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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,726 per month in Turrialba vs $1,909 in San Jose, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,752 per month in Turrialba vs $2,903 in San Jose, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,778 per month in Turrialba vs $3,896 in San Jose, rent included.

Turrialba is about 10% cheaper than San Jose, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Turrialba and San Jose sit above the global median – Turrialba by 25%, San Jose by 38%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.29 ₡5,488

$12.18 ₡5,437

0.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.4 ₡26.1K

$57.9 ₡25.9K

0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.56 ₡5,163

$11.73 ₡5,239

-1.45%

Cappuccino

$4.29 ₡1,917

$4.43 ₡1,976

-3.16%

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

$2.59 ₡1,156

$2.66 ₡1,187

-2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₡867

$1.84 ₡823

5.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 ₡1,449

$3.23 ₡1,441

0.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₡2,001

$4.44 ₡1,982

0.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.42 ₡1,080

$2.43 ₡1,086

-0.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 ₡1,424

$3.04 ₡1,356

4.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.55 ₡1,138

$2.41 ₡1,078

5.81%

Eggs

$3.52 ₡1,573

$3.50 ₡1,561

0.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.88 ₡4,857

$10.86 ₡4,847

0.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₡4,697

$10.43 ₡4,659

0.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.32 ₡6,394

$13.90 ₡6,206

3.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ₡2,344

$5.23 ₡2,333

0.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ₡744

$1.60 ₡713

4.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 ₡2,126

$4.64 ₡2,071

2.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 ₡1,793

$3.79 ₡1,691

6.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 ₡1,686

$3.83 ₡1,708

-1.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 ₡1,643

$3.72 ₡1,662

-1.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₡488

$1.11 ₡496

-1.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 ₡1,424

$3.25 ₡1,451

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.84 ₡2,605

$5.90 ₡2,633

-1.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.45 ₡9,129

$20.31 ₡9,070

0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₡1,321

$2.91 ₡1,300

1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ₡1,623

$3.65 ₡1,630

-0.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 ₡604

$1.13 ₡503

19.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.2 ₡29.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 ₡1,112

$2.41 ₡1,076

3.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 ₡737

$1.59 ₡709

3.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.69 ₡3,880

$8.96 ₡3,999

-3.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ₡665

$1.51 ₡676

-1.32%

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

$22.1K ₡9.9M

$22.4K ₡10.0M

-1.35%

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

$34.4K ₡15.3M

$35.2K ₡15.7M

-2.26%

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

$96.8 ₡43.2K

$95.7 ₡42.7K

1.15%

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

$37.37 ₡16.7K

$36.44 ₡16.3K

2.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 ₡27.5K

$62.6 ₡28.0K

-1.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.6 ₡32.9K

$71.8 ₡32.1K

2.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.98 ₡11.2K

Cinema Ticket

$8.30 ₡3,705

$8.33 ₡3,718

-0.36%

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

$1,003 ₡447.9K

$997 ₡445.3K

0.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K ₡7.8M

$17.1K ₡7.6M

2.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.0 ₡32.2K

$71.7 ₡32.0K

0.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 ₡25.6K

$56.8 ₡25.3K

1.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡57.4K

$130 ₡57.9K

-0.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₡59.1K

$131 ₡58.5K

1.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ₡357.9K

$960 ₡428.8K

-16.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 ₡278.3K

$752 ₡335.9K

-17.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,876 ₡837.5K

$1,892 ₡844.7K

-0.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,287 ₡574.7K

$1,312 ₡585.7K

-1.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,270 ₡1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,797 ₡802.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,033 ₡461.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

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

Last update for Turrialba: September 7, 2026

Last update for San Jose: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $802 in Turrialba versus $960 in San Jose. 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 $58.0 in Turrialba versus $58.0 in San Jose. Groceries tell a different story – $408 in Turrialba vs $403 in San Jose – so San Jose 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

Turrialba vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Jose is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,589 per month in Turrialba and $2,864 in San Jose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Turrialba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,726 in Turrialba and $1,909 in San Jose. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,003 per month in Turrialba and $997 in San Jose. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Turrialba, where all-in costs run around $1,726, than in San Jose at $1,909. In Turrialba it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Jose it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Turrialba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Turrialba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Jose makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.