Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Jaco Beach Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Jaco Beach

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 25.5% more expensive than Jaco Beach without rent, and 22% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 17.6% more expensive than Jaco Beach without rent, and 16.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Jaco Beach
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$7.3 ₡3,652
47.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$39.51 ₡19.8K
49.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$8.9 ₡4,458
10.67%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$3.95 ₡1,980
-1.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$1.56 ₡783
25.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1 ₡498
59.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$2.96 ₡1,481
2.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$2.99 ₡1,499
53.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Jaco Beach
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$1.39 ₡697
45.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$2.01 ₡1,004
43.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$2.14 ₡1,070
-0.47%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.33 ₡1,167
26.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$10 ₡5,005
-3.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$8.14 ₡4,074
13.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$10.83 ₡5,424
25.95%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$4.57 ₡2,287
-2.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.51 ₡754
-3.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$4.3 ₡2,151
1.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$3.21 ₡1,607
10.59%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$1.38 ₡693
157.25%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$1.29 ₡648
151.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$0.84 ₡420
23.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$1.76 ₡879
59.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$5.18 ₡2,593
4.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$12.81 ₡6,414
48.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$2.38 ₡1,194
1.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.04 ₡1,020
43.14%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Jaco Beach
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$1.01 ₡505
-0.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$1.87 ₡936
0.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.86 ₡932
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$7.73 ₡3,872
0.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.47 ₡736
-4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$37.9K ₡19M
-0.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$32.2K ₡16.1M
1.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Jaco Beach
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$71.6 ₡35.8K
29.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$22.08 ₡11.1K
17.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$41.97 ₡21K
43.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Jaco Beach
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$47.39 ₡23.7K
18.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$23.65 ₡11.8K
62.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$9.97 ₡4,991
-0.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Jaco Beach
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$437 ₡218.6K
29.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$6,682 ₡3.3M
92.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Jaco Beach
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$61.8 ₡30.9K
2.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$51 ₡25.5K
-0.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$128 ₡63.9K
-2.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$107 ₡53.6K
0.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Jaco Beach
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$562 ₡281.4K
53.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$490 ₡245.4K
9.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$1,890 ₡946.1K
-24.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$1,042 ₡521.5K
-0.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Jaco Beach
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
$401 ₡200.6K
148.48%
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 Jaco Beach: October 28, 2025

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