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

😐 Solo nomad: Barbados is 20.1% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 10.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Barbados is 9.7% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 19.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barbados
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.95 BBD 39.90
$9.67 ₡4,599
106.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 BBD 200
$58.6 ₡27.9K
70.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 BBD 20.34
$10.23 ₡4,868
-0.59%
Cappuccino
$4.93 BBD 9.87
$3.97 ₡1,890
24.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 BBD 3.68
$2.17 ₡1,032
-15.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 BBD 2.67
$1.73 ₡823
-23.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.46 BBD 4.93
$2.89 ₡1,375
-14.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 BBD 7.82
$4.40 ₡2,096
-11.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barbados
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.39 BBD 6.77
$2.05 ₡977
65.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 BBD 5.23
$3.09 ₡1,469
-15.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.12 BBD 8.23
$2.51 ₡1,194
64.14%
Eggs
$5.54 BBD 11.07
$3.30 ₡1,569
67.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.95 BBD 15.89
$9.16 ₡4,359
-13.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.95 BBD 21.90
$9.29 ₡4,421
17.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.35 BBD 20.70
$13.16 ₡6,263
-21.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 BBD 8.32
$4.48 ₡2,131
-7.14%
Banana (1kg)
$3.10 BBD 6.21
$1.62 ₡771
91.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.98 BBD 9.95
$3.22 ₡1,530
54.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.01 BBD 8.01
$2.98 ₡1,419
34.56%
Potato (1kg)
$4.19 BBD 8.39
$3.01 ₡1,432
39.20%
Onion (1kg)
$3.12 BBD 6.24
$2.85 ₡1,354
9.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.64 BBD 5.27
$1.01 ₡481
161.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 BBD 4.59
$2.51 ₡1,194
-8.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.97 BBD 15.95
$4.94 ₡2,350
61.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.30 BBD 32.59
$15.72 ₡7,481
3.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 BBD 3.57
$2.38 ₡1,130
-25.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 BBD 5.90
$2.71 ₡1,290
8.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Barbados
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 BBD 3.56
$0.94 ₡448
89.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.68 BBD 49.36
$48.94 ₡23.3K
-49.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$14.76 BBD 29.53
$1.79 ₡853
724.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.43 BBD 4.86
$2.01 ₡956
20.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.41 BBD 80.8
$7.82 ₡3,723
416.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 BBD 4.15
$1.51 ₡719
37.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.7K BBD 81.5K
$36.8K ₡17.5M
10.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6K BBD 75.1K
$34.7K ₡16.5M
8.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barbados
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 BBD 247
$86.8 ₡41.3K
42.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.0 BBD 100
$25.69 ₡12.2K
94.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.4 BBD 121
$53.8 ₡25.6K
12.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barbados
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.4 BBD 145
$55.9 ₡26.6K
29.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.78 ₡13.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.02 BBD 20.05
$9.04 ₡4,303
10.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barbados
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$270 BBD 540
$560 ₡266.6K
-51.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,499 BBD 15.0K
$10.0K ₡4.8M
-25.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barbados
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 BBD 114
$72.4 ₡34.4K
-21.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.08 BBD 76.2
$54.4 ₡25.9K
-29.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 BBD 207
$117 ₡55.7K
-11.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.2 BBD 184
$103 ₡49.0K
-10.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barbados
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$666 BBD 1,333
$811 ₡386.1K
-17.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$548 BBD 1,096
$551 ₡262.0K
-0.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,768 BBD 3,535
$1,482 ₡705.3K
19.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 BBD 2,447
$1,036 ₡492.9K
18.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,440 BBD 6,880
$2,301 ₡1.1M
49.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,438 BBD 6,875
$1,575 ₡749.6K
118.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barbados
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,165 BBD 2,330
$1,030 ₡490.1K
13.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.62
10.53
-46.63%

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

Last update for Barbados: February 28, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar countries