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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Teresa is 9.1% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 3.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Teresa is 10.1% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 10.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.14 ₡4,953

$10.79 ₡5,272

-6.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.24 ₡20.6K

$58.9 ₡28.8K

-28.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.48 ₡4,632

$9.77 ₡4,775

-2.97%

Cappuccino

$3.73 ₡1,821

$3.89 ₡1,902

-4.11%

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

$1.97 ₡964

$2.05 ₡1,003

-3.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₡771

$1.59 ₡778

-0.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.9 ₡1,417

$2.91 ₡1,422

-0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 ₡2,253

$4.56 ₡2,227

1.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡970

$1.99 ₡972

-0.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 ₡1,419

$2.84 ₡1,388

2.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ₡1,055

$2.17 ₡1,059

-0.46%

Eggs

$2.89 ₡1,414

$2.97 ₡1,451

-2.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.2 ₡4,982

$10.09 ₡4,927

1.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 ₡4,436

$9.2 ₡4,494

-1.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.7 ₡6,693

$13.58 ₡6,633

0.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 ₡2,171

$4.43 ₡2,165

0.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₡705

$1.52 ₡741

-5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.13 ₡2,016

$4.3 ₡2,102

-3.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 ₡1,500

$3.42 ₡1,669

-10.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.35 ₡1,637

$3.4 ₡1,659

-1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₡1,236

$3.09 ₡1,509

-18.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡501

$0.95 ₡466

8.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.8 ₡1,367

$2.82 ₡1,376

-0.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 ₡2,486

$5.38 ₡2,626

-5.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.2 ₡6,938

$18.2 ₡8,891

-21.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₡1,135

$2.45 ₡1,198

-5.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 ₡1,250

$2.93 ₡1,429

-12.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ₡460

$1.02 ₡500

-7.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.08 ₡20.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 ₡868

$1.79 ₡873

-0.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 ₡876

$1.86 ₡908

-3.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.12 ₡3,969

$7.74 ₡3,781

4.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.4 ₡682

$1.41 ₡688

-0.71%

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

$37.5K ₡18.3M

$38.4K ₡18.8M

-2.35%

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

$32K ₡15.7M

$32.1K ₡15.7M

-0.17%

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

$83.7 ₡40.9K

$93.7 ₡45.8K

-10.70%

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

$26.27 ₡12.8K

$25.61 ₡12.5K

2.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 ₡24.9K

$60.2 ₡29.4K

-15.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.86 ₡24.4K

$57.7 ₡28.2K

-13.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.65 ₡11.6K

$38.63 ₡18.9K

-38.78%

Cinema Ticket

$8.84 ₡4,317

$9.94 ₡4,854

-11.07%

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

$570 ₡278.3K

$575 ₡280.7K

-0.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₡6.3M

$12.5K ₡6.1M

2.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 ₡30.8K

$62.9 ₡30.7K

0.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 ₡25.4K

$52.5 ₡25.6K

-0.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡61.5K

$127 ₡62.1K

-0.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡52K

$108 ₡52.7K

-1.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$688 ₡336K

$869 ₡424.4K

-20.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₡288.9K

$526 ₡256.9K

12.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,449 ₡708.1K

$1,463 ₡714.9K

-0.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 ₡473.5K

$1,038 ₡507K

-6.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,491 ₡1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,437 ₡702.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 ₡460.2K

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 Santa Teresa: November 29, 2025

Last update for San Jose: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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