😐A single person spends $1,526 per month in Poprad vs $1,165 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,275 per month in Poprad vs $1,898 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,024 per month in Poprad vs $2,631 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.
😐Poprad costs about 31% more than Perez Zeledon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Poprad sits 14% above the global median, while Perez Zeledon is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.48€9.96
$6.77₡3,105
69.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.3€50.6
$39.63₡18.2K
47.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60€9.19
$10.11₡4,635
4.85%
Cappuccino
$3.07€2.66
$3.81₡1,745
-19.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17€1.88
$1.51₡694
43.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.44
$1.61₡736
3.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20€1.91
$2.95₡1,353
-25.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23€2.80
$4.63₡2,124
-30.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.99
$1.96₡901
-41.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68€1.46
$2.90₡1,329
-42.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.72
$2.21₡1,014
-10.41%
Eggs
$3.81€3.31
$2.54₡1,164
50.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.20€13.18
$8.21₡3,762
85.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.60€6.59
$9.17₡4,205
-17.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.66€10.98
$13.83₡6,340
-8.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$4.45₡2,039
-59.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04€1.77
$0.98₡448
108.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.24€1.94
$4.25₡1,948
-47.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.82€3.31
$3.56₡1,632
7.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29€1.12
$2.85₡1,307
-54.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$2.74₡1,257
-35.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.34
$0.41₡188
278.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.79
$2.81₡1,286
-67.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.23€5.40
$5.12₡2,349
21.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.95€6.03
$21.29₡9,757
-67.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03€0.90
$2.19₡1,006
-52.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.54
$1.58₡725
12.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71€1.48
$0.74₡340
131.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.38€29.81
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.95€1.69
$1.80₡825
8.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54€1.34
$1.84₡844
-16.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.45€27.27
$7.71₡3,533
307.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.53
$1.40₡641
26.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K€23.6K
$37.7K₡17.3M
-27.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€26.6K
$32.3K₡14.8M
-5.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$241€209
$93.8₡43.0K
156.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.31€21.08
$21.74₡9,965
11.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.84€17.21
$59.9₡27.4K
-66.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.19€37.45
$30.06₡13.8K
43.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.62€18.75
$24.04₡11.0K
-10.07%
Cinema Ticket
$11.76€10.20
$9.66₡4,427
21.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$483€418
$509₡233.5K
-5.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7K€11.0K
$12.4K₡5.7M
2.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.6€62.9
$63.3₡29.0K
14.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.53€34.28
$51.8₡23.7K
-23.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5€77.6
$125₡57.4K
-28.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108€93.7
$107₡49.1K
1.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$694€602
$334₡153.0K
107.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$503€437
$269₡123.3K
87.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062€921
$1,515₡694.6K
-29.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$840€728
$633₡290.4K
32.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,395€2,944
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,591€2,247
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Poprad
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,021€885
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.18
9
-53.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Poprad: June 6, 2026
Last update for Perez Zeledon: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $694 in Poprad versus $334 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Poprad versus $40.00 in Perez Zeledon. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Poprad vs $349 in Perez Zeledon – 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 – Poprad is pricier by about 31%, 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 $2,290 per month in Poprad and $1,748 in Perez Zeledon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 $1,526 in Poprad and $1,165 in Perez Zeledon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $483 per month in Poprad and $509 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 $1,165, than in Poprad at $1,526. 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 – 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 – 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.