Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and San Ramon Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and San Ramon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,479 in Cartago versus $1,550 in San Ramon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,112 in Cartago versus $2,358 in San Ramon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,744 in Cartago versus $3,166 in San Ramon.

Living in Cartago costs roughly 5% less than in San Ramon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cartago 11% above, San Ramon 16% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 ₡3,595

$6.03 ₡2,698

33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.05 ₡14.3K

$51.2 ₡22.9K

-37.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.83 ₡3,951

$9.81 ₡4,390

-9.99%

Cappuccino

$3.95 ₡1,765

$3.71 ₡1,658

6.47%

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

$2.04 ₡911

$1.97 ₡882

3.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₡550

$1.61 ₡719

-23.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 ₡905

$2.97 ₡1,327

-31.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 ₡2,072

$4.58 ₡2,051

1.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡923

$1.45 ₡646

42.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 ₡963

$2.76 ₡1,234

-22.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡953

$2.21 ₡989

-3.62%

Eggs

$2.97 ₡1,329

$4.58 ₡2,048

-35.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.02 ₡3,587

$9.70 ₡4,341

-17.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.95 ₡4,002

$9.25 ₡4,139

-3.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ₡6,051

$13.86 ₡6,201

-2.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 ₡1,957

$4.61 ₡2,064

-4.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ₡522

$1.38 ₡616

-15.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 ₡1,753

$4.38 ₡1,958

-10.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 ₡1,176

$3.34 ₡1,496

-21.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 ₡876

$3.39 ₡1,518

-42.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 ₡906

$3.02 ₡1,352

-32.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡453

$1.12 ₡502

-9.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₡904

$2.86 ₡1,280

-29.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.40 ₡2,417

$5.04 ₡2,254

7.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.54 ₡6,951

$18.72 ₡8,375

-16.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₡1,129

$2.36 ₡1,055

6.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₡785

$2.57 ₡1,150

-31.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 ₡477

$0.96 ₡431

11.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.3 ₡31.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ₡607

$1.88 ₡840

-27.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡834

$1.77 ₡790

5.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.12 ₡3,631

$7.69 ₡3,441

5.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₡647

$1.62 ₡724

-10.49%

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

$37.7K ₡16.9M

$37.8K ₡16.9M

-0.29%

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

$32.6K ₡14.6M

$32.0K ₡14.3M

1.93%

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

$47.57 ₡21.3K

$129 ₡57.9K

-63.25%

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

$25.51 ₡11.4K

$39.60 ₡17.7K

-35.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.1 ₡25.1K

$49.35 ₡22.1K

13.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 ₡25.5K

$34.68 ₡15.5K

64.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.47 ₡10.5K

$24.27 ₡10.9K

-3.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ₡2,910

$10.08 ₡4,510

-35.52%

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

$491 ₡219.8K

$517 ₡231.1K

-4.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,083 ₡3.2M

$12.7K ₡5.7M

-44.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 ₡28.2K

$63.5 ₡28.4K

-0.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.9 ₡23.2K

0.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 ₡48.0K

$128 ₡57.2K

-16.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 ₡35.2K

$109 ₡48.6K

-27.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 ₡343.6K

$760 ₡339.9K

1.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 ₡270.7K

$587 ₡262.6K

3.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₡328.3K

$1,497 ₡669.8K

-50.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$761 ₡340.6K

$966 ₡432.3K

-21.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,149 ₡514.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,157 ₡517.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,319 ₡590.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

-1.67%

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

Last update for Cartago: July 14, 2026

Last update for San Ramon: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $768 in Cartago and $760 in San Ramon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Cartago vs $51.0 in San Ramon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $361 per month, with Cartago cheaper across the board.

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

Cartago vs San Ramon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,218 in Cartago and $2,325 in San Ramon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $768 in Cartago versus $760 in San Ramon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in San Ramon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,479 per month in Cartago versus $1,550 in San Ramon – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,479 in Cartago versus $1,550 in San Ramon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cartago but tight or insufficient in San Ramon. The gap between the two cities makes Cartago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Cartago and San Ramon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cartago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in San Ramon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.