Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Antigua and Barbuda and Costa Rica

Name: Costa Rica
Address: CR

For one person, living is cheaper in Costa Rica: $1,821 a month against $2,587 in Antigua and Barbuda, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

125

Cost of Living Index in Antigua and Barbuda
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Antigua and Barbuda Living Index
87

Cost of Living Index in Costa Rica
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Costa Rica Living Index

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🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda

$2,587

/mo nomad

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,821

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Antigua and Barbuda and in Costa Rica

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Antigua and Barbuda and in Costa Rica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,587 in Antigua and Barbuda versus $1,821 in Costa Rica.

Antigua and Barbuda $2,587
Costa Rica $1,821

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Antigua and Barbuda versus $2,773 in Costa Rica.

Antigua and Barbuda $3,477
Costa Rica $2,773

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,367 in Antigua and Barbuda versus $3,725 in Costa Rica.

Antigua and Barbuda $4,367
Costa Rica $3,725

Internal cost variation is higher in Antigua and Barbuda: monthly costs span $678 to $2,366, compared to $1,004–$2,114 in Costa Rica. City choice carries more weight in Antigua and Barbuda.

Living in Antigua and Barbuda is roughly 42% more expensive than in Costa Rica on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Antigua and Barbuda 90% above, Costa Rica 34% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.88 EC$29.37

$11.26 ₡5,082

-3.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.7 EC$196

$54.5 ₡24.6K

33.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.32 EC$22.46

$11.02 ₡4,973

-24.50%

Cappuccino

$4.31 EC$11.64

$4.43 ₡1,998

-2.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 EC$5.30

$2.34 ₡1,055

-16.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 EC$2.89

$1.84 ₡828

-41.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 EC$7.80

$3.26 ₡1,472

-11.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 EC$12.08

$4.55 ₡2,053

-1.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 EC$6.93

$2.45 ₡1,104

4.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 EC$7.46

$3.56 ₡1,608

-22.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 EC$10.95

$2.76 ₡1,245

47.10%

Eggs

$7.41 EC$20.00

$3.97 ₡1,793

86.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.17 EC$27.47

$10.47 ₡4,726

-2.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.68 EC$23.45

$9.98 ₡4,505

-13.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.95 EC$62.0

$13.91 ₡6,275

64.99%

Apples (1kg)

$6.83 EC$18.44

$5.06 ₡2,282

34.98%

Banana (1kg)

$3.99 EC$10.78

$1.69 ₡763

136.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$11.37 EC$30.69

$3.45 ₡1,557

229.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 EC$17.60

$3.23 ₡1,459

101.86%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 EC$9.93

$3.44 ₡1,554

6.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 EC$6.52

$3.25 ₡1,465

-25.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.81 EC$10.28

$1.09 ₡492

249.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 EC$4.39

$2.67 ₡1,203

-39.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.22 EC$19.49

$5.38 ₡2,426

34.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.26 EC$25.01

$15.50 ₡6,993

-40.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 EC$6.09

$2.75 ₡1,241

-17.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 EC$8.06

$3.30 ₡1,488

-9.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 EC$2.95

$1.13 ₡509

-3.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 ₡29.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 EC$19.76

$2.17 ₡979

237.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.40 EC$14.57

$2.02 ₡912

167.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.67 EC$53.1

$8.94 ₡4,034

120.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 EC$4.01

$1.61 ₡726

-7.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.8K EC$77.8K

$34.5K ₡15.6M

-16.49%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.9K EC$96.8K

$37.4K ₡16.9M

-4.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$293 EC$791

$94.9 ₡42.8K

208.68%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$39.04 EC$105

$31.42 ₡14.2K

24.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.3 EC$228

$58.6 ₡26.4K

43.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.4 EC$185

$65.7 ₡29.6K

4.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$55.8 EC$151

$22.20 ₡10.0K

151.26%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 EC$18.11

$8.10 ₡3,654

-17.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$188 EC$507

$722 ₡325.8K

-74.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,448 EC$6,609

$12.9K ₡5.8M

-81.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.06 EC$105

$75.5 ₡34.1K

-48.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 ₡25.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.5 EC$172

$128 ₡57.9K

-50.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 EC$394

$108 ₡48.8K

35.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,837 EC$4,960

$960 ₡433.2K

91.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 EC$3,441

$708 ₡319.5K

79.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 EC$6,678

$1,749 ₡789.0K

41.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 EC$4,040

$1,215 ₡548.3K

23.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.8K EC$31.9K

$2,656 ₡1.2M

345.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,839 ₡829.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,683 EC$4,543

$1,058 ₡477.6K

58.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

9.56

-39.85%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Antigua and Barbuda: October 24, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Antigua and Barbuda

$1.3K 49.3%

Costa Rica

$708 38.9% 44.4% $566

Groceries & Markets

Antigua and Barbuda

$465 18%

Costa Rica

$380 20.9% 18.2% $84

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Antigua and Barbuda

$416 16.1%

Costa Rica

$185 10.2% 55.6% $231

Eating Out

Antigua and Barbuda

$199 7.7%

Costa Rica

$218 12% 9.6% $19

Clothing & Footwear

Antigua and Barbuda

$112 * 4.3%

Costa Rica

$166 9.1% 48.1% $54

Sport & Entertainment

Antigua and Barbuda

$82 3.2%

Costa Rica

$82 4.5% 0.1% $0.1

Getting Around

Antigua and Barbuda

$39 * 1.5%

Costa Rica

$82 4.5% 113% $44

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $2,052 in Antigua and Barbuda, $855 in Costa Rica. Capital cities: $1,052 in Saint John’s vs $1,164 in San Jose.

National salary averages: $1,372 in Antigua and Barbuda, $1,087 in Costa Rica. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 140% higher in Antigua and Barbuda.

Dining out costs 20% more in Antigua and Barbuda.

Salaries are 26% higher in Antigua and Barbuda.

Good to know

🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🕒 Local time

04:49 4:49 AM

02:49 2:49 AM

2 h behind Antigua and Barbuda

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

101,489

5,044,197

💱 Currency

East Caribbean Dollar XCD $

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

1 XCD = 0.37 USD

1 XCD = 0.333 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to XCD – East Caribbean Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🌐 East Caribbean Dollar ($)

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.01 XCD (1 XCD = 0.333 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 502 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

USD to XCD in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Antigua and Barbuda Costa Rica 2,530 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Antigua and Barbuda
Costa Rica

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Antigua and Barbuda vs Costa Rica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $2,587 per month in Antigua and Barbuda and $1,821 in Costa Rica, there’s a 42% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $2,052 in Antigua and Barbuda and $855 in Costa Rica. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

It depends on what you’re after: Costa Rica wins on affordability; Antigua and Barbuda may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.