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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 39.2% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 25.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 24.9% more expensive than Puntarenas without rent, and 28.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.95 ₡5,023

$7.24 ₡3,320

51.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡26.9K

$60.2 ₡27.6K

-2.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.24 ₡4,695

$8.99 ₡4,124

13.90%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ₡1,809

$3.95 ₡1,814

-0.25%

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

$2.07 ₡950

$2.07 ₡947

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡728

$1.63 ₡749

-2.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 ₡1,349

$2.93 ₡1,344

0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.70 ₡2,156

$4.53 ₡2,080

3.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₡941

$2.06 ₡943

-0.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,311

$2.81 ₡1,289

1.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ₡991

$1.97 ₡904

9.64%

Eggs

$2.98 ₡1,367

$2.26 ₡1,038

31.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.24 ₡4,699

$3.40 ₡1,562

201.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.10 ₡4,173

$8.11 ₡3,720

12.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 ₡6,333

$9.14 ₡4,194

51.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 ₡2,006

$3.52 ₡1,615

24.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₡689

$1.01 ₡463

48.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,011

$1.16 ₡534

277.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,586

$1.38 ₡632

150.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 ₡1,624

$1.61 ₡737

119.88%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 ₡1,477

$1.63 ₡750

97.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡445

$0.76 ₡351

27.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₡1,327

$1.92 ₡879

50.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 ₡2,361

$4.51 ₡2,071

14.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.98 ₡10.1K

$8.25 ₡3,783

166.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 ₡1,143

$1.70 ₡781

46.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,306

$2.37 ₡1,086

20.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₡474

$0.96 ₡441

7.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.58 ₡18.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡859

$1.86 ₡853

0.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 ₡829

$1.86 ₡853

-2.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.12 ₡3,724

$7.75 ₡3,557

4.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ₡663

$1.32 ₡607

9.09%

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

$38.2K ₡17.5M

-0.09%

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

$32.5K ₡14.9M

$16.6K ₡7.6M

95.16%

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

$93.4 ₡42.8K

$49.64 ₡22.8K

88.09%

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

$25.89 ₡11.9K

$19.84 ₡9,099

30.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 ₡27.3K

$24.27 ₡11.1K

145.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.6 ₡26.4K

$56.0 ₡25.7K

2.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.80 ₡17.8K

$23.68 ₡10.9K

63.85%

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 ₡4,485

$9.74 ₡4,469

0.41%

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

$559 ₡256.5K

$573 ₡263.0K

-2.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.9M

$12.9K ₡5.9M

-0.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ₡28.4K

$24.20 ₡11.1K

155.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡23.5K

$15.65 ₡7,177

226.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡56.7K

$125 ₡57.2K

-0.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡48.5K

$48.02 ₡22.0K

120.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ₡405.9K

$758 ₡347.6K

16.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$540 ₡247.6K

$589 ₡270.4K

-8.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,438 ₡659.8K

$1,529 ₡701.2K

-5.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 ₡475.9K

$975 ₡447.1K

6.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,292 ₡1.1M

$992 ₡454.9K

131.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,773 ₡813.1K

$650 ₡298.3K

172.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,007 ₡461.8K

$948 ₡434.7K

6.25%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Puntarenas: April 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Jose vs other spots: cost of living compared

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