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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 45.1% more expensive than Upala without rent, and 22.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 23.6% more expensive than Upala without rent, and 28.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.75 ₡5,085

$11.02 ₡5,208

-2.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 ₡28.4K

$49.84 ₡23.6K

20.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 ₡4,753

$10.21 ₡4,828

-1.57%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,845

$3.33 ₡1,573

17.12%

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

$2.05 ₡968

$1.62 ₡768

26.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡781

$1.54 ₡730

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 ₡1,382

$3.04 ₡1,436

-3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 ₡2,258

$4.71 ₡2,225

1.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ₡969

$1.94 ₡917

5.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,351

$1.48 ₡699

93.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,044

$2.14 ₡1,011

3.27%

Eggs

$3.01 ₡1,422

$2.45 ₡1,159

22.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.79 ₡4,627

$3.06 ₡1,447

219.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 ₡4,439

$5.82 ₡2,751

61.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.61 ₡6,434

$8.12 ₡3,840

67.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 ₡2,098

$1.56 ₡737

184.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₡688

$0.63 ₡296

130.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 ₡2,023

$2.58 ₡1,219

65.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,636

$2.41 ₡1,137

43.57%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,690

$3.36 ₡1,590

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 ₡1,474

$2.45 ₡1,157

27.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₡454

$0.97 ₡457

-1.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,388

$2.35 ₡1,111

25.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.13 ₡2,427

$5.31 ₡2,508

-3.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.99 ₡9,451

$8.49 ₡4,013

135.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,180

$2.41 ₡1,141

3.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₡1,363

$2.84 ₡1,342

1.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡450

$0.97 ₡460

-2.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₡19.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡885

$1.88 ₡890

-0.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡844

$1.78 ₡839

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 ₡3,693

$5.81 ₡2,748

34.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡661

$1.25 ₡592

12.00%

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

$38.2K ₡18.1M

$37.2K ₡17.6M

2.82%

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

$32.2K ₡15.2M

$32.0K ₡15.2M

0.56%

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

$95.4 ₡45.1K

$50.1 ₡23.7K

90.57%

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

$25.62 ₡12.1K

$25.47 ₡12.0K

0.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 ₡28.7K

$19.74 ₡9,334

207.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.5 ₡27.2K

$56.1 ₡26.5K

2.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.65 ₡17.8K

$23.56 ₡11.1K

59.80%

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 ₡4,719

$9.79 ₡4,628

1.94%

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

$559 ₡264.5K

$575 ₡271.8K

-2.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.0M

0.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 ₡29.1K

$29.79 ₡14.1K

106.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡24.2K

$19.52 ₡9,231

161.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡59.1K

$124 ₡58.8K

0.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡50.5K

$30.04 ₡14.2K

255.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$874 ₡413.4K

$767 ₡362.6K

14.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ₡250.9K

$603 ₡285.0K

-11.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,466 ₡693.3K

$1,533 ₡724.8K

-4.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 ₡495.3K

$962 ₡455.0K

8.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,300 ₡1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,743 ₡824.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$985 ₡465.8K

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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Upala: February 28, 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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