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

😐 Solo nomad: Heredia is 1.7% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 5.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Heredia is 18.5% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 12.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.15 ₡4,080

$10.76 ₡5,385

-24.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.99 ₡21K

$59 ₡29.5K

-28.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.9 ₡4,453

$9.85 ₡4,931

-9.64%

Cappuccino

$3.36 ₡1,681

$3.88 ₡1,942

-13.40%

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

$1.99 ₡998

$1.96 ₡983

1.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₡820

$1.59 ₡794

3.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 ₡1,022

$3.04 ₡1,522

-32.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 ₡1,764

$4.59 ₡2,300

-23.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 ₡681

$2.02 ₡1,013

-32.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 ₡1,438

$2.88 ₡1,443

-0.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡1,067

Eggs

$2.88 ₡1,443

$2.94 ₡1,472

-2.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.24 ₡5,125

$9.69 ₡4,852

5.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.05 ₡4,528

$9.22 ₡4,617

-1.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.94 ₡6,978

$13.64 ₡6,831

2.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₡2,272

$4.47 ₡2,238

1.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.5 ₡753

$1.45 ₡728

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.2 ₡2,101

$4.38 ₡2,192

-4.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.1 ₡1,552

$3.55 ₡1,779

-12.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ₡1,620

$3.55 ₡1,777

-8.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 ₡1,594

$3.25 ₡1,628

-2.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡481

$1.04 ₡519

-7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,464

$2.8 ₡1,403

4.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.72 ₡1,863

$5.43 ₡2,716

-31.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.29 ₡6,652

$18.98 ₡9,503

-29.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₡1,217

$2.41 ₡1,205

0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,272

$2.92 ₡1,461

-13.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡482

$1 ₡501

-4.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.83 ₡7,425

$41.57 ₡20.8K

-64.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₡908

$1.88 ₡939

-3.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡889

$1.86 ₡930

-4.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 ₡3,910

$7.8 ₡3,904

0.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡731

$1.4 ₡699

4.29%

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

$30.2K ₡15.1M

$37.7K ₡18.9M

-19.81%

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

$31.9K ₡16M

$32.7K ₡16.4M

-2.35%

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

$50.4 ₡25.2K

$92.9 ₡46.5K

-45.73%

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

$22.05 ₡11K

$25.98 ₡13K

-15.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 ₡29.8K

$60.2 ₡30.1K

-1.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 ₡24.4K

$56.2 ₡28.2K

-13.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.72 ₡9,871

$38.51 ₡19.3K

-48.79%

Cinema Ticket

$9.79 ₡4,902

$9.89 ₡4,953

-1.01%

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

$497 ₡248.6K

$567 ₡283.6K

-12.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₡6.2M

$12.8K ₡6.4M

-2.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62 ₡31K

$63.5 ₡31.8K

-2.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 ₡25.9K

$50.8 ₡25.4K

1.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡59.6K

$125 ₡62.6K

-4.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 ₡40.8K

$107 ₡53.7K

-23.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₡379.9K

$865 ₡433K

-12.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$600 ₡300.2K

$536 ₡268.3K

11.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 ₡811.4K

$1,427 ₡714.5K

13.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$963 ₡481.9K

$1,034 ₡517.9K

-6.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,977 ₡989.6K

$2,869 ₡1.4M

-31.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,313 ₡657.4K

$1,697 ₡849.3K

-22.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,283 ₡642.2K

$996 ₡498.4K

28.86%

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 Heredia: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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