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

😐 Solo nomad: Canada is 16.9% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 56.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Canada is 17% more expensive than Costa Rica without rent, and 38.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.25 CA$25.01
$9.74 ₡4,452
87.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.9 CA$99.8
$60.5 ₡27.6K
20.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.06 CA$15.16
$9.92 ₡4,530
11.49%
Cappuccino
$3.72 CA$5.10
$4.04 ₡1,848
-7.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 CA$2.97
$2.12 ₡969
2.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 CA$2.29
$1.64 ₡749
1.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.01 CA$8.24
$2.92 ₡1,332
105.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.06 CA$8.30
$4.46 ₡2,036
35.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.17
$2.09 ₡953
10.53%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 CA$3.63
$3.18 ₡1,453
-16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.60 CA$4.93
$2.41 ₡1,099
49.38%
Eggs
$3.57 CA$4.89
$3.43 ₡1,567
4.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.60 CA$15.89
$9.52 ₡4,349
21.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.44 CA$17.04
$9.22 ₡4,213
34.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.25 CA$20.89
$13.22 ₡6,041
15.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 CA$5.94
$4.70 ₡2,149
-7.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$1.99
$1.56 ₡712
-7.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.78 CA$5.18
$3.35 ₡1,528
12.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 CA$5.77
$3.00 ₡1,371
40.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 CA$3.68
$2.93 ₡1,337
-8.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.75 CA$3.77
$2.71 ₡1,240
1.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 CA$3.45
$1.02 ₡464
147.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 CA$2.54
$2.42 ₡1,106
-23.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.70 CA$20.14
$5.01 ₡2,288
193.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.06 CA$17.90
$16.31 ₡7,448
-19.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.00 CA$4.10
$2.31 ₡1,053
29.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 CA$4.61
$2.85 ₡1,300
18.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 CA$3.59
$0.94 ₡431
178.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.5 CA$103
$49.31 ₡22.5K
53.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.50 CA$4.79
$1.81 ₡825
93.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 CA$2.04
$2.00 ₡913
-25.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.59 CA$39.17
$7.43 ₡3,396
284.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.58
$1.45 ₡662
-20.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$33.9K
$36.3K ₡16.6M
-31.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K CA$28.6K
$34.8K ₡15.9M
-39.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 CA$208
$88.1 ₡40.2K
72.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.94 CA$62.9
$25.36 ₡11.6K
81.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.0 CA$87.7
$54.1 ₡24.7K
18.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.93 CA$58.8
$57.7 ₡26.4K
-25.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.73 CA$24.29
$29.04 ₡13.3K
-38.95%
Cinema Ticket
$11.48 CA$15.72
$9.05 ₡4,134
26.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$810 CA$1,110
$550 ₡251.1K
47.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K CA$16.8K
$10.2K ₡4.7M
20.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 CA$76.0
$71.5 ₡32.7K
-22.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.89 CA$57.4
$53.9 ₡24.6K
-22.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.1 CA$123
$121 ₡55.1K
-25.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$146
$101 ₡46.2K
5.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,340 CA$1,836
$812 ₡371.2K
64.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,217 CA$1,668
$553 ₡252.8K
119.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,186 CA$2,995
$1,493 ₡681.8K
46.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,828 CA$2,505
$1,057 ₡483.1K
72.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,863 CA$6,663
$2,263 ₡1.0M
114.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,966 CA$5,434
$1,634 ₡746.5K
142.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canada
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,042 CA$4,167
$1,067 ₡487.3K
185.16%
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: April 13, 2026

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

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