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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 24.7% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 4.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 24.3% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 24.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.95 ₡5,023

$8.09 ₡3,712

35.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡26.9K

$31.71 ₡14.5K

84.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.24 ₡4,695

$8.87 ₡4,066

15.45%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ₡1,809

$3.79 ₡1,738

3.96%

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

$2.07 ₡950

$1.98 ₡908

4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡728

$1.29 ₡591

23.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 ₡1,349

$2.00 ₡918

47.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.70 ₡2,156

$4.53 ₡2,079

3.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₡941

$2.04 ₡935

0.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,311

$2.14 ₡979

33.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ₡991

$2.17 ₡997

-0.46%

Eggs

$2.98 ₡1,367

$2.93 ₡1,345

1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.24 ₡4,699

$8.00 ₡3,670

28.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.10 ₡4,173

$9.22 ₡4,231

-1.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 ₡6,333

$13.92 ₡6,387

-0.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 ₡2,006

$4.63 ₡2,126

-5.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₡689

$1.22 ₡557

22.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,011

$4.04 ₡1,855

8.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,586

$2.65 ₡1,215

30.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 ₡1,624

$1.97 ₡905

79.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 ₡1,477

$1.94 ₡888

65.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡445

$1.03 ₡471

-5.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₡1,327

$1.95 ₡895

48.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 ₡2,361

$5.43 ₡2,489

-5.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.98 ₡10.1K

$14.92 ₡6,842

47.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 ₡1,143

$2.50 ₡1,146

-0.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,306

$1.82 ₡835

56.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₡474

$1.02 ₡467

0.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.58 ₡18.6K

$70.0 ₡32.1K

-42.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡859

$1.40 ₡643

33.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 ₡829

$1.77 ₡814

2.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.12 ₡3,724

$8.03 ₡3,685

1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ₡663

$1.39 ₡639

3.60%

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

$38.2K ₡17.5M

$38.0K ₡17.4M

0.51%

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

$32.5K ₡14.9M

$32.8K ₡15.0M

-0.88%

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

$93.4 ₡42.8K

$47.57 ₡21.8K

96.28%

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

$25.89 ₡11.9K

$25.60 ₡11.7K

1.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 ₡27.3K

$57.5 ₡26.4K

3.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.6 ₡26.4K

$56.2 ₡25.8K

2.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.80 ₡17.8K

$23.98 ₡11.0K

61.80%

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 ₡4,485

$6.54 ₡3,002

49.54%

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

$559 ₡256.5K

$494 ₡226.6K

13.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.9M

$7,231 ₡3.3M

77.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ₡28.4K

$62.4 ₡28.6K

-0.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡23.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡56.7K

$108 ₡49.7K

14.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡48.5K

$79.8 ₡36.6K

32.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ₡405.9K

$759 ₡348.2K

16.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$540 ₡247.6K

$591 ₡271.3K

-8.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,438 ₡659.8K

$735 ₡337.4K

95.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 ₡475.9K

$778 ₡357.0K

33.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,292 ₡1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,773 ₡813.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,007 ₡461.8K

$1,295 ₡594.0K

-22.25%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Cartago: April 14, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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