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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 4.8% more expensive than Curridabat without rent, and 0.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: San Jose is 4.2% cheaper than Curridabat without rent, and 5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Curridabat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$10.98 ₡5,499
-2.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$58.5 ₡29.3K
0.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$8.88 ₡4,445
10.92%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$3.73 ₡1,866
4.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$1.98 ₡992
-1.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1.51 ₡757
5.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$2.99 ₡1,499
1.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$4.57 ₡2,290
0.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Curridabat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$1.96 ₡982
3.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$2.91 ₡1,458
-1.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$2.25 ₡1,126
-5.33%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.89 ₡1,445
1.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$9.74 ₡4,877
-0.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$9.07 ₡4,541
1.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$13.64 ₡6,830
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$4.4 ₡2,202
1.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.46 ₡732
-0.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$4.35 ₡2,178
0.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$3.54 ₡1,772
0.28%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$3.49 ₡1,749
1.72%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$3.18 ₡1,594
2.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$1.02 ₡513
1.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$2.8 ₡1,399
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$5.31 ₡2,657
2.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$18.56 ₡9,289
2.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$2.53 ₡1,264
-4.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.81 ₡1,407
3.91%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Curridabat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$1.01 ₡507
-0.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$1.78 ₡893
5.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.85 ₡926
0.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$7.82 ₡3,916
-0.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.47 ₡737
-4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$38.1K ₡19.1M
-1.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$31.9K ₡16M
2.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Curridabat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$94.3 ₡47.2K
-1.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$26.25 ₡13.1K
-1.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$60.4 ₡30.2K
-0.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Curridabat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$56 ₡28K
0.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$24.13 ₡12.1K
59.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$10.15 ₡5,082
-2.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Curridabat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$571 ₡285.7K
-0.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$12.6K ₡6.3M
2.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Curridabat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$61.3 ₡30.7K
3.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$51.1 ₡25.6K
-0.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$124 ₡62.1K
0.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$105 ₡52.7K
1.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Curridabat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$774 ₡387.5K
11.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$593 ₡296.9K
-9.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$1,518 ₡760.1K
-6.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$974 ₡487.4K
6.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Curridabat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
$503 ₡251.9K
97.87%
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 Curridabat: October 29, 2025

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