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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 12% more expensive than Alajuela without rent, and 2.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Jose is 1.3% cheaper than Alajuela without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.75 ₡5,085

$10.08 ₡4,768

6.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 ₡28.4K

$40.17 ₡19.0K

49.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 ₡4,753

$9.68 ₡4,577

3.82%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,845

$3.75 ₡1,773

4.00%

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

$2.05 ₡968

$1.96 ₡927

4.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡781

$1.29 ₡610

27.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 ₡1,382

$2.21 ₡1,044

32.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 ₡2,258

$3.65 ₡1,726

30.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₡969

$1.86 ₡880

10.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,351

$2.47 ₡1,166

15.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,044

$2.22 ₡1,048

-0.45%

Eggs

$3.01 ₡1,422

$2.25 ₡1,063

33.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.79 ₡4,627

$9.67 ₡4,570

1.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 ₡4,439

$9.04 ₡4,273

3.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.61 ₡6,434

$13.90 ₡6,572

-2.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 ₡2,098

$3.85 ₡1,822

15.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡688

$1.45 ₡686

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 ₡2,023

$4.14 ₡1,958

3.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,636

$2.86 ₡1,350

20.98%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,690

$2.88 ₡1,360

23.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 ₡1,474

$2.64 ₡1,247

18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡454

$1.00 ₡474

-4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,388

$2.51 ₡1,187

17.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.13 ₡2,427

$4.95 ₡2,338

3.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.99 ₡9,451

$20.49 ₡9,689

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,180

$2.14 ₡1,012

16.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₡1,363

$2.42 ₡1,145

19.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡450

$0.83 ₡394

14.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₡19.2K

$112 ₡53.0K

-63.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡885

$1.38 ₡652

35.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡844

$1.32 ₡622

34.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 ₡3,693

$8.05 ₡3,804

-2.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡661

$1.40 ₡662

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

$38.2K ₡18.1M

$37.7K ₡17.8M

1.45%

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

$32.2K ₡15.2M

$32.8K ₡15.5M

-1.90%

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

$95.4 ₡45.1K

$44.80 ₡21.2K

112.90%

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

$25.62 ₡12.1K

$19.66 ₡9,297

30.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 ₡28.7K

$33.13 ₡15.7K

83.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.5 ₡27.2K

$65.7 ₡31.1K

-12.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.65 ₡17.8K

$43.81 ₡20.7K

-14.06%

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 ₡4,719

$9.13 ₡4,315

9.31%

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

$559 ₡264.5K

$303 ₡143.3K

84.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.0M

$2,356 ₡1.1M

439.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ₡29.1K

$62.9 ₡29.7K

-2.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡24.2K

$52.3 ₡24.7K

-2.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡59.1K

$121 ₡57.2K

3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡50.5K

$100 ₡47.4K

6.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$874 ₡413.4K

$704 ₡332.9K

24.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ₡250.9K

$607 ₡286.8K

-12.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,466 ₡693.3K

$1,013 ₡479.1K

44.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 ₡495.3K

$934 ₡441.6K

12.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,300 ₡1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,743 ₡824.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$985 ₡465.8K

$2,039 ₡964.1K

-51.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for San Jose: March 1, 2026

Last update for Alajuela: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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