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

😐 Solo nomad: San Rafael is 5.4% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 0.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Rafael is 1.3% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 4.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.77 ₡5,393

$10.76 ₡5,385

0.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.9 ₡30K

$59 ₡29.5K

1.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.78 ₡4,894

$9.85 ₡4,931

-0.71%

Cappuccino

$3.86 ₡1,930

$3.88 ₡1,942

-0.52%

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

$2.04 ₡1,019

$1.96 ₡983

4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡826

$1.59 ₡794

3.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 ₡1,527

$3.04 ₡1,522

0.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 ₡2,288

$4.59 ₡2,300

-0.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 ₡984

$2.02 ₡1,013

-2.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 ₡1,375

$2.88 ₡1,443

-4.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ₡1,111

$2.13 ₡1,067

4.23%

Eggs

$2.9 ₡1,450

$2.94 ₡1,472

-1.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.19 ₡5,100

$9.69 ₡4,852

5.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 ₡4,618

$9.22 ₡4,617

0.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.7 ₡6,859

$13.64 ₡6,831

0.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 ₡2,238

Banana (1kg)

$1.5 ₡750

$1.45 ₡728

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 ₡2,170

$4.38 ₡2,192

-0.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.4 ₡1,700

$3.55 ₡1,779

-4.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.5 ₡1,754

$3.55 ₡1,777

-1.41%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,546

$3.25 ₡1,628

-4.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1 ₡503

$1.04 ₡519

-3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 ₡1,421

$2.8 ₡1,403

1.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.34 ₡2,673

$5.43 ₡2,716

-1.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 ₡9,385

$18.98 ₡9,503

-1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₡1,214

$2.41 ₡1,205

0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₡1,468

$2.92 ₡1,461

0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡474

$1 ₡501

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.57 ₡20.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₡896

$1.88 ₡939

-4.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡929

$1.86 ₡930

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ₡3,925

$7.8 ₡3,904

0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ₡732

$1.4 ₡699

4.29%

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

$38.2K ₡19.1M

$37.7K ₡18.9M

1.34%

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

$32K ₡16M

$32.7K ₡16.4M

-2.31%

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

$94.1 ₡47.1K

$92.9 ₡46.5K

1.39%

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

$26.12 ₡13.1K

$25.98 ₡13K

0.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.1 ₡30.1K

$60.2 ₡30.1K

-0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56 ₡28K

$56.2 ₡28.2K

-0.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.48 ₡11.8K

$38.51 ₡19.3K

-39.03%

Cinema Ticket

$9.99 ₡5,003

$9.89 ₡4,953

1.01%

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

$559 ₡279.9K

$567 ₡283.6K

-1.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡6.4M

$12.8K ₡6.4M

-0.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 ₡31.1K

$63.5 ₡31.8K

-2.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51 ₡25.5K

$50.8 ₡25.4K

0.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡61.8K

$125 ₡62.6K

-1.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡53.2K

$107 ₡53.7K

-0.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$772 ₡386.7K

$865 ₡433K

-10.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$607 ₡304K

$536 ₡268.3K

13.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,504 ₡753K

$1,427 ₡714.5K

5.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$977 ₡489.1K

$1,034 ₡517.9K

-5.57%

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 Rafael: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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