Cost of living in San Rafael

San Rafael, located in the heart of Costa Rica, offers a unique blend of cultural richness and natural beauty. Understanding the cost of living in this vibrant city is crucial for both residents and potential newcomers.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of expenses in San Rafael, covering everything from dining and groceries to transportation and housing.

Cost of Living Summary

Dining and Restaurants
  • Inexpensive Restaurant Meal - A meal at a casual restaurant will typically cost $10 on average, with a range between $7 and $19.74.
  • Mid-Range Restaurant (Three-Course Meal for Two) - For a more upscale dining experience, expect to pay around $59.23, with prices ranging from $39.49 to $98.71.
  • Fast Food (e.g., McDonald's) - A McMeal or equivalent combo meal averages $9.87, with a range between $9.77 and $11.85.
  • Beverages (e.g., Domestic Beer, Imported Beer, Cappuccino, Coke/Pepsi) - Domestic beer ranges from $1.97 to $5, imported beer $2.96 to $6, cappuccino $2.17 to $6.91, and Coke/Pepsi $1.55 to $2.96.
Grocery Prices
  • Milk - Milk is priced between $1.38 and $2.37 per liter, averaging $1.94.
  • Bread (Loaf of Fresh White Bread) - A loaf of fresh white bread costs between $1.23 and $4.34, with an average price of $2.63.
  • Eggs (Dozen) - A dozen eggs range from $1.97 to $5.53, averaging $3.3.
  • Fruits (e.g., Apples, Oranges) - Apples cost $2.76 to $6.52 per kg, while oranges range from $2 to $5.92 per kg.
  • Vegetables (e.g., Potatoes, Lettuce) - Potatoes are priced between $1.09 and $4.28 per kg, and lettuce costs $0.79 to $2 per head.
Transportation
  • Fuel (Gasoline) - Gasoline is priced between $1.33 and $1.57 per liter.
  • Taxi Fares - Taxi fares start at $1.82, with a cost of $1.38 to $2 per km and $6.83 to $8.88 per hour of waiting.
  • Car Purchase - A new Volkswagen Golf costs between $31,193.89 and $40,000, while a Toyota Corolla ranges from $30,000 to $34,374.34.
Housing Costs
  • Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child - The cost for private preschool ranges from $394.86 to $918.05 monthly, averaging $616.97.
  • International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child - Yearly fees for international primary schools range from $9,871.48 to $19,320.47, averaging $12,575.34.
Utilities
  • Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Water, etc.) - Basic utilities for an 85m2 apartment cost between $39.49 and $118.46, averaging $83.71.
  • Internet - Internet services range from $39.49 to $82.92, with an average cost of $53.35.
  • Mobile Phone Plan - A mobile phone plan with calls and 10GB+ data costs between $19.74 and $35.54, averaging $24.12.

Cost of Living Data

We don't have enough data available for this city...
Restaurants
Avg / Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
$10.00
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course
$59.23
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)
$9.87
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49
Cappuccino (regular)
$3.80
Markets
Avg / Range
Milk (regular), (1 liter)
$1.94
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)
$2.63
Eggs (regular) (12)
$3.30
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.66
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)
$17.77
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)
$5.13
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.83
Apples (1kg)
$4.35
Oranges (1kg)
$3.56
Potato (1kg)
$2.90
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08
Rice (white), (1kg)
$2.13
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01
Banana (1kg)
$1.41
Onion (1kg)
$2.66
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)
$14.24
Transportation
Avg / Range
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)
$37,511.64
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.82
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
$1.80
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.05
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)
$33,175.10
Utilities (Monthly)
Avg / Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment
$83.71
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
$53.35
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data
$24.12
Sports And Leisure
Avg / Range
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat
$9.87
Clothing And Shoes
Avg / Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.36
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)
$51.46
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)
$127.47
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes
$118.78
Salaries And Financing
Avg / Range
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate
10.81%
Childcare
Avg / Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child
$616.97
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child
$12,575.34
Worldwide
Costa Rica

Cost of Living Rankings

The cost of living indices for Costa Rica are compared to New York City (NYC), which serves as the baseline with an index of 100. These provide insights into the relative cost of living in different cities in Costa Rica, covering factors like consumer goods, rent, and purchasing power.
Highest to LowestUpdated: Oct, 2025
San Jose
1
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Costa Rica
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