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

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 48.6% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 47.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 48.6% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 46.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$9.65 ₡4,833
-70.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$58.6 ₡29.3K
-59.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$9.9 ₡4,957
-49.90%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$3.9 ₡1,954
-19.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$2.2 ₡1,100
-80.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$1.65 ₡827
-82.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$3.03 ₡1,517
-68.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$4.55 ₡2,278
-52.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$2.06 ₡1,033
-10.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$3.06 ₡1,530
-45.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$2.52 ₡1,261
-62.30%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$3.29 ₡1,646
-52.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$9.29 ₡4,650
42.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$9.54 ₡4,775
-65.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$13.6 ₡6,808
-20.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$4.67 ₡2,337
-62.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$1.56 ₡782
-19.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$3.34 ₡1,672
-55.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$3.01 ₡1,507
-60.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$3.04 ₡1,524
-75.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$2.85 ₡1,426
-69.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$1.01 ₡506
-39.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$2.54 ₡1,273
-77.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$4.86 ₡2,434
-29.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$14.87 ₡7,442
-24.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$2.27 ₡1,137
-63.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$2.73 ₡1,366
-38.46%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$0.95 ₡476
-57.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$49.46 ₡24.8K
-57.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$1.81 ₡904
-24.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$1.93 ₡969
-81.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$7.69 ₡3,850
-11.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$1.47 ₡735
-23.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$37.4K ₡18.7M
-48.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$34.8K ₡17.4M
-52.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$86.9 ₡43.5K
-40.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$25.46 ₡12.7K
-61.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$54.7 ₡27.4K
-79.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$57.8 ₡28.9K
-31.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$28.42 ₡14.2K
-47.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$9.08 ₡4,546
-31.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$551 ₡275.9K
-24.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$9,816 ₡4.9M
80.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$72.3 ₡36.2K
-36.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$55.2 ₡27.6K
-39.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$118 ₡59.3K
-39.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$104 ₡52.1K
-29.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$817 ₡408.8K
-45.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$539 ₡269.6K
-52.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$1,495 ₡748.3K
-38.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$1,019 ₡510.2K
-46.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$2,511 ₡1.3M
144.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$1,384 ₡693K
106.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$996 ₡498.8K
-5.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
10.53
-61.44%

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

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

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