Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the Bahamas and Costa Rica

Name: Costa Rica
Address: CR

For one person, living is cheaper in Costa Rica: $1,821 a month against $3,377 in the Bahamas, rent and utilities included – about $18,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

161

Cost of Living Index in the Bahamas
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Bahamas Living Index
87

Cost of Living Index in Costa Rica
Learn more

Costa Rica Living Index

Jump to prices

🇧🇸 Bahamas

$3,377

/mo nomad

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,821

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the Bahamas 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 the Bahamas and in Costa Rica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,377 in the Bahamas versus $1,821 in Costa Rica.

Bahamas $3,377
Costa Rica $1,821

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,923 in the Bahamas versus $2,773 in Costa Rica.

Bahamas $5,923
Costa Rica $2,773

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,469 in the Bahamas versus $3,725 in Costa Rica.

Bahamas $8,469
Costa Rica $3,725

Internal cost variation is higher in the Bahamas: monthly costs span $27 to $4,294, compared to $1,004–$2,114 in Costa Rica. City choice carries more weight in the Bahamas.

Living in the Bahamas is roughly 85% more expensive than in Costa Rica on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: the Bahamas 148% above, Costa Rica 34% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$49.01 BSD 49.01

$11.26 ₡5,069

335.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$162 BSD 162

$54.5 ₡24.5K

197.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.84 BSD 11.84

$11.02 ₡4,960

7.44%

Cappuccino

$5.46 BSD 5.46

$4.43 ₡1,993

23.25%

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

$3.16 BSD 3.16

$2.34 ₡1,052

35.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 BSD 1.98

$1.84 ₡826

7.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 BSD 4.89

$3.26 ₡1,469

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.14 BSD 8.14

$4.55 ₡2,047

78.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.09 BSD 4.09

$2.45 ₡1,101

66.94%

White Bread (500g)

$5.38 BSD 5.38

$3.56 ₡1,603

51.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.18 BSD 6.18

$2.76 ₡1,241

123.91%

Eggs

$8.58 BSD 8.58

$3.97 ₡1,789

116.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.69 BSD 12.69

$10.47 ₡4,713

21.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.59 BSD 12.59

$9.98 ₡4,493

26.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.12 BSD 17.12

$13.91 ₡6,259

23.08%

Apples (1kg)

$7.20 BSD 7.20

$5.06 ₡2,276

42.29%

Banana (1kg)

$3.83 BSD 3.83

$1.69 ₡761

126.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.62 BSD 6.62

$3.45 ₡1,553

91.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.96 BSD 9.96

$3.23 ₡1,455

208.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.13 BSD 3.13

$3.44 ₡1,550

-9.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.66 BSD 3.66

$3.25 ₡1,461

12.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.42 BSD 4.42

$1.09 ₡490

305.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 BSD 2.77

$2.67 ₡1,200

3.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 BSD 14.92

$5.38 ₡2,420

177.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$28.55 BSD 28.55

$15.50 ₡6,975

84.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.62 BSD 4.62

$2.75 ₡1,238

68.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 BSD 4.11

$3.30 ₡1,484

24.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.13 BSD 2.13

$1.13 ₡508

88.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$152 BSD 152

$65.5 ₡29.5K

131.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 BSD 7.79

$2.17 ₡976

258.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.97 BSD 2.97

$2.02 ₡910

47.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$76.0 BSD 76.0

$8.94 ₡4,023

750.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BSD 1.52

$1.61 ₡724

-5.59%

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

$38.2K BSD 38.2K

$34.5K ₡15.5M

10.71%

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

$41.5K BSD 41.5K

$37.4K ₡16.8M

11.02%

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

$315 BSD 315

$94.9 ₡42.7K

231.44%

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

$63.1 BSD 63.1

$31.42 ₡14.1K

100.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 BSD 101

$58.6 ₡26.3K

72.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$113 BSD 113

$65.7 ₡29.6K

72.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.06 BSD 46.06

$22.20 ₡9,989

107.48%

Cinema Ticket

$18.95 BSD 18.95

$8.10 ₡3,645

133.95%

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

$942 BSD 942

$722 ₡324.9K

30.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.4K BSD 15.4K

$12.9K ₡5.8M

19.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 BSD 54.0

$75.5 ₡34.0K

-28.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$84.2 BSD 84.2

$56.4 ₡25.4K

49.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 BSD 113

$128 ₡57.7K

-11.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 BSD 108

$108 ₡48.7K

-0.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 BSD 1,089

$960 ₡432.0K

13.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,251 BSD 1,251

$708 ₡318.6K

76.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,554 BSD 3,554

$1,749 ₡786.9K

103.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,509 BSD 3,509

$1,215 ₡546.8K

188.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,035 BSD 6,035

$2,656 ₡1.2M

127.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,429 BSD 3,429

$1,839 ₡827.5K

86.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,474 BSD 2,474

$1,058 ₡476.3K

133.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.82

9.56

23.64%

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

Last update for the Bahamas: October 25, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Bahamas

$1.3K 37%

Costa Rica

$708 38.9% 43.4% $543

Groceries & Markets

Bahamas

$597 17.7%

Costa Rica

$380 20.9% 36.4% $217

Eating Out

Bahamas

$554 16.4%

Costa Rica

$218 12% 60.6% $336

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bahamas

$479 14.2%

Costa Rica

$185 10.2% 61.4% $294

Getting Around

Bahamas

$183 5.4%

Costa Rica

$82 4.5% 55% $101

Clothing & Footwear

Bahamas

$162 4.8%

Costa Rica

$166 9.1% 2.4% $3.9

Sport & Entertainment

Bahamas

$151 4.5%

Costa Rica

$82 4.5% 45.8% $69

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,140 in the Bahamas, $855 in Costa Rica. Capital cities: $1,495 in Nassau vs $1,164 in San Jose.

National salary averages: $2,211 in the Bahamas, $1,087 in Costa Rica. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 33% higher in the Bahamas.

Dining out costs 180% more in the Bahamas.

Public transport is 122% more expensive in the Bahamas.

Salaries are about 2 times higher in the Bahamas.

Good to know

🇧🇸 Bahamas

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🕒 Local time

03:04 3:04 AM

01:04 1:04 AM

2 h behind the Bahamas

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

399,440

5,044,197

💱 Currency

Bahamian Dollar BSD $

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

1 BSD = 1 USD

1 BSD = 0.899 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 2 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to BSD – Bahamian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇸 Bahamian Dollar ($)

Bahamian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1 BSD (1 BSD = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.11 BSD (1 BSD = 0.899 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 501 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2 EUR).

USD to BSD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Bahamas Costa Rica 1,830 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Bahamas
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

Bahamas vs Costa Rica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $3,377 per month in the Bahamas and $1,821 in Costa Rica, there’s a 85% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is cheaper in Costa Rica: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,140 in the Bahamas 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; the Bahamas may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.