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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,571 per month in San Jose vs $1,609 in Turrialba, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,481 per month in San Jose vs $2,443 in Turrialba, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,392 per month in San Jose vs $3,278 in Turrialba, rent included.

San Jose is about 2% cheaper than Turrialba, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Jose and Turrialba sit above the global median – San Jose by 17%, Turrialba by 20%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₡4,912

$10.96 ₡4,985

-1.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.5 ₡27.1K

$59.3 ₡27.0K

0.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 ₡4,616

$9.77 ₡4,442

3.89%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₡1,764

$3.76 ₡1,710

3.19%

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

$1.98 ₡901

$2.07 ₡940

-4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₡754

$1.58 ₡720

5.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,374

$2.99 ₡1,360

1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 ₡2,161

$4.64 ₡2,109

2.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 ₡903

$2.06 ₡936

-3.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₡1,315

$2.80 ₡1,275

3.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,006

$2.17 ₡986

1.84%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,331

$2.98 ₡1,355

-1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 ₡4,419

$10.18 ₡4,632

-4.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.05 ₡4,115

$9.31 ₡4,233

-2.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.49 ₡6,136

$13.49 ₡6,137

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 ₡2,003

$4.53 ₡2,061

-2.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₡679

$1.44 ₡656

3.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 ₡1,950

$4.36 ₡1,985

-1.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 ₡1,571

$3.52 ₡1,600

-1.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,615

$3.45 ₡1,568

2.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,404

$3.21 ₡1,460

-3.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡441

$0.97 ₡442

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,282

$2.90 ₡1,319

-2.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.40 ₡2,457

$5.21 ₡2,369

3.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.19 ₡10.1K

$21.69 ₡9,865

2.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₡1,151

$2.41 ₡1,097

4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,267

$2.85 ₡1,297

-2.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ₡465

$1.02 ₡463

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.73 ₡19.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 ₡827

$1.88 ₡853

-3.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡806

$1.85 ₡843

-4.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₡3,608

$8.03 ₡3,653

-1.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₡658

$1.47 ₡669

-1.36%

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

$37.7K ₡17.2M

$37.6K ₡17.1M

0.27%

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

$32.4K ₡14.7M

$32.1K ₡14.6M

0.91%

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

$92.1 ₡41.9K

$95.5 ₡43.4K

-3.56%

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

$26.20 ₡11.9K

$25.47 ₡11.6K

2.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.1 ₡27.3K

$59.2 ₡26.9K

1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.7 ₡25.8K

$55.7 ₡25.3K

1.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.58 ₡17.1K

$23.89 ₡10.9K

57.30%

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 ₡4,541

$10.24 ₡4,658

-2.54%

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

$560 ₡254.8K

$568 ₡258.4K

-1.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.8M

$12.9K ₡5.8M

-0.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 ₡29.0K

$62.2 ₡28.3K

2.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 ₡23.7K

$52.4 ₡23.8K

-0.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡57.0K

$124 ₡56.5K

0.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.7K

$110 ₡49.8K

-2.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$879 ₡399.8K

$770 ₡350.1K

14.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 ₡246.1K

$593 ₡269.5K

-8.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,418 ₡644.7K

$1,498 ₡681.1K

-5.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,017 ₡462.7K

$945 ₡429.6K

7.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,258 ₡1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,806 ₡821.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,042 ₡474.0K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Turrialba: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $879 in San Jose versus $770 in Turrialba. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in San Jose versus $59.0 in Turrialba. Groceries tell a different story – $367 in San Jose vs $370 in Turrialba – so San Jose wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Turrialba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Turrialba is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,356 per month in San Jose and $2,413 in Turrialba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,571 in San Jose and $1,609 in Turrialba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $560 per month in San Jose and $568 in Turrialba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $1,571, than in Turrialba at $1,609. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Turrialba it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Jose – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Turrialba makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.