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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 0.6% more expensive than Tamarindo without rent, and 12.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Jose is 11% cheaper than Tamarindo without rent, and 3.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.76 ₡5,385

$11.06 ₡5,535

-2.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59 ₡29.5K

$60.2 ₡30.1K

-2.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 ₡4,931

$9.7 ₡4,853

1.55%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₡1,942

$3.87 ₡1,939

0.26%

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

$1.96 ₡983

$2.04 ₡1,023

-3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡794

$1.65 ₡827

-3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,522

$3 ₡1,504

1.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 ₡2,300

$4.54 ₡2,271

1.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ₡1,013

$2.06 ₡1,030

-1.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₡1,443

$2.8 ₡1,400

2.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 ₡1,067

$2.14 ₡1,072

-0.47%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,472

$3.01 ₡1,507

-2.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 ₡4,852

$9.75 ₡4,880

-0.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.22 ₡4,617

$8.86 ₡4,435

4.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.64 ₡6,831

$13.81 ₡6,911

-1.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 ₡2,238

$4.56 ₡2,281

-1.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡728

$1.44 ₡720

0.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,192

$3.2 ₡1,601

36.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,779

$3.47 ₡1,737

2.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,777

$2.41 ₡1,204

47.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 ₡1,628

$3.02 ₡1,510

7.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₡519

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.8 ₡1,403

$2.87 ₡1,437

-2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 ₡2,716

$4.81 ₡2,408

12.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 ₡9,503

$11.98 ₡5,999

58.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₡1,205

$2.49 ₡1,245

-3.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,461

$2.79 ₡1,396

4.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1 ₡501

$1.92 ₡962

-47.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

$55.3 ₡27.7K

-24.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡939

$1.86 ₡931

1.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡930

$1.87 ₡936

-0.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.8 ₡3,904

$5.78 ₡2,895

34.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.4 ₡699

$1.45 ₡727

-3.45%

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

$37.7K ₡18.9M

$35.5K ₡17.8M

6.38%

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

$32.7K ₡16.4M

$33K ₡16.5M

-0.86%

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

$92.9 ₡46.5K

$94.4 ₡47.2K

-1.59%

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

$25.98 ₡13K

$22.16 ₡11.1K

17.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 ₡30.1K

$51.7 ₡25.9K

16.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 ₡28.2K

$97.3 ₡48.7K

-42.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.51 ₡19.3K

$23.79 ₡11.9K

61.87%

Cinema Ticket

$9.89 ₡4,953

$7.16 ₡3,583

38.13%

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

$567 ₡283.6K

$516 ₡258.3K

9.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡6.4M

$8,801 ₡4.4M

45.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡31.8K

$62.1 ₡31.1K

2.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 ₡25.4K

$23.76 ₡11.9K

113.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.6K

$108 ₡53.9K

16.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡53.7K

$108 ₡54K

-0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ₡433K

$1,799 ₡900.8K

-51.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₡268.3K

$794 ₡397.6K

-32.51%

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

$906 ₡453.7K

14.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,869 ₡1.4M

$5,354 ₡2.7M

-46.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 ₡849.3K

$3,265 ₡1.6M

-48.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.4K

$875 ₡437.9K

13.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

13.00%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

Last update for Tamarindo: October 28, 2025

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