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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Isidro is 18.2% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 3.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: San Isidro is 16.9% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 8.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Isidro
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.69 ₡4,853
$10.76 ₡5,385
-9.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 ₡25.5K
$59 ₡29.5K
-13.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.71 ₡4,862
$9.85 ₡4,931
-1.42%
Cappuccino
$3.68 ₡1,841
$3.88 ₡1,942
-5.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 ₡994
$1.96 ₡983
1.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 ₡790
$1.59 ₡794
-0.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3 ₡1,504
$3.04 ₡1,522
-1.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 ₡2,350
$4.59 ₡2,300
2.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Isidro
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ₡1,014
$2.02 ₡1,013
0.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 ₡1,431
$2.88 ₡1,443
-0.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 ₡1,083
$2.13 ₡1,067
1.41%
Eggs
$2.88 ₡1,443
$2.94 ₡1,472
-2.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 ₡5,101
$9.69 ₡4,852
5.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.35 ₡4,678
$9.22 ₡4,617
1.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 ₡6,915
$13.64 ₡6,831
1.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.4 ₡2,205
$4.47 ₡2,238
-1.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡726
$1.45 ₡728
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.3 ₡2,150
$4.38 ₡2,192
-1.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.16 ₡1,583
$3.55 ₡1,779
-10.99%
Potato (1kg)
$3.43 ₡1,720
$3.55 ₡1,777
-3.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.96 ₡1,480
$3.25 ₡1,628
-8.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ₡509
$1.04 ₡519
-1.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.9 ₡1,453
$2.8 ₡1,403
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.07 ₡2,539
$5.43 ₡2,716
-6.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.92 ₡7,468
$18.98 ₡9,503
-21.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₡1,187
$2.41 ₡1,205
-1.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 ₡1,318
$2.92 ₡1,461
-9.93%
🚌 Getting Around
San Isidro
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ₡480
$1 ₡501
-4.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 ₡936
$1.88 ₡939
-0.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡932
$1.86 ₡930
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.08 ₡4,043
$7.8 ₡3,904
3.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ₡710
$1.4 ₡699
1.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K ₡19.2M
$37.7K ₡18.9M
1.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$32.7K ₡16.4M
-0.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Isidro
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.2 ₡47.7K
$92.9 ₡46.5K
2.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.94 ₡13K
$25.98 ₡13K
-0.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 ₡26.6K
$60.2 ₡30.1K
-11.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Isidro
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57 ₡28.5K
$56.2 ₡28.2K
1.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.55 ₡11.8K
$38.51 ₡19.3K
-38.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.71 ₡4,859
$9.89 ₡4,953
-1.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Isidro
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ₡265.5K
$567 ₡283.6K
-6.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₡6.4M
$12.8K ₡6.4M
-0.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Isidro
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ₡31.8K
$63.5 ₡31.8K
0.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 ₡25.7K
$50.8 ₡25.4K
0.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 ₡62.8K
$125 ₡62.6K
0.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 ₡54.1K
$107 ₡53.7K
0.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Isidro
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$757 ₡378.7K
$865 ₡433K
-12.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$596 ₡298.5K
$536 ₡268.3K
11.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,515 ₡758.3K
$1,427 ₡714.5K
6.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$970 ₡485.5K
$1,034 ₡517.9K
-6.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,869 ₡1.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Isidro
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 San Isidro: October 29, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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