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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 66.7% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 19.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 34.9% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 27.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.77 ₡5,338

$7.55 ₡3,744

42.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.7 ₡30.1K

$59.6 ₡29.6K

1.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.00 ₡4,960

$8.93 ₡4,429

11.98%

Cappuccino

$3.74 ₡1,854

$3.82 ₡1,892

-2.09%

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

$2.07 ₡1,025

$2.06 ₡1,023

0.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₡784

$1.60 ₡794

-1.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,507

$2.94 ₡1,459

3.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 ₡2,344

$4.60 ₡2,281

2.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡1,019

$1.99 ₡988

3.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 ₡1,363

$2.78 ₡1,379

-1.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡1,061

$2.03 ₡1,005

5.42%

Eggs

$2.99 ₡1,482

$2.17 ₡1,075

37.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 ₡5,048

$3.44 ₡1,705

195.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.05 ₡4,486

$7.78 ₡3,859

16.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.46 ₡6,676

$8.72 ₡4,321

54.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 ₡2,246

$3.50 ₡1,738

29.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₡728

$1.01 ₡501

45.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 ₡2,104

$1.21 ₡599

250.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 ₡1,727

$1.33 ₡657

161.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.42 ₡1,696

$1.55 ₡769

120.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 ₡1,618

$1.63 ₡807

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡501

$0.78 ₡385

29.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₡1,422

$1.97 ₡978

45.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.21 ₡2,584

$4.60 ₡2,283

13.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.77 ₡8,810

$7.38 ₡3,657

140.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,190

$1.63 ₡807

47.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,455

$2.38 ₡1,182

23.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₡484

$1.02 ₡505

-3.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.19 ₡20.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡894

$1.84 ₡914

-2.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡885

$1.84 ₡912

-3.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ₡3,888

$8.09 ₡4,013

-3.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ₡716

$1.32 ₡657

9.09%

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

$38.2K ₡19.0M

$38.4K ₡19.0M

-0.50%

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

$32.0K ₡15.9M

$17.0K ₡8.4M

88.72%

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

$95.1 ₡47.2K

$49.12 ₡24.4K

93.63%

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

$25.89 ₡12.8K

$19.54 ₡9,687

32.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.8 ₡29.7K

$24.22 ₡12.0K

146.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 ₡28.6K

$57.8 ₡28.7K

-0.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.17 ₡18.9K

$24.11 ₡12.0K

58.32%

Cinema Ticket

$10.22 ₡5,067

$9.90 ₡4,910

3.23%

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

$579 ₡287.1K

$580 ₡287.4K

-0.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₡6.2M

$12.6K ₡6.2M

-0.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 ₡30.8K

$24.18 ₡12.0K

156.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 ₡25.5K

$16.11 ₡7,989

219.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.0K

$126 ₡62.6K

-1.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡53.0K

$48.63 ₡24.1K

119.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$887 ₡439.9K

$768 ₡380.9K

15.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$528 ₡261.8K

$603 ₡298.9K

-12.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 ₡707.7K

$1,498 ₡742.5K

-4.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,047 ₡519.0K

$946 ₡469.0K

10.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,231 ₡1.1M

$912 ₡451.9K

144.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,763 ₡874.1K

$598 ₡296.5K

194.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$927 ₡459.7K

$879 ₡435.6K

5.53%

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: January 11, 2026

Last update for Puntarenas: January 12, 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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