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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 3.6% more expensive than Arenal without rent, and 0.1% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 12.8% more expensive than Arenal without rent, and 4.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.76 ₡5,385

$10.9 ₡5,456

-1.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59 ₡29.5K

$58.6 ₡29.3K

0.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 ₡4,931

$9.82 ₡4,918

0.31%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₡1,942

$3.8 ₡1,904

2.11%

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

$1.96 ₡983

$1.98 ₡990

-1.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡794

$1.61 ₡805

-1.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,522

$3 ₡1,502

1.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 ₡2,300

$4.73 ₡2,367

-2.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ₡1,013

$2.06 ₡1,033

-1.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₡1,443

$2.85 ₡1,428

1.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡1,067

$2.22 ₡1,112

-4.05%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,472

$2.93 ₡1,469

0.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 ₡4,852

$9.74 ₡4,874

-0.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.22 ₡4,617

$9.08 ₡4,546

1.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.64 ₡6,831

$13.84 ₡6,931

-1.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 ₡2,238

$4.4 ₡2,203

1.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡728

$1.51 ₡756

-3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,192

$4.36 ₡2,183

0.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,779

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,777

$3.52 ₡1,765

0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 ₡1,628

$3.21 ₡1,605

1.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₡519

$0.97 ₡484

7.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.8 ₡1,403

$2.85 ₡1,427

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 ₡2,716

$5.38 ₡2,695

0.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 ₡9,503

$18.66 ₡9,343

1.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,205

$2.52 ₡1,259

-4.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,461

$2.95 ₡1,476

-1.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1 ₡501

$1.04 ₡520

-3.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡939

$1.78 ₡891

5.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡930

$1.84 ₡921

1.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.8 ₡3,904

$8.11 ₡4,058

-3.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.4 ₡699

$1.4 ₡700

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

$37.7K ₡18.9M

0.10%

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

$32.7K ₡16.4M

$33.1K ₡16.6M

-1.27%

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

$92.9 ₡46.5K

$94.5 ₡47.3K

-1.71%

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

$25.98 ₡13K

$25.71 ₡12.9K

1.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 ₡30.1K

$59.1 ₡29.6K

1.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 ₡28.2K

$57.8 ₡28.9K

-2.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.51 ₡19.3K

$23.97 ₡12K

60.66%

Cinema Ticket

$9.89 ₡4,953

$9.73 ₡4,873

1.64%

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

$567 ₡283.6K

$561 ₡280.7K

1.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡6.4M

$12.7K ₡6.4M

0.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡31.8K

$61.6 ₡30.8K

3.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

$52.4 ₡26.2K

-3.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.6K

$126 ₡63.1K

-0.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡53.7K

$108 ₡54K

-0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ₡433K

$759 ₡380.1K

13.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₡268.3K

$597 ₡299K

-10.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 ₡714.5K

$1,533 ₡767.2K

-6.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,034 ₡517.9K

$968 ₡484.4K

6.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,869 ₡1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 ₡849.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.4K

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 Arenal: October 27, 2025

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