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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,530 in San Ramon versus $1,512 in Cartago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,321 in San Ramon versus $2,121 in Cartago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,112 in San Ramon versus $2,730 in Cartago.

Living in San Ramon is roughly 1% more expensive than Cartago, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Ramon 14% above, Cartago 13% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.12 ₡2,785

$7.95 ₡3,615

-23.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.9 ₡23.6K

$31.47 ₡14.3K

64.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.76 ₡4,441

$9.17 ₡4,172

6.43%

Cappuccino

$3.82 ₡1,738

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

$2.07 ₡942

$1.93 ₡880

7.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₡755

$1.23 ₡558

34.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 ₡1,379

$2.01 ₡913

50.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 ₡2,178

$4.75 ₡2,159

0.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ₡628

$1.96 ₡894

-29.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 ₡1,263

$2.19 ₡996

26.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₡976

Eggs

$4.71 ₡2,142

$2.91 ₡1,325

61.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.97 ₡4,534

$7.84 ₡3,566

27.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.91 ₡4,053

$9.30 ₡4,228

-4.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.59 ₡6,181

$13.63 ₡6,199

-0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 ₡1,996

$4.43 ₡2,014

-0.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 ₡627

$1.17 ₡534

17.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡1,992

$4.03 ₡1,832

8.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.21 ₡1,459

$2.64 ₡1,201

21.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 ₡1,512

$1.96 ₡890

69.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 ₡1,348

$1.98 ₡899

49.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡516

$1.04 ₡471

8.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,321

$1.94 ₡884

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.08 ₡2,312

$5.11 ₡2,326

-0.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.79 ₡7,639

$15.30 ₡6,960

9.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 ₡1,045

$2.45 ₡1,112

-6.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₡1,187

$1.80 ₡820

45.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₡470

$1.01 ₡461

1.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.0 ₡31.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 ₡811

$1.37 ₡622

29.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 ₡817

$1.86 ₡848

-3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.83 ₡3,562

$7.91 ₡3,599

-1.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 ₡746

$1.41 ₡643

16.31%

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

$38.0K ₡17.3M

$37.4K ₡17.0M

1.41%

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

$33.1K ₡15.1M

$32.3K ₡14.7M

2.47%

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

$132 ₡60.0K

$49.02 ₡22.3K

169.18%

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

$40.02 ₡18.2K

$25.60 ₡11.6K

56.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.6 ₡23.0K

$57.9 ₡26.3K

-12.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.12 ₡16.0K

$57.3 ₡26.0K

-38.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.88 ₡10.9K

$24.06 ₡10.9K

-0.75%

Cinema Ticket

$10.03 ₡4,563

$6.47 ₡2,944

55.02%

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

$522 ₡237.5K

$491 ₡223.1K

6.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡5.8M

$7,189 ₡3.3M

76.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.3 ₡28.8K

$61.5 ₡28.0K

2.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 ₡23.2K

$51.7 ₡23.5K

-1.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ₡56.2K

$109 ₡49.4K

13.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡49.1K

$80.4 ₡36.6K

34.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₡345.1K

$760 ₡345.6K

-0.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₡267.1K

$602 ₡273.6K

-2.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,517 ₡689.9K

$734 ₡333.9K

106.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$973 ₡442.4K

$770 ₡350.1K

26.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,172 ₡532.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,143 ₡519.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,312 ₡596.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

1.70%

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

Last update for San Ramon: May 30, 2026

Last update for Cartago: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $759 in San Ramon and $760 in Cartago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $52.0 in San Ramon vs $31.00 in Cartago for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $315 per month, with Cartago cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Ramon vs Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartago is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,296 in San Ramon and $2,268 in Cartago to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $759 in San Ramon versus $760 in Cartago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in San Ramon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,530 per month in San Ramon versus $1,512 in Cartago – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,512 in Cartago versus $1,530 in San Ramon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cartago but tight or insufficient in San Ramon. The gap between the two cities makes Cartago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, San Ramon and Cartago are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cartago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in San Ramon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.