Cost of living comparison
Lima is 20.5% cheaper than Alajuela.
- Restaurants
-
pay 40.9% less in Lima
- Groceries
-
pay 33.8% less in Lima
- Transportation
-
pay 11.9% less in Lima
- Housing
-
pay 18.1% less in Lima
- Childcare
-
pay 2.7% more in Lima
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 15.9% less in Lima
- Clothing
-
pay 25.7% less in Lima
Expenses including restaurants, groceries, clothing, housing, entertainment and sports, and transportation are lower in Lima.
If you lived in Lima instead of Alajuela, you would:
pay 40.9% less for restaurants
|
Alajuela
|
Lima
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$6.80
CRC3,466.97
|
$5.23
PEN18.95
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.23
CRC4,705.18
|
$6.10
PEN22.10
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.52
CRC775.94
|
$0.83
PEN3.00
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.30
CRC660.38
|
$0.51
PEN1.84
|
|
pay 33.8% less for groceries
|
Alajuela
|
Lima
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.39
CRC1,219.77
|
$2.42
PEN8.79
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.26
CRC2,173.74
|
$4.22
PEN15.30
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.04
CRC3,588.48
|
$4.95
PEN17.96
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.22
CRC1,129.24
|
$2.70
PEN9.81
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.40
CRC2,242.95
|
$2.25
PEN8.15
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.76
CRC895.37
|
$0.87
PEN3.17
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.63
CRC321.13
|
$0.50
PEN1.83
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.59
CRC810.53
|
$0.48
PEN1.74
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.26
CRC640.76
|
$0.52
PEN1.90
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.27
CRC647.24
|
$0.53
PEN1.94
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.15
CRC588.69
|
$0.48
PEN1.73
|
|
pay 11.9% less for transportation
|
Alajuela
|
Lima
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.49
CRC2,796.40
|
$5.39
PEN19.53
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$108.83
CRC55,471.56
|
$23.85
PEN86.48
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,925.49
CRC18,820,706.48
|
$23,163.52
PEN83,982.27
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$11.88
CRC6,054.82
|
$20.14
PEN73.03
|
|
pay 18.1% less for housing
|
Alajuela
|
Lima
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$32.07
CRC16,344.30
|
$26.56
PEN96.31
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$680.21
CRC346,697.22
|
$575.58
PEN2,086.84
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$583.03
CRC297,169.05
|
$363.71
PEN1,318.66
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$44.95
CRC22,913.21
|
$44.01
PEN159.55
|
|
pay 2.7% more for childcare
|
Alajuela
|
Lima
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$291.52
CRC148,584.52
|
$213.68
PEN774.72
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$5,920.82
CRC3,017,808.73
|
$7,818.35
PEN28,346.42
|
|
pay 15.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
Alajuela
|
Lima
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.43
CRC1,238.20
|
$2.12
PEN7.69
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.08
CRC1,568.39
|
$2.62
PEN9.50
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.86
CRC2,476.41
|
$5.30
PEN19.22
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$63.16
CRC32,193.31
|
$30.52
PEN110.64
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.75
CRC4,457.54
|
$7.95
PEN28.83
|
|
pay 25.7% less for clothing
|
Alajuela
|
Lima
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$73.45
CRC37,437.92
|
$42.79
PEN155.15
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.76
CRC25,871.37
|
$34.98
PEN126.83
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$116.61
CRC59,433.81
|
$85.21
PEN308.93
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.17
CRC49,528.17
|
$94.35
PEN342.08
|
|
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