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 11.8% more expensive than Jaco Beach without rent, and 19.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 43.4% more expensive than Jaco Beach without rent, and 14.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.75 ₡5,085

$7.35 ₡3,475

46.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 ₡28.4K

$40.09 ₡19.0K

49.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 ₡4,753

$8.98 ₡4,247

11.92%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,845

$3.94 ₡1,864

-1.02%

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

$2.05 ₡968

$1.51 ₡712

35.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡781

$0.93 ₡439

77.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 ₡1,382

$2.93 ₡1,386

-0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 ₡2,258

$3.01 ₡1,425

58.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₡969

$1.47 ₡693

39.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,351

$1.98 ₡937

44.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,044

$2.14 ₡1,013

3.27%

Eggs

$3.01 ₡1,422

$2.36 ₡1,117

27.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.79 ₡4,627

$9.66 ₡4,569

1.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 ₡4,439

$8.37 ₡3,956

12.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.61 ₡6,434

$10.76 ₡5,088

26.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 ₡2,098

$4.59 ₡2,171

-3.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡688

$1.51 ₡714

-3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 ₡2,023

$4.27 ₡2,017

0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,636

$3.08 ₡1,456

12.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,690

$1.34 ₡634

166.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 ₡1,474

$1.33 ₡628

134.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡454

$0.90 ₡427

6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,388

$1.83 ₡866

60.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.13 ₡2,427

$5.30 ₡2,504

-3.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.99 ₡9,451

$13.46 ₡6,362

48.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,180

$2.42 ₡1,142

3.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₡1,363

$2.03 ₡962

41.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡450

$1.01 ₡475

-5.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₡19.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡885

$1.85 ₡874

1.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡844

$1.78 ₡842

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 ₡3,693

$7.75 ₡3,666

0.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡661

$1.41 ₡669

-0.71%

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

$38.2K ₡18.1M

$38.4K ₡18.2M

-0.49%

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

$32.2K ₡15.2M

$32.9K ₡15.6M

-2.11%

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

$95.4 ₡45.1K

$71.8 ₡33.9K

32.90%

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

$25.62 ₡12.1K

$21.46 ₡10.1K

19.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 ₡28.7K

$42.45 ₡20.1K

42.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.5 ₡27.2K

$47.53 ₡22.5K

21.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.65 ₡17.8K

$23.70 ₡11.2K

58.86%

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 ₡4,719

$10.11 ₡4,779

-1.29%

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

$559 ₡264.5K

$448 ₡211.9K

24.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.0M

$6,724 ₡3.2M

89.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ₡29.1K

$61.7 ₡29.2K

-0.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡24.2K

$51.3 ₡24.2K

-0.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡59.1K

$128 ₡60.4K

-2.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡50.5K

$109 ₡51.6K

-2.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$874 ₡413.4K

$560 ₡265.0K

56.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ₡250.9K

$504 ₡238.2K

5.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,466 ₡693.3K

$1,853 ₡876.1K

-20.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 ₡495.3K

$1,048 ₡495.5K

-0.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,300 ₡1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,743 ₡824.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$985 ₡465.8K

$408 ₡192.9K

141.49%

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 Jaco Beach: March 2, 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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