,722 in San Ramon, rent included.

  • Atenas $2,527
  • San Ramon $2,722

A family of three spends $3,506 per month in Atenas vs $3,715 in San Ramon, rent included.

  • Atenas $3,506
  • San Ramon $3,715

Atenas is about 10% cheaper than San Ramon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Atenas and San Ramon sit above the global median – Atenas by 14%, San Ramon by 27%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Atenas
San Ramon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.66 ₡4,344
$12.18 ₡5,479
-20.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.4 ₡25.3K
$61.9 ₡27.8K
-8.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 ₡5,300
$11.69 ₡5,255
0.86%
Cappuccino
$3.83 ₡1,721
$3.82 ₡1,720
0.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 ₡1,244
$2.21 ₡992
25.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 ₡872
$1.96 ₡880
-1.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.38 ₡1,519
$3.01 ₡1,352
12.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 ₡1,997
$4.71 ₡2,118
-5.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Atenas
San Ramon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.39 ₡1,075
$2.39 ₡1,073
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 ₡1,379
$3.04 ₡1,366
0.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ₡1,012
$2.53 ₡1,136
-11.07%
Eggs
$3.48 ₡1,564
$5.07 ₡2,279
-31.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.74 ₡4,828
$10.78 ₡4,850
-0.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.55 ₡4,293
$10.31 ₡4,636
-7.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.41 ₡4,683
$14.28 ₡6,421
-27.10%
Apples (1kg)
$4.52 ₡2,031
$4.99 ₡2,245
-9.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₡729
$1.55 ₡698
4.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 ₡1,193
$3.26 ₡1,465
-18.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 ₡1,103
$3.42 ₡1,540
-28.36%
Potato (1kg)
$3.81 ₡1,712
$3.19 ₡1,437
19.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.60 ₡1,169
$3.22 ₡1,447
-19.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₡503
$1.21 ₡545
-7.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.11 ₡1,399
$2.74 ₡1,232
13.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.04 ₡2,716
$5.56 ₡2,501
8.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.82 ₡8,464
$16.31 ₡7,334
15.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 ₡1,183
$2.56 ₡1,150
2.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 ₡1,200
$2.73 ₡1,229
-2.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Atenas
San Ramon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.21 ₡994
$1.30 ₡585
70.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.50 ₡1,122
$2.45 ₡1,104
2.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡706
$1.57 ₡706
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.68 ₡3,902
$8.87 ₡3,989
-2.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₡675
$1.55 ₡697
-3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K ₡15.2M
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-2.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.1K ₡18.9M
$41.3K ₡18.6M
1.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atenas
San Ramon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.0 ₡42.2K
$144 ₡64.9K
-34.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.77 ₡16.1K
$44.11 ₡19.8K
-18.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.3 ₡23.5K
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-2.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Atenas
San Ramon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.83 ₡21.5K
$59.0 ₡26.5K
-18.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.06 ₡4,976
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.55 ₡3,394
$7.81 ₡3,512
-3.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Atenas
San Ramon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$975 ₡438.5K
$843 ₡379.3K
15.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,667 ₡3.0M
$17.0K ₡7.7M
-60.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Atenas
San Ramon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0 ₡32.4K
$70.5 ₡31.7K
2.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2 ₡24.4K
$55.3 ₡24.9K
-1.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 ₡56.9K
$129 ₡57.9K
-1.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 ₡58.6K
$125 ₡56.3K
4.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Atenas
San Ramon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$666 ₡299.5K
$816 ₡367.1K
-18.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$550 ₡247.3K
$626 ₡281.4K
-12.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,537 ₡691.1K
$1,903 ₡855.7K
-19.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,244 ₡559.5K
$1,249 ₡561.7K
-0.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,145 ₡514.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,156 ₡519.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Atenas
San Ramon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,330 ₡598.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
8.62
-

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

Last update for Atenas: October 24, 2026

Last update for San Ramon: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Atenas
$550
San Ramon
$626 13.8% $76
Groceries & Markets
Atenas
$358
San Ramon
$380 6.1% $22
Eating Out
Atenas
$203
San Ramon
$220 8.1% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atenas
$182
San Ramon
$242 33.2% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Atenas
$172
San Ramon
$171 0.9% $1.5
Sport & Entertainment
Atenas
$63
San Ramon
$75 18.6% $12
Getting Around
Atenas
$19 *
San Ramon
$16 * 19.2% $3.7

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $666 in Atenas versus $816 in San Ramon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56 in Atenas versus $62 in San Ramon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $380 – making Atenas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Atenas
🇨🇷 San Ramon
🕒 Local time
18:34 6:34 PM
18:34 6:34 PM
Same time as Atenas
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
7,000
10,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Atenas San Ramon 16 km
From you
  • Atenas
  • San Ramon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Atenas vs San Ramon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Atenas cheaper than San Ramon?
Yes – San Ramon is pricier by about 12%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,322 per month in Atenas and $2,593 in San Ramon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Atenas, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $666 there versus $816 in San Ramon.
Is eating out cheaper in Atenas or in San Ramon?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56 in Atenas and $62 in San Ramon. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Atenas and in San Ramon?
Groceries cost about 6% more in San Ramon, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,500 enough to cover costs in Atenas or in San Ramon?
$1,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,548 in Atenas and $1,729 in San Ramon. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is safer, Atenas or San Ramon?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Atenas vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?