Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Ana and San Jose Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Ana and San Jose

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Ana is 1% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 1.2% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Ana is 16.1% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 5.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Ana
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.73 ₡4,870
$10.76 ₡5,385
-9.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$59 ₡29.5K
2.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.48 ₡4,747
$9.85 ₡4,931
-3.76%
Cappuccino
$3.91 ₡1,955
$3.88 ₡1,942
0.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 ₡971
$1.96 ₡983
-1.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₡770
$1.59 ₡794
-3.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 ₡1,468
$3.04 ₡1,522
-3.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 ₡2,313
$4.59 ₡2,300
0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Ana
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2 ₡999
$2.02 ₡1,013
-0.99%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 ₡1,386
$2.88 ₡1,443
-3.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 ₡1,081
$2.13 ₡1,067
1.41%
Eggs
$2.9 ₡1,451
$2.94 ₡1,472
-1.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.97 ₡4,993
$9.69 ₡4,852
2.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.05 ₡4,531
$9.22 ₡4,617
-1.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 ₡6,916
$13.64 ₡6,831
1.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.61 ₡2,307
$4.47 ₡2,238
3.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡726
$1.45 ₡728
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 ₡805
$4.38 ₡2,192
-63.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.54 ₡1,772
$3.55 ₡1,779
-0.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.84 ₡1,422
$3.55 ₡1,777
-20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 ₡1,566
$3.25 ₡1,628
-3.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$1.04 ₡519
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 ₡1,040
$2.8 ₡1,403
-25.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.14 ₡2,573
$5.43 ₡2,716
-5.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.68 ₡7,852
$18.98 ₡9,503
-17.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₡1,222
$2.41 ₡1,205
1.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ₡1,324
$2.92 ₡1,461
-9.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Ana
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ₡478
$1 ₡501
-4.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.19 ₡10.1K
$41.57 ₡20.8K
-51.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡943
$1.88 ₡939
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 ₡896
$1.86 ₡930
-3.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ₡1,949
$7.8 ₡3,904
-50.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₡736
$1.4 ₡699
5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K ₡15.6M
$37.7K ₡18.9M
-17.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32K ₡16M
$32.7K ₡16.4M
-2.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Ana
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 ₡40K
$92.9 ₡46.5K
-13.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.2 ₡13.1K
$25.98 ₡13K
0.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.64 ₡22.8K
$60.2 ₡30.1K
-24.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Ana
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 ₡28.5K
$56.2 ₡28.2K
1.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.19 ₡12.1K
$38.51 ₡19.3K
-37.19%
Cinema Ticket
$9.93 ₡4,970
$9.89 ₡4,953
0.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Ana
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$563 ₡281.7K
$567 ₡283.6K
-0.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K ₡6.3M
$12.8K ₡6.4M
-2.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Ana
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.2 ₡31.1K
$63.5 ₡31.8K
-2.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 ₡25.6K
$50.8 ₡25.4K
0.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 ₡61.7K
$125 ₡62.6K
-1.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 ₡54.7K
$107 ₡53.7K
1.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Ana
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$884 ₡442.7K
$865 ₡433K
2.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$639 ₡320K
$536 ₡268.3K
19.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,480 ₡741K
$1,427 ₡714.5K
3.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 ₡701.6K
$1,034 ₡517.9K
35.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,044 ₡2M
$2,869 ₡1.4M
40.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,277 ₡1.1M
$1,697 ₡849.3K
34.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Ana
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,402 ₡701.9K
$996 ₡498.4K
40.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
10.17
-1.67%

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

Last update for Santa Ana: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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