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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 55% more expensive than Upala without rent, and 22.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 59% more expensive than Upala without rent, and 28.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Upala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$11.03 ₡5,522
-2.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$50.5 ₡25.3K
16.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$9.67 ₡4,843
1.86%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$3.31 ₡1,655
17.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$1.58 ₡790
24.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$1.54 ₡772
3.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$2.91 ₡1,459
4.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$4.6 ₡2,303
-0.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Upala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$2.03 ₡1,015
-0.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$1.5 ₡753
92.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$2.23 ₡1,119
-4.48%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.38 ₡1,190
23.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$3.06 ₡1,529
216.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$6.04 ₡3,026
52.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$7.86 ₡3,934
73.54%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$1.57 ₡787
184.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$0.62 ₡309
133.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$2.55 ₡1,275
71.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$2.33 ₡1,167
52.36%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$3.34 ₡1,671
6.29%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$2.36 ₡1,183
37.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$0.95 ₡474
9.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$2.42 ₡1,213
15.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$5.19 ₡2,600
4.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$7.95 ₡3,980
138.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$2.33 ₡1,169
3.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.85 ₡1,429
2.46%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Upala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$0.95 ₡478
5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$1.87 ₡936
0.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.8 ₡900
3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$5.85 ₡2,926
33.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.24 ₡620
12.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$37.2K ₡18.6M
1.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$32.9K ₡16.5M
-0.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Upala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$50.1 ₡25.1K
85.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$25.58 ₡12.8K
1.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$20.15 ₡10.1K
198.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Upala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$57.7 ₡28.9K
-2.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$23.69 ₡11.9K
62.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$10.07 ₡5,043
-1.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Upala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$575 ₡288.1K
-1.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$12.9K ₡6.5M
-0.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Upala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$30.13 ₡15.1K
110.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$19.76 ₡9,894
157.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$124 ₡62.2K
0.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$30 ₡15K
257.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Upala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$772 ₡386.2K
12.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$600 ₡300.6K
-10.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$1,507 ₡754.2K
-5.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$978 ₡489.7K
5.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Upala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
10.17
-

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

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

Last update for Upala: October 28, 2025

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