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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,560 in San Ramon versus $2,032 in Escazu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,311 in San Ramon versus $2,800 in Escazu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,062 in San Ramon versus $3,569 in Escazu.

Living in San Ramon costs roughly 23% less than in Escazu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Ramon 16% above, Escazu 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.96 ₡2,710

$10.96 ₡4,984

-45.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 ₡23.6K

$59.7 ₡27.2K

-13.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.79 ₡4,451

$9.90 ₡4,504

-1.11%

Cappuccino

$3.69 ₡1,678

$3.90 ₡1,773

-5.38%

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

$1.98 ₡899

$2.06 ₡935

-3.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 ₡742

$1.66 ₡757

-1.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,375

$3.02 ₡1,372

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 ₡2,073

$4.65 ₡2,117

-1.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡633

$2.06 ₡936

-32.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 ₡1,218

$2.75 ₡1,250

-2.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ₡1,018

$2.21 ₡1,006

1.36%

Eggs

$4.58 ₡2,082

$2.94 ₡1,338

55.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.01 ₡4,551

$9.86 ₡4,484

1.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.18 ₡4,173

$9.28 ₡4,219

-1.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.49 ₡6,133

$13.73 ₡6,243

-1.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 ₡2,028

$4.63 ₡2,106

-3.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ₡639

$1.49 ₡678

-5.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 ₡1,975

$4.21 ₡1,916

3.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 ₡1,436

$3.20 ₡1,456

-1.25%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 ₡1,513

$3.57 ₡1,624

-6.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ₡1,320

$3.24 ₡1,472

-10.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₡492

$0.95 ₡430

13.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,322

$2.96 ₡1,344

-1.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.89 ₡2,223

$4.83 ₡2,196

1.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.31 ₡7,872

$18.74 ₡8,522

-7.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₡1,035

$1.76 ₡802

29.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,211

$2.73 ₡1,242

-2.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 ₡471

$0.96 ₡438

8.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₡813

$1.66 ₡757

7.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡847

$1.77 ₡805

5.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 ₡3,485

$8.10 ₡3,682

-5.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 ₡739

$1.39 ₡632

16.55%

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

$38.0K ₡17.3M

$31.4K ₡14.3M

21.10%

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

$32.9K ₡15.0M

$32.5K ₡14.8M

1.37%

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

$128 ₡58.2K

$66.2 ₡30.1K

93.25%

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

$39.58 ₡18.0K

$25.87 ₡11.8K

53.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 ₡23.2K

$50.1 ₡22.8K

1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.03 ₡15.9K

$108 ₡49.0K

-67.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.49 ₡10.7K

$10.16 ₡4,621

131.20%

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 ₡4,445

$9.78 ₡4,446

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

$525 ₡238.9K

$580 ₡263.5K

-9.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₡5.7M

$14.3K ₡6.5M

-11.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ₡28.9K

$61.7 ₡28.1K

2.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 ₡23.8K

$51.2 ₡23.3K

2.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡57.6K

$126 ₡57.4K

0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡49.1K

$105 ₡47.9K

2.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₡342.6K

$1,065 ₡484.5K

-29.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$603 ₡274.2K

$1,059 ₡481.6K

-43.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,539 ₡700.0K

$1,681 ₡764.3K

-8.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$945 ₡429.8K

$1,312 ₡596.4K

-27.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,179 ₡536.2K

$1,625 ₡738.7K

-27.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 ₡525.7K

$1,132 ₡514.9K

2.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,759 ₡799.8K

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 Ramon: April 27, 2026

Last update for Escazu: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $754 in San Ramon and $1,065 in Escazu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $52.0 in San Ramon vs $60.0 in Escazu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $355 vs $359 per month, with San Ramon 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 Escazu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Ramon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,340 in San Ramon and $3,048 in Escazu 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: $754 in San Ramon versus $1,065 in Escazu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Escazu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,560 per month in San Ramon versus $2,032 in Escazu – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,560 in San Ramon versus $2,032 in Escazu, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Ramon but tight or insufficient in Escazu. The gap between the two cities makes San Ramon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, San Ramon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Escazu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, San Ramon and Escazu 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 San Ramon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Escazu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.