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

😐 Solo nomad: San Juan is 3% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 0.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Juan is 4.2% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 5.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.99 ₡5,502

$10.76 ₡5,385

2.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.6 ₡29.8K

$59 ₡29.5K

1.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 ₡5,014

$9.85 ₡4,931

1.73%

Cappuccino

$3.93 ₡1,969

$3.88 ₡1,942

1.29%

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

$2.01 ₡1,005

$1.96 ₡983

2.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡797

$1.59 ₡794

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 ₡1,472

$3.04 ₡1,522

-3.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 ₡2,320

$4.59 ₡2,300

0.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡1,032

$2.02 ₡1,013

1.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,427

$2.88 ₡1,443

-1.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₡1,085

$2.13 ₡1,067

1.88%

Eggs

$2.91 ₡1,457

$2.94 ₡1,472

-1.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.13 ₡5,070

$9.69 ₡4,852

4.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.29 ₡4,651

$9.22 ₡4,617

0.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.52 ₡6,770

$13.64 ₡6,831

-0.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 ₡2,206

$4.47 ₡2,238

-1.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₡722

$1.45 ₡728

-0.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 ₡2,169

$4.38 ₡2,192

-1.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.53 ₡1,766

$3.55 ₡1,779

-0.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 ₡1,772

$3.55 ₡1,777

-0.28%

Onion (1kg)

$3.2 ₡1,602

$3.25 ₡1,628

-1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡488

$1.04 ₡519

-6.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.9 ₡1,451

$2.8 ₡1,403

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 ₡2,695

$5.43 ₡2,716

-0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.08 ₡9,549

$18.98 ₡9,503

0.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,272

$2.41 ₡1,205

5.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₡1,407

$2.92 ₡1,461

-3.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ₡508

$1 ₡501

2.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡940

$1.88 ₡939

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 ₡917

$1.86 ₡930

-1.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ₡4,018

$7.8 ₡3,904

2.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡731

$1.4 ₡699

4.29%

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

$38.5K ₡19.3M

$37.7K ₡18.9M

2.15%

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

$32.3K ₡16.2M

$32.7K ₡16.4M

-1.16%

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

$94.6 ₡47.4K

$92.9 ₡46.5K

1.88%

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

$26.41 ₡13.2K

$25.98 ₡13K

1.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 ₡29.9K

$60.2 ₡30.1K

-0.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 ₡28.7K

$56.2 ₡28.2K

1.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.27 ₡12.2K

$38.51 ₡19.3K

-36.98%

Cinema Ticket

$9.7 ₡4,855

$9.89 ₡4,953

-1.92%

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

$566 ₡283.1K

$567 ₡283.6K

-0.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K ₡6.3M

$12.8K ₡6.4M

-2.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62 ₡31K

$63.5 ₡31.8K

-2.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 ₡25.7K

$50.8 ₡25.4K

1.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡63.7K

$125 ₡62.6K

1.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ₡54.6K

$107 ₡53.7K

1.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$775 ₡387.9K

$865 ₡433K

-10.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$603 ₡302K

$536 ₡268.3K

12.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,525 ₡763.4K

$1,427 ₡714.5K

6.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$967 ₡484.2K

$1,034 ₡517.9K

-6.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,869 ₡1.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 ₡849.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.4K

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 Juan: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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