Travel budget and cost of living in Cartago (Costa Rica) how much does a trip cost?

Cartago travel budget

Cartago: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Cartago

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Cartago for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Cartago compared to United States in 2024

On average, the cost of living in Cartago in 2024 is essentially identical to the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Cartago in 2024 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Cartago by expense type

Restaurant budget in Cartago

Lunch

$ 7.9/person
($ 6.9 to $ 21)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 21/person
($ 16 to $ 51)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 7.6/person
($ 6.9 to $ 10)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 2.1 for 500ml
($ 2 to $ 6)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 3.2 for 330ml
($ 2 to $ 4.9)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 3.2/cup
($ 1.6 to $ 4.9)

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38% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 1.6/can
($ 1 to $ 3)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 1.3/bottle
($ 1 to $ 2.3)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Supermarket food budget in Cartago

Milk

$ 1.9/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 2.5)

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85% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 2.1/500g
($ 0.7 to $ 4.1)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 2/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 3.9)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 3.4/12 eggs
($ 1.7 to $ 5.1)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Chicken

$ 6/kg
($ 4.6 to $ 12)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 3/kg
($ 2 to $ 8.9)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.6 to $ 3.4)

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54% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 1.7/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 3.1)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 2.2
($ 1 to $ 3.9)

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5% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Public and private transport budget in Cartago

Bus ticket

$ 1.1/ticket
($ 0.9 to $ 1.2)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.5/km
($ 1.2 to $ 2.3)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.5/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 1.7)

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51% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.6
($ 1.2 to $ 2)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Leisure activity budget in Cartago

Cinema

$ 6.9/ticket
($ 6 to $ 10)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 70/hr
( $ 70)

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195% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 24

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Cartago

Cigarettes

$ 3.6/pack
($ 3.2 to $ 6)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 85
($ 51 to $ 107)

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58% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 52
($ 41 to $ 60)

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17% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

New York City → San José

$ 509
(fair price: $ 392)

Los Angeles → San José

$ 484
(fair price: $ 363)

London → San José

$ 752
(fair price: $ 672)

Montreal → San José

$ 665
(fair price: $ 558)

Toronto → San José

$ 649
(fair price: $ 515)

Chicago → San José

$ 511
(fair price: $ 419)