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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose is 1.7% cheaper than Heredia without rent, and 5.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 22.6% more expensive than Heredia without rent, and 14.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Heredia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$8.15 ₡4,080
32.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$41.99 ₡21K
40.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$8.9 ₡4,453
10.67%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$3.36 ₡1,681
15.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$1.99 ₡998
-1.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1.64 ₡820
-3.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$2.04 ₡1,022
49.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$3.52 ₡1,764
30.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Heredia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$1.36 ₡681
48.53%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$2.87 ₡1,438
0.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$2.13 ₡1,067
-
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.88 ₡1,443
2.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$10.24 ₡5,125
-5.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$9.05 ₡4,528
1.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$13.94 ₡6,978
-2.15%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$4.54 ₡2,272
-1.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.5 ₡753
-3.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$4.2 ₡2,101
4.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$3.1 ₡1,552
14.52%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$3.24 ₡1,620
9.57%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$3.18 ₡1,594
2.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$0.96 ₡481
8.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$2.92 ₡1,464
-4.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$3.72 ₡1,863
45.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$13.29 ₡6,652
42.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$2.43 ₡1,217
-0.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.54 ₡1,272
14.96%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Heredia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$0.96 ₡482
4.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
$14.83 ₡7,425
180.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$1.81 ₡908
3.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.78 ₡889
4.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$7.81 ₡3,910
-0.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.46 ₡731
-4.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$30.2K ₡15.1M
24.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$31.9K ₡16M
2.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Heredia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$50.4 ₡25.2K
84.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$22.05 ₡11K
17.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$59.5 ₡29.8K
1.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Heredia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$48.79 ₡24.4K
15.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$19.72 ₡9,871
95.28%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$9.79 ₡4,902
1.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Heredia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$497 ₡248.6K
14.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$12.5K ₡6.2M
3.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Heredia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$62 ₡31K
2.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$51.7 ₡25.9K
-1.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$119 ₡59.6K
5.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$81.5 ₡40.8K
31.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Heredia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$759 ₡379.9K
13.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$600 ₡300.2K
-10.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$1,621 ₡811.4K
-11.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$963 ₡481.9K
7.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
$1,977 ₡989.6K
45.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
$1,313 ₡657.4K
29.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Heredia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
$1,283 ₡642.2K
-22.40%
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 Heredia: October 28, 2025

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