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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose is 5.2% cheaper than San Rafael without rent, and 0.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Jose is 1.3% cheaper than San Rafael without rent, and 4.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.76 ₡5,385

$10.77 ₡5,393

-0.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59 ₡29.5K

$59.9 ₡30K

-1.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 ₡4,931

$9.78 ₡4,894

0.72%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₡1,942

$3.86 ₡1,930

0.52%

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

$1.96 ₡983

$2.04 ₡1,019

-3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡794

$1.65 ₡826

-3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,522

$3.05 ₡1,527

-0.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 ₡2,300

$4.57 ₡2,288

0.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ₡1,013

$1.97 ₡984

2.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₡1,443

$2.75 ₡1,375

4.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡1,067

$2.22 ₡1,111

-4.05%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,472

$2.9 ₡1,450

1.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 ₡4,852

$10.19 ₡5,100

-4.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.22 ₡4,617

$9.23 ₡4,618

-0.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.64 ₡6,831

$13.7 ₡6,859

-0.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 ₡2,238

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡728

$1.5 ₡750

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,192

$4.34 ₡2,170

0.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,779

$3.4 ₡1,700

4.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,777

$3.5 ₡1,754

1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 ₡1,628

$3.09 ₡1,546

5.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₡519

$1 ₡503

4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.8 ₡1,403

$2.84 ₡1,421

-1.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 ₡2,716

$5.34 ₡2,673

1.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 ₡9,503

$18.75 ₡9,385

1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,205

$2.43 ₡1,214

-0.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,461

$2.93 ₡1,468

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1 ₡501

$0.95 ₡474

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡939

$1.79 ₡896

5.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡930

$1.86 ₡929

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.8 ₡3,904

$7.84 ₡3,925

-0.51%

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

$38.2K ₡19.1M

-1.32%

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

$32.7K ₡16.4M

$32K ₡16M

2.37%

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

$92.9 ₡46.5K

$94.1 ₡47.1K

-1.37%

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

$25.98 ₡13K

$26.12 ₡13.1K

-0.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 ₡30.1K

$60.1 ₡30.1K

0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 ₡28.2K

$56 ₡28K

0.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.51 ₡19.3K

$23.48 ₡11.8K

64.01%

Cinema Ticket

$9.89 ₡4,953

$9.99 ₡5,003

-1.00%

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

$567 ₡283.6K

$559 ₡279.9K

1.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡6.4M

$12.7K ₡6.4M

0.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡31.8K

$62.1 ₡31.1K

2.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

$51 ₡25.5K

-0.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.6K

$124 ₡61.8K

1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡53.7K

$106 ₡53.2K

0.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ₡433K

$772 ₡386.7K

11.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₡268.3K

$607 ₡304K

-11.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 ₡714.5K

$1,504 ₡753K

-5.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,034 ₡517.9K

$977 ₡489.1K

5.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,869 ₡1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 ₡849.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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 Rafael: October 28, 2025

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