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

🙂 Solo nomad: Curridabat is 4.6% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 0.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Curridabat is 4.4% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 4.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curridabat
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.98 ₡5,499
$10.76 ₡5,385
2.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5 ₡29.3K
$59 ₡29.5K
-0.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.88 ₡4,445
$9.85 ₡4,931
-9.85%
Cappuccino
$3.73 ₡1,866
$3.88 ₡1,942
-3.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 ₡992
$1.96 ₡983
1.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 ₡757
$1.59 ₡794
-5.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 ₡1,499
$3.04 ₡1,522
-1.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 ₡2,290
$4.59 ₡2,300
-0.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curridabat
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 ₡982
$2.02 ₡1,013
-2.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.91 ₡1,458
$2.88 ₡1,443
1.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ₡1,126
$2.13 ₡1,067
5.63%
Eggs
$2.89 ₡1,445
$2.94 ₡1,472
-1.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.74 ₡4,877
$9.69 ₡4,852
0.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.07 ₡4,541
$9.22 ₡4,617
-1.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,830
$13.64 ₡6,831
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.4 ₡2,202
$4.47 ₡2,238
-1.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 ₡732
$1.45 ₡728
0.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.35 ₡2,178
$4.38 ₡2,192
-0.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.54 ₡1,772
$3.55 ₡1,779
-0.28%
Potato (1kg)
$3.49 ₡1,749
$3.55 ₡1,777
-1.69%
Onion (1kg)
$3.18 ₡1,594
$3.25 ₡1,628
-2.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ₡513
$1.04 ₡519
-1.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,399
$2.8 ₡1,403
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.31 ₡2,657
$5.43 ₡2,716
-2.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.56 ₡9,289
$18.98 ₡9,503
-2.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 ₡1,264
$2.41 ₡1,205
4.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 ₡1,407
$2.92 ₡1,461
-3.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Curridabat
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 ₡507
$1 ₡501
1.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ₡893
$1.88 ₡939
-5.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 ₡926
$1.86 ₡930
-0.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.82 ₡3,916
$7.8 ₡3,904
0.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₡737
$1.4 ₡699
5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K ₡19.1M
$37.7K ₡18.9M
1.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K ₡16M
$32.7K ₡16.4M
-2.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curridabat
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.3 ₡47.2K
$92.9 ₡46.5K
1.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.25 ₡13.1K
$25.98 ₡13K
1.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.4 ₡30.2K
$60.2 ₡30.1K
0.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curridabat
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56 ₡28K
$56.2 ₡28.2K
-0.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.13 ₡12.1K
$38.51 ₡19.3K
-37.34%
Cinema Ticket
$10.15 ₡5,082
$9.89 ₡4,953
2.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curridabat
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$571 ₡285.7K
$567 ₡283.6K
0.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K ₡6.3M
$12.8K ₡6.4M
-2.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curridabat
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3 ₡30.7K
$63.5 ₡31.8K
-3.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 ₡25.6K
$50.8 ₡25.4K
0.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡62.1K
$125 ₡62.6K
-0.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 ₡52.7K
$107 ₡53.7K
-1.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curridabat
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₡387.5K
$865 ₡433K
-10.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$593 ₡296.9K
$536 ₡268.3K
10.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,518 ₡760.1K
$1,427 ₡714.5K
6.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$974 ₡487.4K
$1,034 ₡517.9K
-5.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,869 ₡1.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curridabat
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ₡251.9K
$996 ₡498.4K
-49.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
10.17
-

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

Last update for Curridabat: October 29, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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