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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 4.4% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 4.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 17.4% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 26.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.76 ₡5,385

$8 ₡4,006

34.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59 ₡29.5K

$31.92 ₡16K

84.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 ₡4,931

$9.07 ₡4,540

8.60%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₡1,942

$3.85 ₡1,929

0.78%

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

$1.96 ₡983

$2.04 ₡1,020

-3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡794

$1.22 ₡613

30.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,522

$2.04 ₡1,021

49.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 ₡2,300

$4.68 ₡2,345

-1.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ₡1,013

$1.98 ₡989

2.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₡1,443

$2.2 ₡1,103

30.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡1,067

$2.2 ₡1,103

-3.18%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,472

$2.87 ₡1,439

2.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 ₡4,852

$8.06 ₡4,037

20.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.22 ₡4,617

$8.9 ₡4,456

3.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.64 ₡6,831

$13.87 ₡6,946

-1.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 ₡2,238

$4.4 ₡2,205

1.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡728

$1.17 ₡585

23.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,192

$3.93 ₡1,970

11.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,779

$2.7 ₡1,352

31.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,777

$1.98 ₡989

79.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 ₡1,628

$1.93 ₡968

68.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₡519

$0.97 ₡486

7.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.8 ₡1,403

$2.03 ₡1,017

37.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 ₡2,716

$5.37 ₡2,688

1.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 ₡9,503

$13.79 ₡6,901

37.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,205

$2.4 ₡1,203

0.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,461

$1.75 ₡878

66.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1 ₡501

$1.06 ₡531

-5.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

$69 ₡34.5K

-39.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡939

$1.35 ₡677

39.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡930

$1.77 ₡886

5.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.8 ₡3,904

$7.7 ₡3,855

1.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.4 ₡699

$1.39 ₡695

0.72%

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

$37.7K ₡18.9M

$37.2K ₡18.6M

1.35%

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

$32.7K ₡16.4M

$33.1K ₡16.6M

-1.26%

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

$92.9 ₡46.5K

$48.99 ₡24.5K

89.53%

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

$25.98 ₡13K

$25.87 ₡12.9K

0.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 ₡30.1K

$56.3 ₡28.2K

6.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 ₡28.2K

$57.7 ₡28.9K

-2.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.51 ₡19.3K

$24.16 ₡12.1K

59.40%

Cinema Ticket

$9.89 ₡4,953

$6.38 ₡3,192

55.02%

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

$567 ₡283.6K

$490 ₡245.4K

15.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡6.4M

$7,079 ₡3.5M

81.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡31.8K

$61.7 ₡30.9K

2.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

$52.2 ₡26.1K

-2.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.6K

$108 ₡54K

15.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡53.7K

$79.5 ₡39.8K

34.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ₡433K

$776 ₡388.3K

11.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₡268.3K

$606 ₡303.4K

-11.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 ₡714.5K

$734 ₡367.6K

94.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,034 ₡517.9K

$753 ₡377.1K

37.34%

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

$1,613 ₡807.4K

-38.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

1.70%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

Last update for Cartago: October 27, 2025

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