Cost of living in Puntarenas

In Puntarenas, Costa Rica, a single person typically needs around $1277 per month including rent. A family of four may spend about $3127 monthly.

How expensive is Puntarenas compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Puntarenas is 11% cheaper overall.

How does Puntarenas compare to your city?

Puntarenas is 52% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Puntarenas is, on average, 77% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Puntarenas?

Who is Puntarenas a good fit for?

Puntarenas tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Puntarenas so expensive?

The cost of living in Puntarenas is influenced primarily by rent and utilities, which can be significant expenses for residents.

Is food expensive in Puntarenas?

Food prices are approximately 4% higher than the European benchmark, making it slightly more costly in this regard.

Is public transport affordable in Puntarenas?

Public transport is quite affordable, being 31% lower than the European benchmark, providing good value for residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1277 $
Without Rent
681 $
Rent & Utilities
597 $
Food
495 $
Transport
52 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
1021 $
GDP per Capita
16,595 $
Freedom Index
8.04
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
8%
Population
41.5K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 11.5 $
Dinner 57.7 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 9.55 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 3.07 $
Capuccino 3.64 $
Coke, 330ml 1.91 $

Compare Puntarenas with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.9 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.57 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.09 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.24 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 8.36 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 9.54 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 14 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.28 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 0.61 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.5 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.94 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.84 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.6 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.7 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 3.05 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 17.4 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.42 $
Cigarette pack 4.87 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 0.89 $
Monthly Pass 58.9 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.44 $
Taxi, 8 km 14.7 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 67.2 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 8.19 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 7.03 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 2.8 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 3.87 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 48 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 74 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 53 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 456 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 797 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 654 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,179 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 2,317 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 1,549 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 1,021 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 11.43%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 55.3 $
Cinema, 1 seat 8.71 $
Haircut 12.9 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 125 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 73.3 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 5 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 12,946 $

Compare Puntarenas with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Puntarenas vs George Town (George Town is 185% more expensive)
Bahamas
Puntarenas vs Nassau (Nassau is 116% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Freeport (Freeport is 72% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Puntarenas vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 84% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Luganville (Luganville is 139% more expensive)
United States
Puntarenas vs New York City (New York City is 217% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 150% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Chicago (Chicago is 109% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Houston (Houston is 76% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 86% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 99% more expensive) Puntarenas vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 72% more expensive) Puntarenas vs San Diego (San Diego is 162% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Dallas (Dallas is 100% more expensive) Puntarenas vs San Jose (San Jose is 188% more expensive)
Canada
Puntarenas vs Toronto (Toronto is 102% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Montreal (Montreal is 53% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Calgary (Calgary is 68% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 75% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 40% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 37% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 94% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 108% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Brampton (Brampton is 67% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 69% more expensive)
Barbados
Puntarenas vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 6% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Holetown (Holetown is 9% more expensive)
Panama
Puntarenas vs Panama City (Panama City is 8% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Colon (Colon is 7% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 4% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 17% less expensive) Puntarenas vs David (David is 35% less expensive) Puntarenas vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 25% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Balboa (Balboa is 2% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Pacora (Pacora is 2% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Chitre (Chitre is 15% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Penonome (Penonome is 14% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Puntarenas vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 3% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Cayon (Cayon is 3% less expensive)
Cuba
Puntarenas vs Havana (Havana is 20% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 11% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Holguin (Holguin is 0% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 19% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 18% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 9% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 22% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 22% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 14% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 31% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Puntarenas vs San Jose (San Jose is 3% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Limon (Limon is 6% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Liberia (Liberia is 30% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 3% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas has similar costs) Puntarenas vs Cartago (Cartago is 25% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Heredia (Heredia is 2% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 32% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 3% more expensive)
Saint Lucia
Puntarenas vs Castries (Castries is 9% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 6% less expensive)
Jamaica
Puntarenas vs Kingston (Kingston is 4% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 39% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 20% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 9% less expensive) Puntarenas vs May Pen (May Pen is 36% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 23% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 34% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Linstead (Linstead is 18% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 12% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 10% less expensive)
El Salvador
Puntarenas vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 7% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 44% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 8% less expensive) Puntarenas vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 15% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 9% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Apopa (Apopa is 10% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 6% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 14% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 15% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 31% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Puntarenas vs St. John's (St. John's is 15% less expensive) Puntarenas vs All Saints (All Saints is 15% less expensive)
Grenada
Puntarenas vs St. George's (St. George's is 17% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Grenville (Grenville is 17% less expensive)
Dominica
Puntarenas vs Roseau (Roseau is 21% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 11% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Puntarenas vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 23% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 21% less expensive)
Belize
Puntarenas vs Belize City (Belize City is 31% less expensive) Puntarenas vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 15% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 43% less expensive) Puntarenas vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 4% more expensive) Puntarenas vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 23% more expensive)
Guatemala
Puntarenas vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 21% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Mixco (Mixco is 50% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Coban (Coban is 29% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 39% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 29% less expensive) Puntarenas vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 30% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 32% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 32% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Flores (Flores is 33% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 38% less expensive)
Honduras
Puntarenas vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 35% less expensive) Puntarenas vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 19% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Choloma (Choloma is 53% less expensive) Puntarenas vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 49% less expensive) Puntarenas vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 31% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 32% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 44% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 44% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Yoro (Yoro is 43% less expensive) Puntarenas vs La Lima (La Lima is 32% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Puntarenas vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 38% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 18% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 40% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Higuey (Higuey is 40% less expensive) Puntarenas vs La Vega (La Vega is 55% less expensive) Puntarenas vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 35% less expensive) Puntarenas vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 43% less expensive) Puntarenas vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 59% less expensive) Puntarenas vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 51% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Bonao (Bonao is 58% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Puntarenas vs Managua (Managua is 39% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Leon (Leon is 50% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Masaya (Masaya is 44% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 57% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 50% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Esteli (Esteli is 54% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Granada (Granada is 45% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 64% less expensive) Puntarenas vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 48% less expensive) Puntarenas vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 30% less expensive)