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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 40.7% more expensive than Guanacaste without rent, and 10.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 31.2% more expensive than Guanacaste without rent, and 19.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.75 ₡5,117

$9.94 ₡4,727

8.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 ₡28.6K

$44.59 ₡21.2K

34.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 ₡4,783

$10.09 ₡4,801

-0.40%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,857

$3.82 ₡1,819

2.09%

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

$2.05 ₡974

$1.96 ₡933

4.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡786

$1.60 ₡763

3.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 ₡1,390

$2.89 ₡1,376

1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 ₡2,272

$4.26 ₡2,026

12.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₡975

$1.89 ₡902

8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,360

$2.89 ₡1,377

-1.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,051

$2.18 ₡1,036

1.38%

Eggs

$3.01 ₡1,431

$2.94 ₡1,400

2.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.79 ₡4,657

$4.94 ₡2,352

98.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 ₡4,467

$3.88 ₡1,848

142.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.61 ₡6,475

$10.11 ₡4,809

34.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 ₡2,112

$2.32 ₡1,104

91.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡692

$1.47 ₡699

-1.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 ₡2,036

$3.87 ₡1,841

10.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,647

$1.35 ₡642

156.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,700

$3.45 ₡1,641

3.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 ₡1,483

$2.00 ₡953

56.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡457

$0.84 ₡399

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,397

$2.93 ₡1,393

0.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.13 ₡2,443

$4.06 ₡1,931

26.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.99 ₡9,511

$19.87 ₡9,455

0.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,187

$2.49 ₡1,187

0.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₡1,371

$2.37 ₡1,126

21.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡453

$0.97 ₡463

-2.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₡19.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡890

$1.78 ₡846

5.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡849

$1.80 ₡854

-1.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 ₡3,717

$7.68 ₡3,653

1.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡666

$1.41 ₡671

-0.71%

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

$38.2K ₡18.2M

$37.8K ₡18.0M

1.07%

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

$32.2K ₡15.3M

$32.9K ₡15.7M

-2.03%

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

$95.4 ₡45.4K

$92.7 ₡44.1K

2.94%

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

$25.62 ₡12.2K

$25.86 ₡12.3K

-0.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 ₡28.9K

$29.88 ₡14.2K

103.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.5 ₡27.4K

$55.9 ₡26.6K

2.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.65 ₡17.9K

$23.95 ₡11.4K

57.20%

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 ₡4,749

$9.71 ₡4,619

2.78%

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

$559 ₡266.2K

$567 ₡269.8K

-1.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.0M

0.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ₡29.3K

$60.2 ₡28.7K

2.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡24.3K

$39.32 ₡18.7K

30.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡59.5K

$80.5 ₡38.3K

55.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡50.9K

$69.5 ₡33.1K

53.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$874 ₡416.1K

$766 ₡364.3K

14.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ₡252.5K

$589 ₡280.4K

-9.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,466 ₡697.7K

$1,494 ₡710.8K

-1.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 ₡498.5K

$971 ₡462.2K

7.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,300 ₡1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,743 ₡829.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$985 ₡468.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for San Jose: March 1, 2026

Last update for Guanacaste: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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