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

😐 Solo nomad: Canada is 16.6% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 55.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Canada is 12.7% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 37.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.70 CA$25.62
$9.67 ₡4,549
93.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4 CA$102
$58.6 ₡27.6K
27.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 CA$15.26
$10.23 ₡4,816
8.90%
Cappuccino
$3.75 CA$5.13
$3.97 ₡1,870
-5.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.90
$2.17 ₡1,021
-2.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.40
$1.73 ₡814
1.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.95 CA$8.15
$2.89 ₡1,361
105.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.07 CA$8.31
$4.40 ₡2,073
37.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.21 CA$3.03
$2.05 ₡966
7.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.70 CA$3.70
$3.09 ₡1,453
-12.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.63 CA$4.98
$2.51 ₡1,181
44.62%
Eggs
$3.57 CA$4.89
$3.30 ₡1,552
8.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.60 CA$15.89
$9.16 ₡4,312
26.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.17 CA$16.67
$9.29 ₡4,374
31.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.29 CA$20.95
$13.16 ₡6,195
16.19%
Apples (1kg)
$4.32 CA$5.92
$4.48 ₡2,108
-3.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 CA$2.06
$1.62 ₡762
-7.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.87 CA$5.30
$3.22 ₡1,514
20.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 CA$5.86
$2.98 ₡1,404
43.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.79 CA$3.82
$3.01 ₡1,416
-7.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 CA$3.59
$2.85 ₡1,339
-8.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.63 CA$3.61
$1.01 ₡476
160.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 CA$2.46
$2.51 ₡1,182
-28.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.95 CA$20.48
$4.94 ₡2,325
202.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.91 CA$17.69
$15.72 ₡7,401
-17.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.03 CA$4.16
$2.38 ₡1,118
27.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 CA$4.64
$2.71 ₡1,277
25.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.60 CA$3.56
$0.94 ₡443
176.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.0 CA$107
$48.94 ₡23.0K
59.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 CA$4.65
$1.79 ₡843
89.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 CA$2.12
$2.01 ₡946
-22.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.12 CA$38.52
$7.82 ₡3,683
259.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 CA$1.58
$1.51 ₡711
-23.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K CA$34.4K
$36.8K ₡17.3M
-31.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K CA$28.0K
$34.7K ₡16.3M
-41.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 CA$216
$86.8 ₡40.9K
81.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.83 CA$62.8
$25.69 ₡12.1K
78.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.4 CA$85.5
$53.8 ₡25.3K
16.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.42 CA$59.5
$55.9 ₡26.3K
-22.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.87 CA$24.49
$28.78 ₡13.5K
-37.91%
Cinema Ticket
$11.55 CA$15.83
$9.04 ₡4,257
27.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$806 CA$1,104
$560 ₡263.7K
43.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K CA$16.6K
$10.0K ₡4.7M
21.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 CA$75.8
$72.4 ₡34.1K
-23.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.55 CA$58.3
$54.4 ₡25.6K
-21.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 CA$122
$117 ₡55.1K
-23.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 CA$148
$103 ₡48.4K
5.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,367 CA$1,873
$811 ₡381.9K
68.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 CA$1,647
$551 ₡259.2K
118.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,177 CA$2,983
$1,482 ₡697.7K
46.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,891 CA$2,590
$1,036 ₡487.6K
82.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,050 CA$6,919
$2,301 ₡1.1M
119.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,046 CA$5,544
$1,575 ₡741.5K
156.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,008 CA$4,121
$1,030 ₡484.9K
191.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.33
10.53
-39.89%

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

Last update for Canada: March 2, 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

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