Cost of Living in Balboa vs Tamarindo

Cost of living in Balboa is 13% lower than in Tamarindo (without rent).

Rent in Balboa is 34% cheaper than in Tamarindo.

Cost of living including rent in Balboa is 26% lower than in Tamarindo.

Food in Balboa is 9% cheaper than in Tamarindo.

Transport in Balboa is 26% cheaper than in Tamarindo.

Balboa vs. Tamarindo Comparision

Balboa Tamarindo
Cost of Living, including rent
1,249 $
1,687 $
Without Rent
580 $
668 $
Rent & Utilities
669 $
1,018 $
Food
442 $
485 $
Transport
38 $
51 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
862 $
869 $
Quality of Life
47
49
Population
62.9K
7.1K

Compare other cities?

Balboa Tamarindo

Restaurants

Lunch menu,
inexpensive restaurant
11.4 $ 11.4 $
Dinner, for 2 55.8 $ 57.9 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 7.67 $ 9.24 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.86 $ 3.08 $
Capuccino 4.08 $ 3.69 $
Coke, 330ml 1.91 $ 1.9 $

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.73 $ 1.88 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.23 $ 2.57 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.26 $ 2.08 $
Eggs, 12 pack 2.66 $ 3.23 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 12.9 $ 8.37 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 7.36 $ 9.61 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 10.1 $ 13.9 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.24 $ 4.27 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.54 $ 1.36 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.05 $ 3.06 $
Potatoes, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.19 $ 2.28 $
Onions, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.49 $ 2.62 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.01 $ 1.68 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.44 $ 3.09 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 8.93 $ 11.6 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.13 $ 2.4 $
Cigarette pack 5.94 $ 4.77 $

Transport

Local transport ticket, One-way Ticket 0.39 $ 1.15 $
Monthly pass, Monthly Ticket 28.3 $ 54.7 $
Gas or petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal 1.02 $ 1.46 $
Taxi, 8 km 14.6 $ 14.7 $

Personal Care

Doctor visit, private clinic 46.7 $ 67.2 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 10.9 $ 8.07 $
Hair shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz 6.51 $ 6.93 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 2.97 $ 2.75 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.86 $ 3.91 $

Utilities per Month

Utility bill - 1 person,
electricity, heating, water & garbage
77.5 $ 48.3 $
Utility bill - family,
electricity, heating, water & garbage
118 $ 75.1 $
Internet plan,
+60 Mbps
47.9 $ 51.1 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 493 $ 743 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,015 $ 871 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 745 $ 1,623 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,558 $ 2,881 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 2,284 $ 3,918 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 1,473 $ 2,703 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 862 $ 869 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.27 % 8.95 %

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 41.2 $ 96.1 $
Cinema, 1 seat 6.62 $ 6.68 $
Haircut 12.4 $ 12.7 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 88.6 $ 105 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 53.2 $ 73.2 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 436 $ 500 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 9,387 $ 8,808 $