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

San Jose travel budget

San Jose: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to San Jose

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

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

Cost of living in San Jose compared to Costa Rica in 2021

On average, the cost of living in San Jose in 2021 is 8% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in San Jose in 2021 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in San Jose by expense type

Restaurant budget in San Jose

Lunch

$ 7.5/person
($ 5.3 to $ 16)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

3 course dinner

$ 28/person
($ 17 to $ 45)

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0% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 28

McDonald's meal

$ 7.6/person
($ 6.6 to $ 11)

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3% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.9

Local beer

$ 2.9 for 500ml
($ 1.9 to $ 3.8)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Imported beer

$ 4.3 for 330ml
($ 1.6 to $ 6)

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55% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Cappuccino

$ 3.1/cup
($ 1.9 to $ 4.7)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.2

Fizzy drink

$ 1.7/can
($ 1.3 to $ 2.9)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Water bottle

$ 1.4/bottle
($ 1.2 to $ 2.9)

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1% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.5

Hotel and accommodation budget in San Jose

1-star hotel

$ 36/night
($ 33 to $ 40)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 109

2-star hotel

$ 45/night
($ 26 to $ 66)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

3-star hotel

$ 88/night
($ 47 to $ 150)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 180

4-star hotel

$ 186/night
($ 100 to $ 308)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 262

5-star hotel

$ 165/night
( $ 165)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 510

Hotel/Youth Hostel

$ 36/month
($ 22 to $ 49)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 122

Room with kitchen

$ 87/month
($ 47 to $ 140)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 119/month
($ 49 to $ 243)

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28% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165

Cottage or guest house

$ 64/month
($ 39 to $ 94)

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71% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223

Family room

$ 138/month
($ 79 to $ 238)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175

Supermarket food budget in San Jose

Milk

$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 2)

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85% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.8

Bread

$ 2/500g
($ 1.2 to $ 3.3)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Rice

$ 2.3/kg
($ 1.6 to $ 2.9)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Eggs

$ 3.1/12 eggs
($ 2.2 to $ 4.1)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Cheese

$ 7.5/kg
($ 3.3 to $ 12)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Chicken

$ 8.5/kg
($ 4.8 to $ 12)

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4% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 8.9

Apples

$ 5/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 7.5)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5

Oranges

$ 2.7/kg
($ 1.6 to $ 7.4)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Tomatoes

$ 3/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 5.6)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.2

Potatoes

$ 2.5/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 5.1)

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2% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Salad

$ 1.3/salad
($ 0.7 to $ 2.9)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6

Water bottle

$ 2.6
($ 1.3 to $ 3.8)

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51% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Joint of beef

$ 10.5/kg
($ 6.6 to $ 17)

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

Public and private transport budget in San Jose

Bus ticket

$ 0.7/ticket
($ 0.7 to $ 1.2)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Bus pass

$ 55/month
($ 45 to $ 85)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 70

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.3/km
($ 1.2 to $ 2.9)

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23% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.6

Petrol

$ 1.2/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.4)

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88% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.7

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.3
($ 1.2 to $ 1.7)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2

Car hire

$ 21/24hrs
($ 4.8 to $ 90)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 40

Budget for living and housing in San Jose

Electricity, water...

$ 87/month
($ 48 to $ 180)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 161

Mobile phone

$ 0.1/min.
($ 0 to $ 0.1)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.1

Broadband internet

$ 72/month
($ 48 to $ 124)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 65

Studio flat (city centre)

$ 621/month
($ 378 to $ 1089)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1333

Studio flat (suburbs)

$ 499/month
($ 284 to $ 872)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1070

Flat (centre)

$ 1121/month
($ 660 to $ 2178)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2126

Flat (suburbs)

$ 943/month
($ 471 to $ 1851)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1695

Gym

$ 65/month
($ 39 to $ 104)

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74% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

Private nursery

$ 396/month
($ 189 to $ 634)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 923

Private primary school

$ 9224/yr
($ 4521 to $ 18831)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15597

Leisure activity budget in San Jose

Cinema

$ 6.6/ticket
($ 5.6 to $ 12)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Tennis

$ 34/hr
($ 20 to $ 39)

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109% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in San Jose

Cigarettes

$ 4.5/pack
($ 3.8 to $ 6.6)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.9

Levi's jeans

$ 73
($ 35 to $ 104)

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65% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 45

Summer dress

$ 55
($ 29 to $ 130)

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52% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 36

Trainers

$ 112
($ 77 to $ 189)

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47% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 76

Leather shoes

$ 109
($ 58 to $ 152)

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15% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 95

Plane ticket budget

London → San Jose

$ 812
(fair price: $ 648)

New York City → San Jose

$ 444
(fair price: $ 339)

Los Angeles → San Jose

$ 481
(fair price: $ 397)

Toronto (Ontario) → San Jose

$ 515
(fair price: $ 438)

Montreal → San Jose

$ 545
(fair price: $ 457)

Manchester → San Jose

$ 906
(fair price: $ 787)

Dublin → San Jose

$ 950
(fair price: $ 863)

Edinburgh → San Jose

$ 944
(fair price: $ 836)

Sydney → San Jose

$ 1599
(fair price: $ 1409)

Auckland → San Jose

$ 1824
(fair price: $ 1573)

Melbourne → San Jose

$ 1771
(fair price: $ 1561)