Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa Flamingo and San Jose Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa Flamingo and San Jose

🙂 Solo nomad: Playa Flamingo is 5.5% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 0.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa Flamingo is 5.6% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa Flamingo
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.08 ₡5,549
$10.76 ₡5,385
2.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4 ₡29.8K
$59 ₡29.5K
0.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10 ₡5,007
$9.85 ₡4,931
1.52%
Cappuccino
$3.93 ₡1,966
$3.88 ₡1,942
1.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ₡996
$1.96 ₡983
1.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1.59 ₡794
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.01 ₡1,507
$3.04 ₡1,522
-0.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 ₡2,357
$4.59 ₡2,300
2.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa Flamingo
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 ₡987
$2.02 ₡1,013
-2.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,442
$2.88 ₡1,443
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ₡1,128
$2.13 ₡1,067
5.63%
Eggs
$2.42 ₡1,214
$2.94 ₡1,472
-17.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.13 ₡5,070
$9.69 ₡4,852
4.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.98 ₡4,498
$9.22 ₡4,617
-2.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.69 ₡6,854
$13.64 ₡6,831
0.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.52 ₡2,260
$4.47 ₡2,238
1.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 ₡752
$1.45 ₡728
3.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.22 ₡2,113
$4.38 ₡2,192
-3.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.42 ₡1,714
$3.55 ₡1,779
-3.66%
Potato (1kg)
$3.4 ₡1,701
$3.55 ₡1,777
-4.23%
Onion (1kg)
$3.1 ₡1,550
$3.25 ₡1,628
-4.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 ₡482
$1.04 ₡519
-7.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 ₡1,455
$2.8 ₡1,403
3.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.91 ₡2,460
$5.43 ₡2,716
-9.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.78 ₡9,403
$18.98 ₡9,503
-1.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₡1,242
$2.41 ₡1,205
2.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₡1,449
$2.92 ₡1,461
-1.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa Flamingo
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ₡508
$1 ₡501
2.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ₡897
$1.88 ₡939
-4.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 ₡896
$1.86 ₡930
-3.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 ₡3,834
$7.8 ₡3,904
-1.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 ₡697
$1.4 ₡699
-0.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K ₡19.1M
$37.7K ₡18.9M
1.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K ₡16.3M
$32.7K ₡16.4M
-0.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa Flamingo
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$92.9 ₡46.5K
0.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.38 ₡10.2K
$25.98 ₡13K
-21.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.6 ₡29.8K
$60.2 ₡30.1K
-1.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa Flamingo
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.5 ₡28.8K
$56.2 ₡28.2K
2.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.57 ₡11.8K
$38.51 ₡19.3K
-38.80%
Cinema Ticket
$10.14 ₡5,075
$9.89 ₡4,953
2.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa Flamingo
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$574 ₡287.6K
$567 ₡283.6K
1.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,944 ₡4.5M
$12.8K ₡6.4M
-30.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa Flamingo
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3 ₡30.7K
$63.5 ₡31.8K
-3.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 ₡25.7K
$50.8 ₡25.4K
0.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡62.2K
$125 ₡62.6K
-0.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 ₡54.7K
$107 ₡53.7K
1.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa Flamingo
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$778 ₡389.5K
$865 ₡433K
-10.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$587 ₡294K
$536 ₡268.3K
9.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,523 ₡762.3K
$1,427 ₡714.5K
6.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$954 ₡477.3K
$1,034 ₡517.9K
-7.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,533 ₡1.8M
$2,869 ₡1.4M
23.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa Flamingo
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$996 ₡498.4K
-
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 Playa Flamingo: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.