Cost of Living Comparison Between Tamarindo and San Jose Cost of Living Comparison Between Tamarindo and San Jose

🙂 Solo nomad: Tamarindo is 0.6% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 14.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Tamarindo is 12.3% more expensive than San Jose without rent, and 3.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.06 ₡5,535

$10.76 ₡5,385

2.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ₡30.1K

$59 ₡29.5K

2.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.7 ₡4,853

$9.85 ₡4,931

-1.52%

Cappuccino

$3.87 ₡1,939

$3.88 ₡1,942

-0.26%

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

$2.04 ₡1,023

$1.96 ₡983

4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡827

$1.59 ₡794

3.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3 ₡1,504

$3.04 ₡1,522

-1.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 ₡2,271

$4.59 ₡2,300

-1.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡1,030

$2.02 ₡1,013

1.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.8 ₡1,400

$2.88 ₡1,443

-2.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡1,072

$2.13 ₡1,067

0.47%

Eggs

$3.01 ₡1,507

$2.94 ₡1,472

2.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.75 ₡4,880

$9.69 ₡4,852

0.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 ₡4,435

$9.22 ₡4,617

-3.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 ₡6,911

$13.64 ₡6,831

1.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 ₡2,281

$4.47 ₡2,238

2.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₡720

$1.45 ₡728

-0.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.2 ₡1,601

$4.38 ₡2,192

-26.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 ₡1,737

$3.55 ₡1,779

-2.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,204

$3.55 ₡1,777

-32.11%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 ₡1,510

$3.25 ₡1,628

-7.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₡519

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₡1,437

$2.8 ₡1,403

2.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.81 ₡2,408

$5.43 ₡2,716

-11.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.98 ₡5,999

$18.98 ₡9,503

-36.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 ₡1,245

$2.41 ₡1,205

3.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,396

$2.92 ₡1,461

-4.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.92 ₡962

$1 ₡501

92.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ₡27.7K

$41.57 ₡20.8K

33.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₡931

$1.88 ₡939

-1.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 ₡936

$1.86 ₡930

0.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 ₡2,895

$7.8 ₡3,904

-25.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₡727

$1.4 ₡699

3.57%

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

$35.5K ₡17.8M

$37.7K ₡18.9M

-6.00%

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

$33K ₡16.5M

$32.7K ₡16.4M

0.86%

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

$94.4 ₡47.2K

$92.9 ₡46.5K

1.62%

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

$22.16 ₡11.1K

$25.98 ₡13K

-14.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 ₡25.9K

$60.2 ₡30.1K

-14.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.3 ₡48.7K

$56.2 ₡28.2K

73.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.79 ₡11.9K

$38.51 ₡19.3K

-38.22%

Cinema Ticket

$7.16 ₡3,583

$9.89 ₡4,953

-27.60%

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

$516 ₡258.3K

$567 ₡283.6K

-8.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,801 ₡4.4M

$12.8K ₡6.4M

-31.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 ₡31.1K

$63.5 ₡31.8K

-2.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.76 ₡11.9K

$50.8 ₡25.4K

-53.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 ₡53.9K

$125 ₡62.6K

-13.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡54K

$107 ₡53.7K

0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,799 ₡900.8K

$865 ₡433K

108.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₡397.6K

$536 ₡268.3K

48.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,974 ₡1.5M

$1,427 ₡714.5K

108.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$906 ₡453.7K

$1,034 ₡517.9K

-12.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,354 ₡2.7M

$2,869 ₡1.4M

86.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,265 ₡1.6M

$1,697 ₡849.3K

92.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$875 ₡437.9K

$996 ₡498.4K

-12.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

-11.50%

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

Last update for Tamarindo: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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