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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 7.5% more expensive than Atenas without rent, and 23% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 33.8% more expensive than Atenas without rent, and 6.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Atenas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$9.08 ₡4,544
18.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$51.8 ₡25.9K
13.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$9.9 ₡4,954
-0.51%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$3.8 ₡1,904
2.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$2.01 ₡1,004
-2.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1.61 ₡804
-1.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$2.95 ₡1,475
3.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$4.63 ₡2,317
-0.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Atenas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$2.06 ₡1,033
-1.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$2.86 ₡1,431
0.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$2.03 ₡1,017
4.93%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.94 ₡1,470
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$10.07 ₡5,040
-3.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$9.02 ₡4,516
2.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$9.61 ₡4,812
41.94%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$3.92 ₡1,960
14.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.46 ₡731
-0.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$2.45 ₡1,225
78.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$2.22 ₡1,113
59.91%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$3.48 ₡1,743
2.01%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$2.37 ₡1,185
37.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$0.94 ₡473
10.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$2.79 ₡1,399
0.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$5.38 ₡2,691
0.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$17.27 ₡8,645
9.90%
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
$2.34 ₡1,169
24.79%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Atenas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$1.95 ₡975
-48.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$1.79 ₡898
5.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.78 ₡889
4.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$7.76 ₡3,885
0.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.39 ₡698
0.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$37.7K ₡18.9M
-0.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$32.5K ₡16.3M
0.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Atenas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$92.5 ₡46.3K
0.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$26.1 ₡13.1K
-0.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$47.12 ₡23.6K
27.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Atenas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$40.42 ₡20.2K
39.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$9.66 ₡4,836
298.65%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$8.57 ₡4,289
15.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Atenas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$566 ₡283.3K
0.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$5,903 ₡3M
117.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Atenas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$61.2 ₡30.6K
3.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$48.77 ₡24.4K
4.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$120 ₡60K
4.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$106 ₡53.3K
0.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Atenas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$555 ₡277.8K
55.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$399 ₡199.6K
34.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$1,380 ₡691.1K
3.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$1,145 ₡573K
-9.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Atenas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
$1,214 ₡607.6K
-17.98%
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 Jose: October 29, 2025

Last update for Atenas: October 28, 2025

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