Cost of living
San Jose (Costa Rica) compared to Alajuela
🏛️
Overview comparison
San Jose (Costa Rica)Alajuela
Consumer prices in Alajuela are roughly 48% higher than in San Jose (Costa Rica).
Cost of living
| Item | San Jose (Costa Rica) | Alajuela |
|---|
| Total with rent one person | 726 | 1,577 |
|---|
| Total with rent family | 1,514 | 3,539 |
|---|
| Without rent one person | 306 | 585 |
|---|
| Without rent one family | 1,333 | 2,150 |
|---|
| Rent & Utilities person | 307.94 | 1,100.95 |
|---|
| Rent & Utilities family | 484.24 | 1,384.47 |
|---|
| Food person | 272 | 566 |
|---|
| Food family | 819 | 1,269 |
|---|
| Transport person | 22.67 | 52.72 |
|---|
| Transport family | 46.48 | 142.02 |
|---|
| Life expectancy | 76.58 years | 74.85 years |
|---|
Eating Out
| Item | San Jose (Costa Rica) | Alajuela |
|---|
| Lunch Menu | 10.98 | 12.27 |
|---|
| Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2 | 28.83 | 58.19 |
|---|
| Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's | 7.4 | 8.18 |
|---|
| Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz | 1.1 | 3.44 |
|---|
| Cappuccino | 1.82 | 4.19 |
|---|
| Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz | 0.67 | 2.22 |
|---|
Rent & Utilities
| Item | San Jose (Costa Rica) | Alajuela |
|---|
| 1 bedroom apartment in city Center, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 320.52 | 1,765.13 |
|---|
| Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 214.58 | 719.49 |
|---|
| 3 bedroom apartment in city Center, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 779.25 | 3,189.43 |
|---|
| Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 394.19 | 838.41 |
|---|
| Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 71.72 | 56.76 |
|---|
| Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 89.82 | 85.65 |
|---|
| Internet plan, 25 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited | 15.6 | 49.84 |
|---|
Transportation
| Item | San Jose (Costa Rica) | Alajuela |
|---|
| Local transport ticket | 17.48 | 7.15 |
|---|
| Monthly ticket local transport | 607 | 4,288 |
|---|
| Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi | 424 | 2,520 |
|---|
| Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal | 0.27 | 1.12 |
|---|
| Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years | 29.46% | 51.29% |
|---|
| Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 3.25 | 17.63 |
|---|
| House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 1.07 | 1.38 |
|---|
Groceries
| Item | San Jose (Costa Rica) | Alajuela |
|---|
| Milk, 1 L or 1 qt | 1.27 | 2.25 |
|---|
| Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb | 0.54 | 2.29 |
|---|
| Eggs, x12 | 1.98 | 3.63 |
|---|
| Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 6.59 | 8.17 |
|---|
| Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 5.79 | 9.36 |
|---|
| Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 8.61 | 12.89 |
|---|
| Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 1.41 | 1.55 |
|---|
| Water, 1 L or 1 qt | 0.35 | 1.42 |
|---|
Other
| Item | San Jose (Costa Rica) | Alajuela |
|---|
| Gym Membership, 1 month | 23.84 | 77.13 |
|---|
| Cinema Ticket, 1 person | 2.88 | 7.11 |
|---|
| Doctors visit | 20.2 | 60.98 |
|---|
| Haircut, simple | 1.75 | 14.74 |
|---|
| Brand Jeans | 48.69 | 72.9 |
|---|
| Brand Sneakers | 51.84 | 103.9 |
|---|
| Daycare or Preschool, 1 month | 149.36 | 542.71 |
|---|
| International Primary School, 1 year | 9,840 | 8,812 |
|---|
