Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Alajuela Cost of Living Comparison Between Tokyo and Alajuela

🙂 Solo nomad: Tokyo is 12.6% cheaper than Alajuela without rent, and 6.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Tokyo is 13.9% more expensive than Alajuela without rent, and 19.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tokyo
Alajuela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.53 ¥1,226
$9.9 ₡4,957
-13.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.7 ¥6,852
$39.44 ₡19.7K
20.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.49 ¥789
$9.22 ₡4,614
-40.46%
Cappuccino
$3.6 ¥517
$3.76 ₡1,881
-4.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 ¥174
$2 ₡1,003
-39.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ¥126
$1.29 ₡648
-31.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.22 ¥606
$2.21 ₡1,105
90.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.35 ¥769
$3.63 ₡1,818
47.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tokyo
Alajuela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ¥225
$1.87 ₡936
-16.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 ¥221
$2.42 ₡1,210
-36.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.39 ¥774
$2.24 ₡1,120
140.62%
Eggs
$2.41 ¥346
$2.21 ₡1,108
9.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.02 ¥2,301
$9.87 ₡4,940
62.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 ¥1,144
$9.15 ₡4,582
-13.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.64 ¥3,253
$13.48 ₡6,749
67.95%
Apples (1kg)
$5.4 ¥776
$4 ₡2,003
35.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.65 ¥381
$1.45 ₡727
82.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.99 ¥860
$4.14 ₡2,073
44.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.97 ¥858
$2.85 ₡1,426
109.47%
Potato (1kg)
$3.28 ¥472
$2.81 ₡1,408
16.73%
Onion (1kg)
$3.5 ¥503
$2.51 ₡1,258
39.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 ¥215
$1.01 ₡507
47.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 ¥125
$2.61 ₡1,309
-66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 ¥606
$4.92 ₡2,461
-14.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.09 ¥1,450
$18.86 ₡9,443
-46.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥306
$2.08 ₡1,042
2.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ¥412
$2.54 ₡1,270
12.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Tokyo
Alajuela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 ¥212
$0.81 ₡405
82.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.5 ¥12K
$110 ₡55.3K
-24.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 ¥490
$1.44 ₡721
136.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.01 ¥432
$1.29 ₡648
133.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.47 ¥3,802
$8.07 ₡4,038
228.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 ¥174
$1.39 ₡697
-12.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K ¥3.3M
$38.1K ₡19.1M
-40.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K ¥2.5M
$32.4K ₡16.2M
-47.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tokyo
Alajuela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$168 ¥24.2K
$45.25 ₡22.7K
271.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.83 ¥3,855
$19.72 ₡9,873
36.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.17 ¥4,764
$32.46 ₡16.2K
2.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tokyo
Alajuela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.9 ¥10K
$64.6 ₡32.3K
8.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.69 ¥2,972
$44.61 ₡22.3K
-53.62%
Cinema Ticket
$13.01 ¥1,870
$8.88 ₡4,444
46.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tokyo
Alajuela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$511 ¥73.4K
$297 ₡148.5K
72.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.4K ¥2.2M
$2,329 ₡1.2M
559.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tokyo
Alajuela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3 ¥8,802
$61.6 ₡30.8K
-0.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.69 ¥5,989
$50.8 ₡25.4K
-17.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.6 ¥9,562
$119 ₡59.7K
-44.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.2 ¥13.1K
$101 ₡50.7K
-9.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tokyo
Alajuela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,121 ¥161K
$709 ₡355K
58.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$606 ¥87.1K
$602 ₡301.3K
0.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,695 ¥387.2K
$1,004 ₡502.8K
168.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,338 ¥192.3K
$936 ₡468.5K
43.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11K ¥1.6M
$2,022 ₡1M
444.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,208 ¥748.2K
$1,481 ₡741.5K
251.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tokyo
Alajuela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,525 ¥362.7K
$1,217 ₡609K
107.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.72
10.17
-83.09%

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

Last update for Tokyo: October 29, 2025

Last update for Alajuela: October 28, 2025

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