A survey conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) in 38 commercial establishments from Heredia, San José, Alajuela and Cartago determined that identical school supplies have price differences of up to 157%, while when it comes to similar uniforms, the difference is up to 588%.
For instance, school socks (98% polyester, 2% spandex) range from ¢ 250 and similar ones (78% cotton, 19% polyester and 3% spandex) can cost up to ¢ 1,720.
However, in other products with similar characteristics, the differences can reach up to 1.290%.
Welmer Ramos, minister of Economy, stressed that the idea is that people know that the price difference is quite significant, so it is worth walking and compare.
Basic packages:
The basic uniform package set by the Ministry has an average value of ¢ 27,303 for girls and ¢ 28,127 for boys. This includes:
-5 pairs of socks
-3 shirts / blouse
-3 pants
The basic package of school supplies has an average price of ¢ 10,620. It includes:
-5 pens
-2 erasers
-7 notebooks with 100 sheets
-5 letter-size folders
-12 pencils
A pack of 100 white sheets
A pack of 100 striped sheets
-A basic Spanish dictionary
Among the important aspects found in the survey, the minister emphasized that the lowest prices are not in the same commercial establishment.
Minister Ramos said that the market offers several options, which fit consumers’ budget and taste.