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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,969 per month in San Jose vs $1,439 in Atenas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,939 per month in San Jose vs $2,538 in Atenas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,908 per month in San Jose vs $3,638 in Atenas, rent included.

San Jose costs about 37% more than Atenas, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Jose and Atenas sit above the global median – San Jose by 44%, Atenas by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.34 ₡5,486

$10.14 ₡4,508

21.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.9 ₡26.6K

$56.8 ₡25.2K

5.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 ₡5,066

$11.41 ₡5,072

-0.09%

Cappuccino

$4.31 ₡1,914

$3.78 ₡1,679

14.02%

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

$2.71 ₡1,203

$2.61 ₡1,158

3.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₡835

$1.89 ₡840

-0.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 ₡1,443

$3.35 ₡1,490

-2.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,962

$4.50 ₡2,002

-2.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 ₡1,044

$2.47 ₡1,098

-4.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 ₡1,401

$3.07 ₡1,363

2.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.47 ₡1,096

$2.17 ₡967

13.82%

Eggs

$3.51 ₡1,561

$3.50 ₡1,555

0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.74 ₡4,771

$10.76 ₡4,782

-0.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.56 ₡4,694

$9.91 ₡4,407

6.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.35 ₡6,377

$10.23 ₡4,547

40.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 ₡2,317

$4.51 ₡2,002

15.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ₡746

$1.64 ₡731

2.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.90 ₡2,179

$2.61 ₡1,161

87.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 ₡1,785

$2.42 ₡1,076

66.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.79 ₡1,684

$3.74 ₡1,663

1.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 ₡1,640

$2.62 ₡1,162

40.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₡479

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.16 ₡1,405

$3.23 ₡1,437

-2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.11 ₡2,714

$6.13 ₡2,725

-0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.20 ₡8,980

$18.98 ₡8,437

6.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,309

$2.76 ₡1,226

6.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 ₡1,592

$2.66 ₡1,182

34.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₡502

$2.20 ₡980

-48.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 ₡29.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 ₡1,081

$2.49 ₡1,106

-2.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 ₡727

$1.57 ₡697

4.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.79 ₡3,906

$9.06 ₡4,027

-2.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 ₡686

$1.54 ₡685

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

$21.9K ₡9.8M

$22.1K ₡9.8M

-0.82%

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

$34.6K ₡15.4M

$35.0K ₡15.5M

-1.08%

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

$95.4 ₡42.4K

$97.8 ₡43.5K

-2.48%

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

$36.83 ₡16.4K

$36.58 ₡16.3K

0.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 ₡28.2K

$52.1 ₡23.1K

21.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 ₡33.0K

$48.53 ₡21.6K

52.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.97 ₡11.5K

$11.15 ₡4,955

132.91%

Cinema Ticket

$8.49 ₡3,775

$8.56 ₡3,803

-0.82%

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

$1,001 ₡444.8K

$985 ₡437.8K

1.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K ₡7.7M

$6,678 ₡3.0M

160.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.4 ₡32.6K

$72.5 ₡32.2K

1.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 ₡25.6K

$54.8 ₡24.4K

4.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡56.9K

-0.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 ₡60.1K

$133 ₡59.1K

1.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$965 ₡428.7K

$612 ₡272.0K

57.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$769 ₡341.7K

$452 ₡200.7K

70.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,911 ₡849.5K

$1,513 ₡672.3K

26.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 ₡578.3K

$1,299 ₡577.5K

0.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,319 ₡1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,793 ₡796.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,071 ₡475.8K

$1,350 ₡600.1K

-20.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for San Jose: September 14, 2026

Last update for Atenas: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $965 in San Jose versus $612 in Atenas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Atenas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in San Jose versus $57.0 in Atenas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $406 vs $362 – making Atenas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Jose vs Atenas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Jose is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,954 per month in San Jose and $2,158 in Atenas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Atenas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in San Jose and $57.0 in Atenas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in San Jose, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Atenas, where all-in costs run around $1,439, than in San Jose at $1,969. In Atenas it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Jose it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Atenas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Atenas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Jose makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.