Cost of living in Alajuela

In Alajuela, Costa Rica, a family of four typically needs around $2990 per month including rent. A single person may spend about $1233 monthly.

How expensive is Alajuela compared to other cities?

Alajuela is 14% cheaper overall versus the European benchmark.

How does Alajuela compare to your city?

Alajuela is 7% cheaper than Columbus, without rent.

Rent in Alajuela is, on average, 56% lower than in Columbus.

What drives the cost of living in Alajuela?

Who is Alajuela a good fit for?

Alajuela is most realistic when moving with a strong job offer or relocation package. Without high income, the housing-driven price level can be difficult to sustain.

FAQ

Why is Alajuela so expensive?

The main driver of costs in Alajuela is rent and utilities, which can significantly impact overall expenses.

Is food expensive in Alajuela?

Food is 8% lower than the European benchmark, making it relatively affordable.

Is public transport affordable in Alajuela?

Public transport is 14% lower than the European benchmark, contributing to lower overall living costs.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1233 $
Without Rent
633 $
Rent & Utilities
601 $
Food
437 $
Transport
64 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
1155 $
GDP per Capita
16,595 $
Freedom Index
8.04
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
8%
Population
44.4K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 6.73 $
Dinner 38.6 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 9.08 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.39 $
Capuccino 3.01 $
Coke, 330ml 1.51 $

Compare Alajuela with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.83 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.34 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.06 $
Eggs, 12 pack 2.18 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 8.44 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 9.56 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.8 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.82 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.37 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.47 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.77 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.8 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.52 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.63 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 3.07 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 17.2 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.06 $
Cigarette pack 4.81 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 0.83 $
Monthly Pass 107 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.46 $
Taxi, 8 km 11.6 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 66.5 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 8.08 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 7.04 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 2.8 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 3.86 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 36 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 55 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 31.7 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 516 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,058 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 602 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 961 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 1,927 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 1,442 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 1,155 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 11.30%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 62.1 $
Cinema, 1 seat 8.64 $
Haircut 12.7 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 115 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 72.5 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 29 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 5,886 $

