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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose is 11.4% cheaper than Alajuela without rent, and 1.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 12.1% more expensive than Alajuela without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.76 ₡5,385

$9.9 ₡4,957

8.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59 ₡29.5K

$39.44 ₡19.7K

49.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 ₡4,931

$9.22 ₡4,614

6.83%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₡1,942

$3.76 ₡1,881

3.19%

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

$1.96 ₡983

$2 ₡1,003

-2.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡794

$1.29 ₡648

23.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,522

$2.21 ₡1,105

37.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 ₡2,300

$3.63 ₡1,818

26.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ₡1,013

$1.87 ₡936

8.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₡1,443

$2.42 ₡1,210

19.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡1,067

$2.24 ₡1,120

-4.91%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,472

$2.21 ₡1,108

33.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 ₡4,852

$9.87 ₡4,940

-1.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.22 ₡4,617

$9.15 ₡4,582

0.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.64 ₡6,831

$13.48 ₡6,749

1.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 ₡2,238

$4 ₡2,003

11.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡728

$1.45 ₡727

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,192

$4.14 ₡2,073

5.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,779

$2.85 ₡1,426

24.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,777

$2.81 ₡1,408

26.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 ₡1,628

$2.51 ₡1,258

29.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₡519

$1.01 ₡507

2.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.8 ₡1,403

$2.61 ₡1,309

7.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 ₡2,716

$4.92 ₡2,461

10.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 ₡9,503

$18.86 ₡9,443

0.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,205

$2.08 ₡1,042

15.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,461

$2.54 ₡1,270

14.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1 ₡501

$0.81 ₡405

23.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

$110 ₡55.3K

-62.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡939

$1.44 ₡721

30.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡930

$1.29 ₡648

44.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.8 ₡3,904

$8.07 ₡4,038

-3.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.4 ₡699

$1.39 ₡697

0.72%

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

$37.7K ₡18.9M

$38.1K ₡19.1M

-1.09%

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

$32.7K ₡16.4M

$32.4K ₡16.2M

1.06%

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

$92.9 ₡46.5K

$45.25 ₡22.7K

105.19%

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

$25.98 ₡13K

$19.72 ₡9,873

31.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 ₡30.1K

$32.46 ₡16.2K

85.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 ₡28.2K

$64.6 ₡32.3K

-12.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.51 ₡19.3K

$44.61 ₡22.3K

-13.67%

Cinema Ticket

$9.89 ₡4,953

$8.88 ₡4,444

11.37%

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

$567 ₡283.6K

$297 ₡148.5K

91.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡6.4M

$2,329 ₡1.2M

451.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡31.8K

$61.6 ₡30.8K

3.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

0.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.6K

$119 ₡59.7K

4.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡53.7K

$101 ₡50.7K

5.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ₡433K

$709 ₡355K

21.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₡268.3K

$602 ₡301.3K

-10.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 ₡714.5K

$1,004 ₡502.8K

42.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,034 ₡517.9K

$936 ₡468.5K

10.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,869 ₡1.4M

$2,022 ₡1M

41.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 ₡849.3K

$1,481 ₡741.5K

14.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.4K

$1,217 ₡609K

-18.17%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Alajuela: October 28, 2025

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