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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,032 in Escazu versus $1,560 in San Ramon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,800 in Escazu versus $2,311 in San Ramon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,569 in Escazu versus $3,062 in San Ramon.

Living in Escazu is roughly 30% more expensive than San Ramon, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Escazu 52% above, San Ramon 16% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.96 ₡4,984

$5.96 ₡2,710

83.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.7 ₡27.2K

$52.0 ₡23.6K

14.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 ₡4,504

$9.79 ₡4,451

1.12%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,773

$3.69 ₡1,678

5.69%

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

$2.06 ₡935

$1.98 ₡899

4.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₡757

$1.63 ₡742

1.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,372

$3.02 ₡1,375

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 ₡2,117

$4.56 ₡2,073

1.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡936

$1.39 ₡633

48.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 ₡1,250

$2.68 ₡1,218

2.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,006

$2.24 ₡1,018

-1.34%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,338

$4.58 ₡2,082

-35.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.86 ₡4,484

$10.01 ₡4,551

-1.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.28 ₡4,219

$9.18 ₡4,173

1.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 ₡6,243

$13.49 ₡6,133

1.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 ₡2,106

$4.46 ₡2,028

3.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₡678

$1.41 ₡639

5.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 ₡1,916

$4.34 ₡1,975

-3.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,456

$3.16 ₡1,436

1.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,624

$3.33 ₡1,513

7.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 ₡1,472

$2.90 ₡1,320

11.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡430

$1.08 ₡492

-12.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₡1,344

$2.91 ₡1,322

1.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 ₡2,196

$4.89 ₡2,223

-1.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.74 ₡8,522

$17.31 ₡7,872

8.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₡802

$2.28 ₡1,035

-22.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₡1,242

$2.66 ₡1,211

2.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡438

$1.04 ₡471

-7.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 ₡757

$1.79 ₡813

-7.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡805

$1.86 ₡847

-4.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₡3,682

$7.66 ₡3,485

5.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡632

$1.62 ₡739

-14.20%

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

$31.4K ₡14.3M

$38.0K ₡17.3M

-17.42%

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

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$32.9K ₡15.0M

-1.35%

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

$66.2 ₡30.1K

$128 ₡58.2K

-48.25%

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

$25.87 ₡11.8K

$39.58 ₡18.0K

-34.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 ₡22.8K

$51.1 ₡23.2K

-1.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 ₡49.0K

$35.03 ₡15.9K

207.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.16 ₡4,621

$23.49 ₡10.7K

-56.75%

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 ₡4,446

$9.78 ₡4,445

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

$580 ₡263.5K

$525 ₡238.9K

10.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₡6.5M

$12.6K ₡5.7M

13.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 ₡28.1K

$63.6 ₡28.9K

-2.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 ₡23.3K

$52.3 ₡23.8K

-2.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡57.4K

$127 ₡57.6K

-0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₡47.9K

$108 ₡49.1K

-2.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 ₡484.5K

$754 ₡342.6K

41.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 ₡481.6K

$603 ₡274.2K

75.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,681 ₡764.3K

$1,539 ₡700.0K

9.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₡596.4K

$945 ₡429.8K

38.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 ₡738.7K

$1,179 ₡536.2K

37.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,132 ₡514.9K

$1,156 ₡525.7K

-2.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,759 ₡799.8K

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 Escazu: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Ramon: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,065 in Escazu and $754 in San Ramon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $60.0 in Escazu vs $52.0 in San Ramon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $355 per month, with San Ramon 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

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

San Ramon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,048 in Escazu and $2,340 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: $1,065 in Escazu versus $754 in San Ramon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Escazu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,032 per month in Escazu versus $1,560 in San Ramon – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,560 in San Ramon versus $2,032 in Escazu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Ramon but tight or insufficient in Escazu. The gap between the two cities makes San Ramon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, San Ramon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Escazu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Escazu 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 San Ramon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.