Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Playa Flamingo Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Playa Flamingo

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 5.8% more expensive than Playa Flamingo without rent, and 0.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: San Jose is 5.3% cheaper than Playa Flamingo without rent, and 7.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$11.08 ₡5,549
-2.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$59.4 ₡29.8K
-0.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$10 ₡5,007
-1.50%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$3.93 ₡1,966
-1.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$1.99 ₡996
-1.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1.59 ₡794
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$3.01 ₡1,507
1.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$4.71 ₡2,357
-2.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$1.97 ₡987
2.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$2.88 ₡1,442
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$2.25 ₡1,128
-5.33%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.42 ₡1,214
21.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$10.13 ₡5,070
-4.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$8.98 ₡4,498
2.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$13.69 ₡6,854
-0.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$4.52 ₡2,260
-1.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.5 ₡752
-3.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$4.22 ₡2,113
3.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$3.42 ₡1,714
3.80%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$3.4 ₡1,701
4.41%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$3.1 ₡1,550
4.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$0.96 ₡482
8.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$2.91 ₡1,455
-3.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$4.91 ₡2,460
10.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$18.78 ₡9,403
1.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$2.48 ₡1,242
-2.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.89 ₡1,449
1.04%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Playa Flamingo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$1.02 ₡508
-1.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$1.79 ₡897
5.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.79 ₡896
3.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$7.66 ₡3,834
1.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.39 ₡697
0.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$38.2K ₡19.1M
-1.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$32.6K ₡16.3M
0.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$92.9 ₡46.5K
-0.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$20.38 ₡10.2K
27.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$59.6 ₡29.8K
1.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$57.5 ₡28.8K
-2.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$23.57 ₡11.8K
63.39%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$10.14 ₡5,075
-2.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$574 ₡287.6K
-1.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$8,944 ₡4.5M
43.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$61.3 ₡30.7K
3.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$51.3 ₡25.7K
-0.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$124 ₡62.2K
0.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$109 ₡54.7K
-1.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Playa Flamingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$778 ₡389.5K
11.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$587 ₡294K
-8.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$1,523 ₡762.3K
-6.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$954 ₡477.3K
8.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
$3,533 ₡1.8M
-18.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
-
-
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 Playa Flamingo: October 28, 2025

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