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

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 45.1% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 48.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 47.7% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 47.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.77 ¥19.31
$10.19 ₡5,052
-72.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.14 ¥169
$60.5 ₡30.0K
-60.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.75 ¥33.15
$10.17 ₡5,041
-53.29%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ¥21.06
$3.90 ₡1,933
-22.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.06
$2.19 ₡1,086
-79.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.87
$1.65 ₡819
-83.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.96 ¥6.67
$2.95 ₡1,460
-67.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ¥14.21
$4.32 ₡2,142
-52.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ¥12.21
$2.03 ₡1,005
-13.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.69 ¥11.79
$3.18 ₡1,576
-46.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 ¥6.85
$2.49 ₡1,234
-60.64%
Eggs
$1.60 ¥11.19
$3.41 ₡1,688
-53.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.34 ¥93.1
$9.25 ₡4,584
44.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.27 ¥22.82
$9.42 ₡4,670
-65.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.63 ¥74.2
$13.28 ₡6,583
-19.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.74 ¥12.16
$4.51 ₡2,235
-61.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.76
$1.54 ₡763
-18.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.13
$3.37 ₡1,673
-56.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.28
$2.94 ₡1,458
-59.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 ¥5.08
$2.97 ₡1,475
-75.42%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥5.99
$2.83 ₡1,403
-69.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ¥4.30
$1.01 ₡502
-38.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ¥3.71
$2.54 ₡1,257
-79.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 ¥24.03
$5.03 ₡2,494
-31.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.63 ¥81.2
$15.31 ₡7,589
-24.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥5.88
$2.31 ₡1,145
-63.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 ¥11.30
$2.72 ₡1,347
-40.44%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥3.07
$0.96 ₡475
-54.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.71 ¥145
$48.97 ₡24.3K
-57.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ¥9.91
$1.80 ₡893
-21.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.27
$2.01 ₡995
-83.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.51 ¥45.42
$7.51 ₡3,723
-13.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ¥8.19
$1.52 ₡752
-23.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥133.9K
$36.6K ₡18.2M
-47.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6K ¥116.1K
$36.0K ₡17.9M
-53.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥359
$85.9 ₡42.6K
-40.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 ¥67.2
$25.46 ₡12.6K
-62.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.22 ¥78.3
$53.9 ₡26.7K
-79.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.09 ¥273
$57.3 ₡28.4K
-31.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.70 ¥103
$29.36 ₡14.6K
-49.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.14 ¥42.89
$9.01 ₡4,466
-31.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$416 ¥2,905
$540 ₡267.8K
-22.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.9K ¥125.0K
$10.1K ₡5.0M
77.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.24 ¥316
$71.5 ₡35.5K
-36.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.59 ¥228
$54.9 ₡27.2K
-40.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.0 ¥509
$117 ₡58.2K
-37.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8 ¥508
$103 ₡50.8K
-29.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ¥3,018
$810 ₡401.7K
-46.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 ¥1,767
$551 ₡272.9K
-54.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$923 ¥6,441
$1,488 ₡737.8K
-37.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 ¥3,811
$1,043 ₡516.9K
-47.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,324 ¥37.2K
$2,335 ₡1.2M
128.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,784 ¥19.4K
$1,607 ₡796.5K
73.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 ¥7,240
$981 ₡486.2K
5.78%
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: January 11, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: January 12, 2026

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