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Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Costa Rica Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Costa Rica

😐 Solo nomad: Australia is 12.6% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 51.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Australia is 14% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 29.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.57 A$24.86
$10.19 ₡5,052
62.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.7 A$117
$60.5 ₡30.0K
28.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 A$14.82
$10.17 ₡5,041
-2.85%
Cappuccino
$3.48 A$5.22
$3.90 ₡1,933
-10.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 A$3.84
$2.19 ₡1,086
16.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 A$3.20
$1.65 ₡819
29.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.62 A$9.93
$2.95 ₡1,460
124.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.31 A$10.97
$4.32 ₡2,142
69.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 A$2.26
$2.03 ₡1,005
-25.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 A$3.74
$3.18 ₡1,576
-21.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 A$3.10
$2.49 ₡1,234
-16.87%
Eggs
$4.27 A$6.41
$3.41 ₡1,688
25.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.73 A$13.10
$9.25 ₡4,584
-5.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.25 A$12.38
$9.42 ₡4,670
-12.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.17 A$21.26
$13.28 ₡6,583
6.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.27 A$4.90
$4.51 ₡2,235
-27.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.68 A$4.02
$1.54 ₡763
74.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 A$4.34
$3.37 ₡1,673
-14.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 A$6.42
$2.94 ₡1,458
45.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.47 A$3.70
$2.97 ₡1,475
-16.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 A$3.16
$2.83 ₡1,403
-25.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.30 A$3.44
$1.01 ₡502
127.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 A$2.24
$2.54 ₡1,257
-40.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.81 A$47.72
$5.03 ₡2,494
532.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.45 A$20.17
$15.31 ₡7,589
-12.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.48 A$6.72
$2.31 ₡1,145
93.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 A$7.51
$2.72 ₡1,347
84.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 A$4.37
$0.96 ₡475
203.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.0 A$146
$48.97 ₡24.3K
98.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.67 A$5.51
$1.80 ₡893
103.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 A$2.71
$2.01 ₡995
-9.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.37 A$57.6
$7.51 ₡3,723
410.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 A$1.79
$1.52 ₡752
-21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K A$43.6K
$36.6K ₡18.2M
-20.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K A$34.1K
$36.0K ₡17.9M
-36.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 A$262
$85.9 ₡42.6K
103.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.26 A$39.39
$25.46 ₡12.6K
3.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.0 A$79.5
$53.9 ₡26.7K
-1.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.12 A$70.7
$57.3 ₡28.4K
-17.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.51 A$24.77
$29.36 ₡14.6K
-43.77%
Cinema Ticket
$13.57 A$20.35
$9.01 ₡4,466
50.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,588 A$2,382
$540 ₡267.8K
193.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K A$18.8K
$10.1K ₡5.0M
24.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7 A$105
$71.5 ₡35.5K
-2.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 A$76.0
$54.9 ₡27.2K
-7.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 A$153
$117 ₡58.2K
-13.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 A$163
$103 ₡50.8K
6.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,370 A$2,055
$810 ₡401.7K
69.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,076 A$1,613
$551 ₡272.9K
95.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,270 A$3,404
$1,488 ₡737.8K
52.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,772 A$2,658
$1,043 ₡516.9K
69.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,081 A$10.6K
$2,335 ₡1.2M
203.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,392 A$8,088
$1,607 ₡796.5K
235.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,742 A$5,614
$981 ₡486.2K
281.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
10.53
-39.70%

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

Last update for Australia: January 10, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: January 12, 2026

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