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

🙂 Solo nomad: Puntarenas is 34% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 19.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Puntarenas is 30.9% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 21.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 ₡3,679

$10.76 ₡5,385

-31.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.4 ₡30.2K

$59 ₡29.5K

2.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 ₡4,495

$9.85 ₡4,931

-8.83%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ₡1,970

$3.88 ₡1,942

1.55%

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

$2.01 ₡1,004

$1.96 ₡983

2.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₡791

$1.59 ₡794

-0.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 ₡1,459

$3.04 ₡1,522

-3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 ₡2,394

$4.59 ₡2,300

4.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2 ₡999

$2.02 ₡1,013

-0.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 ₡1,405

$2.88 ₡1,443

-2.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 ₡1,016

$2.13 ₡1,067

-4.69%

Eggs

$2.27 ₡1,137

$2.94 ₡1,472

-22.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,731

$9.69 ₡4,852

-64.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 ₡3,916

$9.22 ₡4,617

-15.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.86 ₡4,434

$13.64 ₡6,831

-35.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 ₡1,739

$4.47 ₡2,238

-22.37%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 ₡491

$1.45 ₡728

-32.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 ₡584

$4.38 ₡2,192

-73.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 ₡661

$3.55 ₡1,779

-62.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 ₡772

$3.55 ₡1,777

-56.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 ₡789

$3.25 ₡1,628

-51.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 ₡394

$1.04 ₡519

-24.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₡988

$2.8 ₡1,403

-29.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.47 ₡2,240

$5.43 ₡2,716

-17.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.41 ₡3,711

$18.98 ₡9,503

-60.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ₡817

$2.41 ₡1,205

-32.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₡1,186

$2.92 ₡1,461

-18.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₡507

$1 ₡501

1.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 ₡923

$1.88 ₡939

-2.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.8 ₡902

$1.86 ₡930

-3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 ₡3,935

$7.8 ₡3,904

0.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ₡683

$1.4 ₡699

-2.86%

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

$38.1K ₡19.1M

$37.7K ₡18.9M

1.00%

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

$16.9K ₡8.5M

$32.7K ₡16.4M

-48.34%

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

$49.78 ₡24.9K

$92.9 ₡46.5K

-46.39%

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

$19.83 ₡9,925

$25.98 ₡13K

-23.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.34 ₡12.2K

$60.2 ₡30.1K

-59.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 ₡27.9K

$56.2 ₡28.2K

-0.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.65 ₡11.8K

$38.51 ₡19.3K

-38.59%

Cinema Ticket

$9.69 ₡4,853

$9.89 ₡4,953

-2.02%

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

$575 ₡288K

$567 ₡283.6K

1.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡6.4M

-0.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.85 ₡11.9K

$63.5 ₡31.8K

-62.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.67 ₡7,844

$50.8 ₡25.4K

-69.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.4K

$125 ₡62.6K

-0.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.06 ₡24.1K

$107 ₡53.7K

-55.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$761 ₡381.1K

$865 ₡433K

-11.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₡295.9K

$536 ₡268.3K

10.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,510 ₡755.8K

$1,427 ₡714.5K

5.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 ₡483.1K

$1,034 ₡517.9K

-6.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$916 ₡458.4K

$2,869 ₡1.4M

-68.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$607 ₡303.6K

$1,697 ₡849.3K

-64.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$874 ₡437.7K

$996 ₡498.4K

-12.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

-41.00%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Puntarenas: October 29, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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