Cost of Living Comparison Between San Ramon and Perez Zeledon Cost of Living Comparison Between San Ramon and Perez Zeledon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,560 per month in San Ramon vs $1,171 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,311 per month in San Ramon vs $1,927 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,062 per month in San Ramon vs $2,683 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

San Ramon costs about 33% more than Perez Zeledon, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

San Ramon sits 16% above the global median, while Perez Zeledon is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.96 ₡2,710

$6.78 ₡3,082

-12.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 ₡23.6K

$39.34 ₡17.9K

32.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.79 ₡4,451

$9.98 ₡4,539

-1.90%

Cappuccino

$3.69 ₡1,678

$3.80 ₡1,729

-2.89%

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

$1.98 ₡899

$1.45 ₡661

36.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 ₡742

$1.59 ₡725

2.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,375

$2.91 ₡1,325

3.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 ₡2,073

$4.74 ₡2,154

-3.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡633

$1.95 ₡886

-28.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 ₡1,218

$2.76 ₡1,254

-2.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ₡1,018

$2.14 ₡973

4.67%

Eggs

$4.58 ₡2,082

$2.53 ₡1,148

81.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.01 ₡4,551

$8.19 ₡3,725

22.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.18 ₡4,173

$9.01 ₡4,099

1.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.49 ₡6,133

$13.51 ₡6,144

-0.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 ₡2,028

$4.52 ₡2,053

-1.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ₡639

$1.03 ₡470

36.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 ₡1,975

$4.20 ₡1,909

3.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 ₡1,436

$3.42 ₡1,553

-7.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 ₡1,513

$2.85 ₡1,294

16.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 ₡1,320

$2.80 ₡1,273

3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₡492

$0.38 ₡174

184.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₡1,322

$2.94 ₡1,337

-1.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.89 ₡2,223

$5.09 ₡2,317

-3.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.31 ₡7,872

$21.95 ₡9,981

-21.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₡1,035

$2.15 ₡977

6.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,211

$1.52 ₡691

75.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 ₡471

$0.74 ₡334

40.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₡813

$1.85 ₡841

-3.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 ₡847

$1.80 ₡819

3.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 ₡3,485

$8.10 ₡3,684

-5.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 ₡739

$1.40 ₡635

15.71%

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

$38.0K ₡17.3M

$38.2K ₡17.3M

-0.47%

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

$32.9K ₡15.0M

$33.2K ₡15.1M

-0.80%

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

$128 ₡58.2K

$93.5 ₡42.5K

36.86%

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

$39.58 ₡18.0K

$21.44 ₡9,750

84.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 ₡23.2K

$59.1 ₡26.9K

-13.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.03 ₡15.9K

$30.20 ₡13.7K

15.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.49 ₡10.7K

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 ₡4,445

$9.70 ₡4,413

0.82%

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

$525 ₡238.9K

$500 ₡227.3K

5.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₡5.7M

$12.9K ₡5.9M

-2.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ₡28.9K

$63.5 ₡28.9K

0.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 ₡23.8K

$50.9 ₡23.1K

2.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₡57.6K

$125 ₡56.8K

1.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡49.1K

$108 ₡49.0K

0.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₡342.6K

$336 ₡153.0K

123.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$603 ₡274.2K

$263 ₡119.8K

128.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,539 ₡700.0K

$1,537 ₡699.1K

0.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$945 ₡429.8K

$632 ₡287.3K

49.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,179 ₡536.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 ₡525.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

13.00%

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

Last update for San Ramon: April 27, 2026

Last update for Perez Zeledon: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $754 in San Ramon versus $336 in Perez Zeledon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in San Ramon versus $39.00 in Perez Zeledon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $347 – making Perez Zeledon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Perez Zeledon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Ramon is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,340 per month in San Ramon and $1,756 in Perez Zeledon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Perez Zeledon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,560 in San Ramon and $1,171 in Perez Zeledon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $525 per month in San Ramon and $500 in Perez Zeledon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Perez Zeledon, where all-in costs run around $1,171, than in San Ramon at $1,560. In Perez Zeledon it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Ramon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Perez Zeledon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Perez Zeledon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Ramon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.