😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,538 in Kotor versus $1,171 in Perez Zeledon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,448 in Kotor versus $1,927 in Perez Zeledon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,359 in Kotor versus $2,683 in Perez Zeledon.
😐Living in Kotor is roughly 31% more expensive than Perez Zeledon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kotor is 15% above, Perez Zeledon is 13% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kotor
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.26€13.91
$6.78₡3,082
139.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9€50.5
$39.34₡17.9K
49.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29€7.95
$9.98₡4,539
-6.91%
Cappuccino
$2.63€2.25
$3.80₡1,729
-30.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27€1.94
$1.45₡661
56.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.26
$1.59₡725
-7.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.88€2.46
$2.91₡1,325
-1.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81€3.26
$4.74₡2,154
-19.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kotor
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41€1.21
$1.95₡886
-27.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00€0.85
$2.76₡1,254
-63.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.38€2.04
$2.14₡973
11.21%
Eggs
$3.13€2.68
$2.53₡1,148
23.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.82€7.55
$8.19₡3,725
7.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.11€6.94
$9.01₡4,099
-9.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.87€10.16
$13.51₡6,144
-12.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.24€1.06
$4.52₡2,053
-72.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.49
$1.03₡470
69.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.59€1.36
$4.20₡1,909
-62.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.17
$3.42₡1,553
-25.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01€0.87
$2.85₡1,294
-64.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15€0.99
$2.80₡1,273
-58.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.72€1.47
$0.38₡174
352.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81€0.69
$2.94₡1,337
-72.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16€3.56
$5.09₡2,317
-18.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.39€5.47
$21.95₡9,981
-70.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.10
$2.15₡977
-40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.61
$1.52₡691
23.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Kotor
Perez Zeledon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.49€1.28
$0.74₡334
101.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.48€32.09
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67€0.57
$1.85₡841
-63.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.91
$1.80₡819
-41.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.76€10.07
$8.10₡3,684
45.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.48
$1.40₡635
23.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K€25.1K
$38.2K₡17.3M
-23.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K€22.6K
$33.2K₡15.1M
-20.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kotor
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$126€108
$93.5₡42.5K
34.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.67€15.98
$21.44₡9,750
-12.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.76€27.19
$59.1₡26.9K
-46.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kotor
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.20€37.83
$30.20₡13.7K
46.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.39€12.32
$23.49₡10.7K
-38.74%
Cinema Ticket
$5.83€4.99
$9.70₡4,413
-39.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kotor
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$289€248
$500₡227.3K
-42.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,608€6,513
$12.9K₡5.9M
-40.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kotor
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.1€72.0
$63.5₡28.9K
32.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.55€38.13
$50.9₡23.1K
-12.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.0€81.3
$125₡56.8K
-24.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113€96.4
$108₡49.0K
4.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kotor
Perez Zeledon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$706€604
$336₡153.0K
109.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$672€576
$263₡119.8K
155.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,247€1,068
$1,537₡699.1K
-18.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,346€1,152
$632₡287.3K
113.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,039€3,458
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,935€2,512
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kotor
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$988€845
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.93
9
-34.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kotor: April 26, 2026
Last update for Perez Zeledon: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Kotor and $336 in Perez Zeledon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Kotor vs $39.00 in Perez Zeledon. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $347, with Kotor cheaper for home cooking.
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
Kotor vs Perez Zeledon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perez Zeledon cheaper than Kotor?
Perez Zeledon is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,307 in Kotor and $1,756 in Perez Zeledon 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.
What is the rent difference between Kotor and Perez Zeledon?
Rent for a central apartment: $706 in Kotor versus $336 in Perez Zeledon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $289 in Kotor versus $500 in Perez Zeledon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Kotor or Perez Zeledon?
Dining out is cheaper in Perez Zeledon – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $59.0 in Kotor. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kotor or Perez Zeledon?
At $1,171 in Perez Zeledon versus $1,538 in Kotor, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Perez Zeledon but tight or insufficient in Kotor. The gap between the two cities makes Perez Zeledon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kotor or Perez Zeledon more family-friendly?
For families, Perez Zeledon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kotor, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kotor or Perez Zeledon?
Safety-wise, Kotor and Perez Zeledon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Perez Zeledon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Kotor. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.