Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Alajuela Cost of Living Comparison Between Brisbane and Alajuela

🙂 Solo nomad: Brisbane is 4.2% cheaper than Alajuela without rent, and 45.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Brisbane is 0.4% cheaper than Alajuela without rent, and 40.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 A$24.4

$10.11 ₡4,940

57.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.9 A$110

$40.49 ₡19.8K

77.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 A$15.2

$9.4 ₡4,592

5.85%

Cappuccino

$3.69 A$5.63

$3.67 ₡1,794

0.54%

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

$2.69 A$4.11

$2 ₡977

34.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 A$3.33

$1.33 ₡652

63.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.62 A$10.11

$2.17 ₡1,061

205.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.75 A$11.84

$3.63 ₡1,774

113.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 A$2.4

$1.94 ₡947

-19.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.24 A$3.42

$2.43 ₡1,188

-7.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 A$2.87

$2.14 ₡1,043

-12.15%

Eggs

$4.33 A$6.61

$2.23 ₡1,087

94.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.03 A$12.27

$9.85 ₡4,810

-18.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.48 A$12.95

$9.06 ₡4,428

-6.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 A$20.88

$13.63 ₡6,661

0.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 A$4.95

$3.97 ₡1,939

-18.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.76 A$4.22

$1.47 ₡718

87.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 A$4.2

$4.17 ₡2,035

-34.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 A$6.59

$2.86 ₡1,398

50.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 A$3.76

$2.89 ₡1,412

-14.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 A$3.47

$2.65 ₡1,294

-14.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$3.26

$1.03 ₡502

107.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 A$1.89

$2.51 ₡1,227

-50.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$32.3 A$49.36

$4.87 ₡2,379

563.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.37 A$20.43

$17.96 ₡8,775

-25.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.66 A$7.12

$2.18 ₡1,063

113.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 A$6.3

$2.56 ₡1,250

60.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 A$0.53

$0.88 ₡432

-61.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.12 A$41.45

$111 ₡54K

-75.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 A$3.59

$1.39 ₡679

69.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 A$2.33

$1.3 ₡633

16.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.2 A$50.7

$7.86 ₡3,839

322.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 A$1.9

$1.42 ₡693

-12.68%

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

$29.3K A$44.7K

$37.5K ₡18.3M

-22.05%

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

$22.5K A$34.4K

$32.2K ₡15.7M

-29.99%

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

$145 A$221

$45 ₡22K

222.02%

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

$26.02 A$39.76

$20.03 ₡9,787

29.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 A$80.4

$32.28 ₡15.8K

62.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 A$74.6

$65.4 ₡31.9K

-25.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.46 A$26.67

$43.3 ₡21.2K

-59.68%

Cinema Ticket

$12.79 A$19.55

$9 ₡4,396

42.11%

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

$1,624 A$2,482

$298 ₡145.4K

445.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,662 A$13.2K

$2,377 ₡1.2M

264.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 A$109

$62 ₡30.3K

14.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.24 A$66.1

$51.6 ₡25.2K

-16.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 A$145

$121 ₡58.9K

-21.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 A$155

$98.4 ₡48.1K

2.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,609 A$2,459

$699 ₡341.5K

130.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 A$1,943

$605 ₡295.7K

110.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,652 A$4,052

$1,003 ₡490K

164.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,873 A$2,862

$926 ₡452.6K

102.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,936 A$10.6K

$2,058 ₡1M

237.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,484 A$6,852

$1,523 ₡744.2K

194.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,031 A$6,159

$1,207 ₡589.7K

233.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

10.17

-38.64%

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

Last update for Brisbane: November 30, 2025

Last update for Alajuela: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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