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 $1,768 per month in San Ramon vs $1,333 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,753 per month in San Ramon vs $2,374 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,739 per month in San Ramon vs $3,415 in Perez Zeledon, rent included.

San Ramon costs about 33% more than Perez Zeledon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

San Ramon sits 29% above the global median, while Perez Zeledon is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Ramon
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.07 ₡5,362
$9.47 ₡4,210
27.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.0 ₡22.7K
$37.63 ₡16.7K
35.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.56 ₡5,580
$8.17 ₡3,630
53.73%
Cappuccino
$4.01 ₡1,783
$2.63 ₡1,169
52.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ₡1,192
$1.92 ₡851
39.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 ₡888
$1.74 ₡771
14.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 ₡1,584
$1.73 ₡769
105.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 ₡2,193
$3.11 ₡1,380
58.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Ramon
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.42 ₡1,078
$1.59 ₡708
52.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.99 ₡1,327
$3.16 ₡1,406
-5.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.46 ₡1,092
$2.55 ₡1,133
-3.53%
Eggs
$5.32 ₡2,365
$2.55 ₡1,134
108.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.01 ₡4,894
$10.72 ₡4,765
2.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 ₡4,748
$10.61 ₡4,715
0.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.43 ₡6,414
$14.37 ₡6,389
0.42%
Apples (1kg)
$5.05 ₡2,245
$5.20 ₡2,312
-2.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 ₡696
$1.12 ₡499
40.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.49 ₡1,549
$4.70 ₡2,089
-25.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.42 ₡1,521
$4.04 ₡1,795
-15.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 ₡1,323
$3.86 ₡1,714
-22.80%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 ₡1,390
$3.76 ₡1,671
-16.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 ₡547
$0.45 ₡200
173.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 ₡1,234
$3.22 ₡1,430
-13.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.86 ₡2,603
$5.78 ₡2,568
1.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.69 ₡7,420
$20.59 ₡9,151
-18.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 ₡1,176
$2.85 ₡1,266
-7.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ₡1,219
$3.64 ₡1,619
-24.73%
🚌 Getting Around
San Ramon
Perez Zeledon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ₡603
$0.76 ₡336
78.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.50 ₡1,110
$2.51 ₡1,117
-0.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡699
$1.56 ₡694
0.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.96 ₡3,982
$8.63 ₡3,836
3.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡694
$1.54 ₡685
1.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K ₡9.6M
$21.7K ₡9.6M
-0.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K ₡15.7M
$35.2K ₡15.6M
0.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Ramon
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 ₡63.6K
$95.8 ₡42.6K
49.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.63 ₡19.8K
$24.16 ₡10.7K
84.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.5 ₡23.8K
$61.9 ₡27.5K
-13.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Ramon
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.1 ₡33.8K
$72.9 ₡32.4K
4.52%
Cinema Ticket
$8.52 ₡3,785
$8.11 ₡3,606
5.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Ramon
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$856 ₡380.5K
$490 ₡217.8K
74.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K ₡7.5M
$17.5K ₡7.8M
-2.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Ramon
Perez Zeledon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0 ₡32.0K
$71.5 ₡31.8K
0.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.6K
$55.4 ₡24.6K
-0.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 ₡58.3K
$133 ₡58.9K
-0.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 ₡66.7K
$133 ₡59.2K
12.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Ramon
Perez Zeledon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$818 ₡363.6K
$402 ₡178.7K
103.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 ₡282.0K
$330 ₡146.7K
92.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,838 ₡817.0K
$2,142 ₡952.2K
-14.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,295 ₡575.4K
$1,295 ₡575.5K
-0.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,164 ₡517.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,168 ₡519.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Ramon
Perez Zeledon
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.78
8.78
-

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

Last update for San Ramon: September 13, 2026

Last update for Perez Zeledon: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $818 in San Ramon versus $402 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 $51.0 in San Ramon versus $38.00 in Perez Zeledon. Groceries tell a different story – $386 in San Ramon vs $390 in Perez Zeledon – so San Ramon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Is Perez Zeledon cheaper than San Ramon?
Yes – San Ramon is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,652 per month in San Ramon and $2,000 in Perez Zeledon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in San Ramon and in Perez Zeledon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,768 in San Ramon and $1,333 in Perez Zeledon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $856 per month in San Ramon and $490 in Perez Zeledon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in San Ramon or in Perez Zeledon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Perez Zeledon, where all-in costs run around $1,333, than in San Ramon at $1,768. In Perez Zeledon it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Ramon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Ramon or Perez Zeledon more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, San Ramon or Perez Zeledon?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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