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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose is 12.3% cheaper than Tamarindo without rent, and 13.5% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 15.5% more expensive than Tamarindo without rent, and 3.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.95 ₡5,023

$10.90 ₡4,999

0.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡26.9K

$60.6 ₡27.8K

-3.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.24 ₡4,695

$9.60 ₡4,404

6.67%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ₡1,809

$3.90 ₡1,790

1.03%

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

$2.07 ₡950

$1.99 ₡913

4.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡728

$1.64 ₡752

-3.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 ₡1,349

$3.01 ₡1,383

-2.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.70 ₡2,156

$4.75 ₡2,179

-1.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₡941

$2.04 ₡938

0.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,311

$2.78 ₡1,274

2.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ₡991

$2.17 ₡995

-0.46%

Eggs

$2.98 ₡1,367

$3.02 ₡1,384

-1.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.24 ₡4,699

$10.00 ₡4,588

2.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.10 ₡4,173

$9.26 ₡4,245

-1.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 ₡6,333

$13.56 ₡6,220

1.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 ₡2,006

$4.38 ₡2,011

-0.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₡689

$1.51 ₡692

-0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡2,011

$3.14 ₡1,441

39.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,586

$3.55 ₡1,629

-2.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 ₡1,624

$2.32 ₡1,064

52.59%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 ₡1,477

$2.97 ₡1,360

8.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡445

$1.02 ₡470

-4.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₡1,327

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 ₡2,361

$4.92 ₡2,258

4.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.98 ₡10.1K

$13.13 ₡6,024

67.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 ₡1,143

$2.53 ₡1,158

-1.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,306

$2.84 ₡1,304

0.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₡474

$1.87 ₡858

-44.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.58 ₡18.6K

$55.7 ₡25.6K

-27.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡859

$1.80 ₡828

3.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 ₡829

$1.77 ₡810

2.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.12 ₡3,724

$5.85 ₡2,683

38.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ₡663

$1.40 ₡644

2.86%

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

$38.2K ₡17.5M

$36.0K ₡16.5M

6.02%

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

$32.5K ₡14.9M

$32.2K ₡14.8M

0.71%

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

$93.4 ₡42.8K

$92.6 ₡42.5K

0.82%

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

$25.89 ₡11.9K

$22.15 ₡10.2K

16.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 ₡27.3K

$52.0 ₡23.9K

14.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.6 ₡26.4K

$97.4 ₡44.7K

-40.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.80 ₡17.8K

$23.46 ₡10.8K

65.39%

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 ₡4,484

$6.98 ₡3,201

40.11%

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

$559 ₡256.5K

$534 ₡245.1K

4.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.9M

$8,702 ₡4.0M

47.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ₡28.4K

$62.7 ₡28.8K

-1.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡23.5K

$23.60 ₡10.8K

116.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡56.7K

$111 ₡50.9K

11.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡48.5K

$108 ₡49.6K

-2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ₡405.9K

$1,802 ₡826.5K

-50.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$540 ₡247.6K

$803 ₡368.5K

-32.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,438 ₡659.8K

$3,005 ₡1.4M

-52.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 ₡475.9K

$892 ₡409.4K

16.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,292 ₡1.1M

$5,454 ₡2.5M

-57.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,773 ₡813.1K

$3,266 ₡1.5M

-45.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,007 ₡461.8K

$944 ₡432.8K

6.70%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Tamarindo: April 13, 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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