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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose is 2.9% cheaper than San Juan without rent, and 0.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 4.3% more expensive than San Juan without rent, and 5.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
San Juan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$10.99 ₡5,502
-2.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$59.6 ₡29.8K
-1.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$10.02 ₡5,014
-1.70%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$3.93 ₡1,969
-1.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$2.01 ₡1,005
-2.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1.59 ₡797
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$2.94 ₡1,472
3.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$4.63 ₡2,320
-0.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
San Juan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$2.06 ₡1,032
-1.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$2.85 ₡1,427
1.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$2.17 ₡1,085
-1.84%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.91 ₡1,457
1.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$10.13 ₡5,070
-4.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$9.29 ₡4,651
-0.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$13.52 ₡6,770
0.89%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$4.41 ₡2,206
1.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.44 ₡722
0.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$4.33 ₡2,169
1.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$3.53 ₡1,766
0.57%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$3.54 ₡1,772
0.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$3.2 ₡1,602
1.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$0.97 ₡488
7.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$2.9 ₡1,451
-3.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$5.38 ₡2,695
0.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$19.08 ₡9,549
-0.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$2.54 ₡1,272
-5.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.81 ₡1,407
3.91%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
San Juan
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
$1.88 ₡940
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.83 ₡917
1.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$8.03 ₡4,018
-2.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.46 ₡731
-4.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$38.5K ₡19.3M
-2.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$32.3K ₡16.2M
1.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
San Juan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$94.6 ₡47.4K
-1.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$26.41 ₡13.2K
-1.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$59.7 ₡29.9K
0.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
San Juan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$57.4 ₡28.7K
-1.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$24.27 ₡12.2K
58.67%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$9.7 ₡4,855
1.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
San Juan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$566 ₡283.1K
0.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$12.5K ₡6.3M
2.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
San Juan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$62 ₡31K
2.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$51.4 ₡25.7K
-1.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$127 ₡63.7K
-1.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$109 ₡54.6K
-1.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
San Juan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$775 ₡387.9K
11.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$603 ₡302K
-11.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$1,525 ₡763.4K
-6.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$967 ₡484.2K
6.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
San Juan
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 San Juan: October 28, 2025

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