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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 14.2% more expensive than Samara without rent, and 10.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 5.9% more expensive than Samara without rent, and 11.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Samara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$9.89 ₡4,949
8.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$54.8 ₡27.4K
7.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$7.15 ₡3,580
37.76%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$2.76 ₡1,379
40.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$1.99 ₡998
-1.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1.31 ₡655
21.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$2.94 ₡1,473
3.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$4.14 ₡2,073
10.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Samara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$2.06 ₡1,029
-1.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$2.82 ₡1,410
2.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$2.17 ₡1,087
-1.84%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.95 ₡1,474
-0.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$10.05 ₡5,032
-3.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$9.2 ₡4,605
0.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$9.97 ₡4,989
36.81%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$4.45 ₡2,226
0.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.5 ₡749
-3.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$4.14 ₡2,074
5.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$3.57 ₡1,786
-0.56%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$3.37 ₡1,688
5.34%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$3.14 ₡1,573
3.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$1.01 ₡506
2.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$2.85 ₡1,428
-1.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$4.9 ₡2,455
10.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$17.32 ₡8,669
9.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$2.38 ₡1,191
1.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.2 ₡1,101
32.73%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Samara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$0.96 ₡480
4.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$1.79 ₡894
5.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.8 ₡900
3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$7.74 ₡3,875
0.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.46 ₡732
-4.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$37.2K ₡18.6M
1.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$32K ₡16M
2.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Samara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$95 ₡47.5K
-2.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$25.9 ₡13K
0.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$59 ₡29.5K
2.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Samara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$69.8 ₡34.9K
-19.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$24.05 ₡12K
60.12%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$9.75 ₡4,883
1.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Samara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$466 ₡233.2K
21.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$6,020 ₡3M
113.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Samara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$59 ₡29.6K
7.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$50.6 ₡25.3K
0.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$125 ₡62.8K
-0.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$106 ₡53.2K
0.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Samara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$1,480 ₡740.7K
-41.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$840 ₡420.5K
-36.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$2,974 ₡1.5M
-52.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$959 ₡480.2K
7.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
$5,027 ₡2.5M
-42.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Samara
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 Samara: October 28, 2025

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