Compare Alajuela with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Alajuela vs George Town (George Town is 196% more expensive)
Bahamas
Alajuela vs Nassau (Nassau is 123% more expensive) Alajuela vs Freeport (Freeport is 78% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Alajuela vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 91% more expensive) Alajuela vs Luganville (Luganville is 148% more expensive)
United States
Alajuela vs New York City (New York City is 229% more expensive) Alajuela vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 158% more expensive) Alajuela vs Chicago (Chicago is 116% more expensive) Alajuela vs Houston (Houston is 82% more expensive) Alajuela vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 92% more expensive) Alajuela vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 106% more expensive) Alajuela vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 78% more expensive) Alajuela vs San Diego (San Diego is 171% more expensive) Alajuela vs Dallas (Dallas is 107% more expensive) Alajuela vs San Jose (San Jose is 198% more expensive)
Canada
Alajuela vs Toronto (Toronto is 109% more expensive) Alajuela vs Montreal (Montreal is 58% more expensive) Alajuela vs Calgary (Calgary is 74% more expensive) Alajuela vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 81% more expensive) Alajuela vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 45% more expensive) Alajuela vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 42% more expensive) Alajuela vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 100% more expensive) Alajuela vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 115% more expensive) Alajuela vs Brampton (Brampton is 73% more expensive) Alajuela vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 75% more expensive)
Barbados
Alajuela vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 10% more expensive) Alajuela vs Holetown (Holetown is 13% more expensive)
Panama
Alajuela vs Panama City (Panama City is 12% more expensive) Alajuela vs Colon (Colon is 4% less expensive) Alajuela vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 0% less expensive) Alajuela vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 14% less expensive) Alajuela vs David (David is 32% less expensive) Alajuela vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 23% less expensive) Alajuela vs Balboa (Balboa is 1% more expensive) Alajuela vs Pacora (Pacora is 1% more expensive) Alajuela vs Chitre (Chitre is 12% less expensive) Alajuela vs Penonome (Penonome is 11% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Alajuela vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 1% more expensive) Alajuela vs Cayon (Cayon is 1% more expensive)
Cuba
Alajuela vs Havana (Havana is 17% less expensive) Alajuela vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 15% more expensive) Alajuela vs Holguin (Holguin is 4% more expensive) Alajuela vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 24% more expensive) Alajuela vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 15% less expensive) Alajuela vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 5% less expensive) Alajuela vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 26% more expensive) Alajuela vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 26% more expensive) Alajuela vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 11% less expensive) Alajuela vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 29% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Alajuela vs San Jose (San Jose is 0% more expensive) Alajuela vs Limon (Limon is 3% less expensive) Alajuela vs Liberia (Liberia is 27% less expensive) Alajuela vs Alajuela (Alajuela has similar costs) Alajuela vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 4% more expensive) Alajuela vs Cartago (Cartago is 22% less expensive) Alajuela vs Heredia (Heredia is 1% more expensive) Alajuela vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 37% more expensive) Alajuela vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 6% more expensive)
Saint Lucia
Alajuela vs Castries (Castries is 6% less expensive) Alajuela vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 3% less expensive)
Jamaica
Alajuela vs Kingston (Kingston is 7% more expensive) Alajuela vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 36% less expensive) Alajuela vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 17% less expensive) Alajuela vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 6% less expensive) Alajuela vs May Pen (May Pen is 33% less expensive) Alajuela vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 21% less expensive) Alajuela vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 31% less expensive) Alajuela vs Linstead (Linstead is 15% less expensive) Alajuela vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 9% less expensive) Alajuela vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 7% less expensive)
El Salvador
Alajuela vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 3% less expensive) Alajuela vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 42% less expensive) Alajuela vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 5% less expensive) Alajuela vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 12% less expensive) Alajuela vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 6% less expensive) Alajuela vs Apopa (Apopa is 7% less expensive) Alajuela vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 3% less expensive) Alajuela vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 18% more expensive) Alajuela vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 12% less expensive) Alajuela vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 28% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Alajuela vs St. John's (St. John's is 12% less expensive) Alajuela vs All Saints (All Saints is 12% less expensive)
Grenada
Alajuela vs St. George's (St. George's is 14% less expensive) Alajuela vs Grenville (Grenville is 14% less expensive)
Dominica
Alajuela vs Roseau (Roseau is 19% less expensive) Alajuela vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 8% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Alajuela vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 20% less expensive) Alajuela vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 19% less expensive)
Belize
Alajuela vs Belize City (Belize City is 29% less expensive) Alajuela vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 12% less expensive) Alajuela vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 41% less expensive) Alajuela vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 8% more expensive) Alajuela vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 28% more expensive)
Guatemala
Alajuela vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 18% less expensive) Alajuela vs Mixco (Mixco is 48% less expensive) Alajuela vs Coban (Coban is 26% less expensive) Alajuela vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 37% less expensive) Alajuela vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 27% less expensive) Alajuela vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 27% less expensive) Alajuela vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 29% less expensive) Alajuela vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 29% less expensive) Alajuela vs Flores (Flores is 30% less expensive) Alajuela vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 36% less expensive)
Honduras
Alajuela vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 33% less expensive) Alajuela vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 16% less expensive) Alajuela vs Choloma (Choloma is 51% less expensive) Alajuela vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 47% less expensive) Alajuela vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 28% less expensive) Alajuela vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 30% less expensive) Alajuela vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 42% less expensive) Alajuela vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 42% less expensive) Alajuela vs Yoro (Yoro is 40% less expensive) Alajuela vs La Lima (La Lima is 29% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Alajuela vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 36% less expensive) Alajuela vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 15% less expensive) Alajuela vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 38% less expensive) Alajuela vs Higuey (Higuey is 38% less expensive) Alajuela vs La Vega (La Vega is 54% less expensive) Alajuela vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 33% less expensive) Alajuela vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 41% less expensive) Alajuela vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 57% less expensive) Alajuela vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 49% less expensive) Alajuela vs Bonao (Bonao is 56% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Alajuela vs Managua (Managua is 37% less expensive) Alajuela vs Leon (Leon is 48% less expensive) Alajuela vs Masaya (Masaya is 42% less expensive) Alajuela vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 55% less expensive) Alajuela vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 48% less expensive) Alajuela vs Esteli (Esteli is 52% less expensive) Alajuela vs Granada (Granada is 43% less expensive) Alajuela vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 63% less expensive) Alajuela vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 46% less expensive) Alajuela vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 28% less expensive)