Cost of Living Comparison Between San Ramon and Alajuela Cost of Living Comparison Between San Ramon and Alajuela

🙂 Solo nomad: San Ramon is 30.5% cheaper than Alajuela without rent, and 2.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: San Ramon is 1.7% cheaper than Alajuela without rent, and 0.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Ramon
Alajuela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.01 ₡3,007
$9.9 ₡4,957
-39.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.5 ₡25.8K
$39.44 ₡19.7K
30.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$9.22 ₡4,614
5.10%
Cappuccino
$3.84 ₡1,922
$3.76 ₡1,881
2.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ₡1,028
$2 ₡1,003
2.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ₡806
$1.29 ₡648
24.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,518
$2.21 ₡1,105
37.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 ₡2,374
$3.63 ₡1,818
30.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Ramon
Alajuela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 ₡711
$1.87 ₡936
-24.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.79 ₡1,397
$2.42 ₡1,210
15.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 ₡1,071
$2.24 ₡1,120
-4.46%
Eggs
$4.77 ₡2,390
$2.21 ₡1,108
115.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.66 ₡4,835
$9.87 ₡4,940
-2.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.39 ₡4,700
$9.15 ₡4,582
2.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.62 ₡6,818
$13.48 ₡6,749
1.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.48 ₡2,243
$4 ₡2,003
12.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 ₡706
$1.45 ₡727
-2.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 ₡2,189
$4.14 ₡2,073
5.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.16 ₡1,582
$2.85 ₡1,426
10.88%
Potato (1kg)
$3.43 ₡1,717
$2.81 ₡1,408
22.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 ₡1,471
$2.51 ₡1,258
17.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡564
$1.01 ₡507
11.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 ₡1,419
$2.61 ₡1,309
8.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.95 ₡2,477
$4.92 ₡2,461
0.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.16 ₡7,089
$18.86 ₡9,443
-24.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₡1,130
$2.08 ₡1,042
8.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 ₡1,265
$2.54 ₡1,270
-0.39%
🚌 Getting Around
San Ramon
Alajuela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 ₡484
$0.81 ₡405
19.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$110 ₡55.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.86 ₡931
$1.44 ₡721
29.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 ₡917
$1.29 ₡648
41.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.9 ₡3,955
$8.07 ₡4,038
-2.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 ₡789
$1.39 ₡697
13.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K ₡19.1M
$38.1K ₡19.1M
0.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ₡16.5M
$32.4K ₡16.2M
1.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Ramon
Alajuela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$129 ₡64.5K
$45.25 ₡22.7K
184.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.19 ₡20.6K
$19.72 ₡9,873
108.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.4 ₡25.2K
$32.46 ₡16.2K
55.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Ramon
Alajuela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.14 ₡17.1K
$64.6 ₡32.3K
-47.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24 ₡12K
$44.61 ₡22.3K
-46.20%
Cinema Ticket
$10.01 ₡5,011
$8.88 ₡4,444
12.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Ramon
Alajuela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$517 ₡258.7K
$297 ₡148.5K
74.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K ₡6.3M
$2,329 ₡1.2M
443.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Ramon
Alajuela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 ₡31.4K
$61.6 ₡30.8K
2.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 ₡25.6K
$50.8 ₡25.4K
0.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 ₡63.9K
$119 ₡59.7K
7.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 ₡53.9K
$101 ₡50.7K
6.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Ramon
Alajuela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 ₡375.5K
$709 ₡355K
5.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$605 ₡302.6K
$602 ₡301.3K
0.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 ₡769.1K
$1,004 ₡502.8K
52.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$952 ₡476.4K
$936 ₡468.5K
1.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,048 ₡524.8K
$2,022 ₡1M
-48.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,034 ₡517.8K
$1,481 ₡741.5K
-30.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Ramon
Alajuela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,217 ₡609K
-
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 Ramon: October 29, 2025

Last update for Alajuela: October 28, 2025

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