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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 35.5% more expensive than Upala without rent, and 17.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 43.1% more expensive than Upala without rent, and 30.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.77 ₡5,338

$10.92 ₡5,415

-1.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.7 ₡30.1K

$50.4 ₡25.0K

20.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.00 ₡4,960

$9.67 ₡4,793

3.41%

Cappuccino

$3.74 ₡1,854

$3.29 ₡1,630

13.68%

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

$2.07 ₡1,025

$1.60 ₡794

29.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₡784

$1.63 ₡809

-3.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,507

$2.97 ₡1,472

2.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 ₡2,344

$4.56 ₡2,263

3.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡1,019

$2.01 ₡996

2.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 ₡1,363

$1.47 ₡726

87.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡1,061

$2.25 ₡1,115

-4.89%

Eggs

$2.99 ₡1,482

$2.36 ₡1,169

26.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 ₡5,048

$2.96 ₡1,469

243.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.05 ₡4,486

$5.88 ₡2,918

53.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.46 ₡6,676

$7.95 ₡3,941

69.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 ₡2,246

$1.64 ₡812

176.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₡728

$0.61 ₡304

140.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 ₡2,104

$2.66 ₡1,320

59.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 ₡1,727

$2.45 ₡1,213

42.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.42 ₡1,696

$3.33 ₡1,649

2.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 ₡1,618

$2.35 ₡1,163

38.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡501

$0.98 ₡485

3.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₡1,422

$2.34 ₡1,160

22.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.21 ₡2,584

$5.29 ₡2,625

-1.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.77 ₡8,810

$8.07 ₡4,001

120.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,190

$2.33 ₡1,153

3.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,455

$2.84 ₡1,407

3.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₡484

$1.03 ₡511

-4.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.19 ₡20.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡894

$1.79 ₡890

0.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡885

$1.80 ₡895

-1.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ₡3,888

$5.88 ₡2,914

33.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ₡716

$1.23 ₡612

17.07%

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

$38.2K ₡19.0M

$37.9K ₡18.8M

0.79%

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

$32.0K ₡15.9M

$33.2K ₡16.4M

-3.53%

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

$95.1 ₡47.2K

$49.90 ₡24.7K

90.60%

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

$25.89 ₡12.8K

$25.72 ₡12.8K

0.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.8 ₡29.7K

$20.13 ₡9,983

197.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 ₡28.6K

$57.4 ₡28.5K

0.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.17 ₡18.9K

$23.83 ₡11.8K

60.18%

Cinema Ticket

$10.22 ₡5,067

$9.93 ₡4,925

2.92%

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

$579 ₡287.1K

$570 ₡282.6K

1.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₡6.2M

$12.8K ₡6.3M

-2.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 ₡30.8K

$29.90 ₡14.8K

107.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 ₡25.5K

$19.69 ₡9,762

161.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡62.0K

$127 ₡63.1K

-1.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡53.0K

$29.97 ₡14.9K

256.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$887 ₡439.9K

$770 ₡381.9K

15.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$528 ₡261.8K

$607 ₡300.9K

-12.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 ₡707.7K

$1,545 ₡766.1K

-7.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,047 ₡519.0K

$961 ₡476.3K

8.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,231 ₡1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,763 ₡874.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$927 ₡459.7K

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: January 11, 2026

Last update for Upala: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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