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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 54.6% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 22.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 22.9% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 28.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.75 ₡5,058

$7.26 ₡3,413

48.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 ₡28.3K

$59.9 ₡28.2K

0.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 ₡4,728

$9.24 ₡4,346

8.77%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,836

$3.82 ₡1,797

2.09%

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

$2.05 ₡963

$2.07 ₡972

-0.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡777

$1.66 ₡780

-0.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 ₡1,374

$2.96 ₡1,394

-1.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 ₡2,246

$4.62 ₡2,171

3.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₡964

$1.97 ₡925

4.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,344

$2.81 ₡1,322

1.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,038

$2.03 ₡954

8.87%

Eggs

$3.01 ₡1,415

$2.27 ₡1,068

32.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.79 ₡4,602

$3.32 ₡1,563

194.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 ₡4,415

$7.80 ₡3,670

20.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.61 ₡6,400

$8.75 ₡4,114

55.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 ₡2,087

$3.56 ₡1,676

24.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡684

$0.99 ₡465

46.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 ₡2,012

$1.17 ₡551

265.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,627

$1.33 ₡627

160.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,681

$1.59 ₡749

124.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 ₡1,466

$1.62 ₡760

92.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡451

$0.82 ₡385

17.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,380

$1.91 ₡897

53.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.13 ₡2,414

$4.56 ₡2,143

12.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.99 ₡9,401

$7.66 ₡3,604

160.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,174

$1.63 ₡765

53.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₡1,355

$2.39 ₡1,124

20.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡448

$0.95 ₡449

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₡19.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡880

$1.87 ₡881

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡839

$1.80 ₡846

-1.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 ₡3,673

$7.95 ₡3,738

-1.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡658

$1.31 ₡615

6.87%

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

$38.2K ₡18.0M

$38.4K ₡18.1M

-0.41%

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

$32.2K ₡15.2M

$16.8K ₡7.9M

91.42%

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

$95.4 ₡44.9K

$50.5 ₡23.7K

89.02%

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

$25.62 ₡12.0K

$19.56 ₡9,199

30.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 ₡28.5K

$24.11 ₡11.3K

151.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.5 ₡27.0K

$57.7 ₡27.1K

-0.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.65 ₡17.7K

$23.83 ₡11.2K

57.99%

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 ₡4,694

$10.05 ₡4,724

-0.70%

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

$559 ₡263.1K

$579 ₡272.3K

-3.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.0M

$12.9K ₡6.1M

-1.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ₡28.9K

$23.83 ₡11.2K

158.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡24.0K

$15.94 ₡7,495

220.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡58.8K

$128 ₡60.1K

-2.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡50.3K

$46.91 ₡22.1K

127.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$874 ₡411.2K

$766 ₡360.4K

14.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ₡249.5K

$588 ₡276.4K

-9.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,466 ₡689.6K

$1,488 ₡699.9K

-1.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 ₡492.7K

$975 ₡458.6K

7.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,300 ₡1.1M

$966 ₡454.2K

138.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,743 ₡819.6K

$636 ₡298.9K

174.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$985 ₡463.3K

$934 ₡439.0K

5.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

69.50%

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

Last update for San Jose: March 1, 2026

Last update for Puntarenas: 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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