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

🙂 Solo nomad: Guanacaste is 23.8% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 10.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Guanacaste is 20.6% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 16.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.07 ₡5,044

$10.76 ₡5,385

-6.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.59 ₡21.8K

$59 ₡29.5K

-26.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.1 ₡5,055

$9.85 ₡4,931

2.54%

Cappuccino

$3.93 ₡1,969

$3.88 ₡1,942

1.29%

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

$2.08 ₡1,041

$1.96 ₡983

6.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ₡788

$1.59 ₡794

-1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 ₡1,482

$3.04 ₡1,522

-2.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 ₡2,061

$4.59 ₡2,300

-10.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.8 ₡902

$2.02 ₡1,013

-10.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₡1,448

$2.88 ₡1,443

0.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ₡1,123

$2.13 ₡1,067

5.16%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,470

$2.94 ₡1,472

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.04 ₡2,524

$9.69 ₡4,852

-47.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 ₡2,020

$9.22 ₡4,617

-56.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.98 ₡4,998

$13.64 ₡6,831

-26.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 ₡1,226

$4.47 ₡2,238

-45.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₡722

$1.45 ₡728

-0.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 ₡1,964

$4.38 ₡2,192

-10.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 ₡707

$3.55 ₡1,779

-60.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₡1,729

$3.55 ₡1,777

-2.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₡978

$3.25 ₡1,628

-40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 ₡408

$1.04 ₡519

-22.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₡1,465

$2.8 ₡1,403

4.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.94 ₡1,973

$5.43 ₡2,716

-27.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.55 ₡9,288

$18.98 ₡9,503

-2.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₡1,219

$2.41 ₡1,205

0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₡1,179

$2.92 ₡1,461

-19.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₡506

$1 ₡501

1.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₡898

$1.88 ₡939

-4.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 ₡895

$1.86 ₡930

-3.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₡3,968

$7.8 ₡3,904

1.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡706

$1.4 ₡699

0.71%

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

$37.7K ₡18.9M

-0.16%

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

$33.2K ₡16.6M

$32.7K ₡16.4M

1.50%

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

$94.6 ₡47.3K

$92.9 ₡46.5K

1.83%

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

$25.97 ₡13K

$25.98 ₡13K

-0.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.55 ₡14.8K

$60.2 ₡30.1K

-50.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.6 ₡28.4K

$56.2 ₡28.2K

0.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.43 ₡11.7K

$38.51 ₡19.3K

-39.16%

Cinema Ticket

$10.25 ₡5,130

$9.89 ₡4,953

3.64%

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

$558 ₡279.2K

$567 ₡283.6K

-1.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₡6.3M

$12.8K ₡6.4M

-2.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59 ₡29.5K

$63.5 ₡31.8K

-7.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.25 ₡20.1K

$50.8 ₡25.4K

-20.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 ₡39.7K

$125 ₡62.6K

-36.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.4 ₡34.2K

$107 ₡53.7K

-36.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 ₡384.3K

$865 ₡433K

-11.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 ₡298.8K

$536 ₡268.3K

11.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,497 ₡749.3K

$1,427 ₡714.5K

4.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$950 ₡475.8K

$1,034 ₡517.9K

-8.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,869 ₡1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 ₡849.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.4K

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 Guanacaste: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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