πA single person spends $1,527 per month in Poprad vs $1,181 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.
πA couple spends around $2,250 per month in Poprad vs $1,916 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,972 per month in Poprad vs $2,652 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.
πPoprad costs about 29% more than Perez Zeledon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πPoprad sits 14% above the global median, while Perez Zeledon is 12% below β they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.48β¬9.79
$6.90β‘3,142
66.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4β¬49.82
$40.09β‘18.3K
45.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.47β¬8.93
$9.84β‘4,480
6.40%
Cappuccino
$3.06β¬2.61
$3.93β‘1,790
-22.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19β¬1.87
$1.51β‘686
45.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68β¬1.43
$1.63β‘744
3.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16β¬1.84
$3.02β‘1,373
-28.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12β¬2.66
$4.59β‘2,091
-32.03%
π Groceries & Markets
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β¬0.94
$2.03β‘925
-45.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67β¬1.43
$2.86β‘1,300
-41.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98β¬1.69
$2.14β‘974
-7.48%
Eggs
$3.81β¬3.25
$2.59β‘1,180
47.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.92β¬12.73
$8.50β‘3,868
75.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.62β¬6.50
$9.30β‘4,235
-18.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70β¬10.83
$13.50β‘6,149
-5.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80β¬1.53
$4.62β‘2,105
-61.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00β¬1.70
$0.98β‘445
104.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.24β¬1.91
$4.32β‘1,967
-48.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.96β¬3.38
$3.41β‘1,553
16.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37β¬1.17
$2.85β‘1,298
-51.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79β¬1.52
$2.86β‘1,303
-37.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.60β¬1.36
$0.42β‘191
280.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94β¬0.80
$2.85β‘1,300
-67.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.21β¬5.29
$4.93β‘2,244
25.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.93β¬5.06
$21.98β‘10.0K
-73.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99β¬0.85
$2.26β‘1,027
-56.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71β¬1.46
$1.59β‘722
7.55%
π Getting Around
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79β¬1.53
$0.72β‘328
148.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.83β¬29.71
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.90β¬1.62
$1.78β‘809
6.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53β¬1.31
$1.84β‘839
-16.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.27β¬26.67
$8.01β‘3,646
290.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80β¬1.53
$1.40β‘639
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6Kβ¬23.5K
$38.3Kβ‘17.5M
-28.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4Kβ¬25.9K
$32.9Kβ‘15.0M
-7.56%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$237β¬202
$94.4β‘43.0K
150.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.57β¬20.96
$21.78β‘9,919
12.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.85β¬16.93
$60.4β‘27.5K
-67.13%
π Sport & Entertainment
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.18β¬35.98
$30.20β‘13.8K
39.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99β¬17.91
$23.70β‘10.8K
-11.43%
Cinema Ticket
$11.48β¬9.80
$10.16β‘4,628
12.99%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$489β¬417
$504β‘229.6K
-2.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7Kβ¬10.8K
$12.8Kβ‘5.8M
-1.09%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.1β¬62.3
$62.3β‘28.4K
17.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.96β¬34.09
$52.4β‘23.8K
-23.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.3β¬75.3
$125β‘56.9K
-29.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108β¬92.5
$107β‘48.6K
1.74%
π Accommodation & Living
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$684β¬583
$344β‘156.5K
98.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$514β¬439
$267β‘121.6K
92.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,087β¬927
$1,508β‘686.8K
-27.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$817β¬697
$643β‘292.8K
27.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,502β¬2,987
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,664β¬2,273
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,044β¬890
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.18
9
-53.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Poprad: April 22, 2026
Last update for Perez Zeledon: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $684 in Poprad versus $344 in Perez Zeledon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $58 in Poprad versus $40 in Perez Zeledon. Groceries tell a different story β $267 in Poprad vs $352 in Perez Zeledon β so Poprad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Poprad vs Perez Zeledon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perez Zeledon cheaper than Poprad?
Yes β Poprad is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,291 per month in Poprad and $1,772 in Perez Zeledon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Perez Zeledon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Poprad vs Perez Zeledon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,527 in Poprad and $1,181 in Perez Zeledon. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $489 per month in Poprad and $504 in Perez Zeledon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Poprad or Perez Zeledon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Perez Zeledon, where all-in costs run around $1,181, than in Poprad at $1,527. In Perez Zeledon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Poprad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Poprad or Perez Zeledon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Perez Zeledon β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Poprad or Perez Zeledon?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Perez Zeledon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Poprad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.