Cost of living
San Jose compared to Alajuela
🏛️
Overview comparison
San JoseAlajuela
Consumer prices in Alajuela are roughly 18% higher than in San Jose.
Cost of living
| Item | San Jose | Alajuela |
|---|
| Total with rent one person | 1,049 | 1,577 |
|---|
| Total with rent family | 2,702 | 3,539 |
|---|
| Without rent one person | 602 | 585 |
|---|
| Without rent one family | 2,116 | 2,150 |
|---|
| Rent & Utilities person | 642.2 | 1,100.95 |
|---|
| Rent & Utilities family | 921.94 | 1,384.47 |
|---|
| Food person | 549 | 566 |
|---|
| Food family | 1,253 | 1,269 |
|---|
| Transport person | 69.08 | 52.72 |
|---|
| Transport family | 237.86 | 142.02 |
|---|
| Life expectancy | 69.07 years | 74.85 years |
|---|
Eating Out
| Item | San Jose | Alajuela |
|---|
| Lunch Menu | 10.14 | 12.27 |
|---|
| Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2 | 50.33 | 58.19 |
|---|
| Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's | 10.51 | 8.18 |
|---|
| Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz | 3.23 | 3.44 |
|---|
| Cappuccino | 4.26 | 4.19 |
|---|
| Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz | 1.6 | 2.22 |
|---|
Rent & Utilities
| Item | San Jose | Alajuela |
|---|
| 1 bedroom apartment in city Center, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 631.62 | 1,765.13 |
|---|
| Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 469.79 | 719.49 |
|---|
| 3 bedroom apartment in city Center, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 1,423.67 | 3,189.43 |
|---|
| Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 845.34 | 838.41 |
|---|
| Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 47.89 | 56.76 |
|---|
| Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 73.73 | 85.65 |
|---|
| Internet plan, 25 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited | 48.87 | 49.84 |
|---|
Transportation
| Item | San Jose | Alajuela |
|---|
| Local transport ticket | 11.53 | 7.15 |
|---|
| Monthly ticket local transport | 1,660 | 4,288 |
|---|
| Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi | 1,324 | 2,520 |
|---|
| Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal | 0.96 | 1.12 |
|---|
| Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years | 35.1% | 51.29% |
|---|
| Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 16.87 | 17.63 |
|---|
| House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 1.29 | 1.38 |
|---|
Groceries
| Item | San Jose | Alajuela |
|---|
| Milk, 1 L or 1 qt | 2.17 | 2.25 |
|---|
| Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb | 2.51 | 2.29 |
|---|
| Eggs, x12 | 3.1 | 3.63 |
|---|
| Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 9.73 | 8.17 |
|---|
| Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 8.7 | 9.36 |
|---|
| Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 13.08 | 12.89 |
|---|
| Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 1.38 | 1.55 |
|---|
| Water, 1 L or 1 qt | 1.53 | 1.42 |
|---|
Other
| Item | San Jose | Alajuela |
|---|
| Gym Membership, 1 month | 55.29 | 77.13 |
|---|
| Cinema Ticket, 1 person | 8.78 | 7.11 |
|---|
| Doctors visit | 63.36 | 60.98 |
|---|
| Haircut, simple | 13.87 | 14.74 |
|---|
| Brand Jeans | 70.91 | 72.9 |
|---|
| Brand Sneakers | 112.69 | 103.9 |
|---|
| Daycare or Preschool, 1 month | 603.44 | 542.71 |
|---|
| International Primary School, 1 year | 12,190 | 8,812 |
|---|
