😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,543 in Costa Rica versus $588 in Anguilla.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,324 in Costa Rica versus $1,265 in Anguilla.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,105 in Costa Rica versus $1,941 in Anguilla.
😐Living in Costa Rica is roughly 162% more expensive than Anguilla on average.
📊Costa Rica (15% above) and Anguilla (56% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Costa Rica: monthly costs span $1,133 to $2,084, compared to $588–$588 in Anguilla. City choice carries more weight in Costa Rica.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Anguilla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.97₡4,556
$22.26EC$60.1
-55.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4₡27.1K
$122EC$329
-51.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.74₡4,452
$15.13EC$40.84
-35.62%
Cappuccino
$3.94₡1,799
$4.97EC$13.42
-20.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11₡964
$3.55EC$9.58
-40.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65₡756
$3.93EC$10.60
-58.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92₡1,333
$4.04EC$10.92
-27.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39₡2,006
$5.09EC$13.76
-13.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Anguilla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07₡944
$1.49EC$4.01
38.93%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17₡1,448
$3.36EC$9.06
-5.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.41₡1,103
-
-
Eggs
$3.34₡1,525
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.24₡4,221
$22.10EC$59.7
-58.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.40₡4,296
$12.35EC$33.35
-23.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56₡6,197
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$4.48₡2,046
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₡711
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$3.36₡1,534
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$3.08₡1,408
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$2.89₡1,322
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.86₡1,307
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03₡469
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52₡1,151
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.90₡2,237
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$16.18₡7,392
$20.75EC$56.0
-22.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39₡1,091
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78₡1,269
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Anguilla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94₡430
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.22₡22.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.87₡852
$24.99EC$67.5
-92.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.01₡920
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.61₡3,477
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51₡689
$1.91EC$5.14
-20.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K₡16.6M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K₡16.3M
$17.0KEC$45.8K
110.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Anguilla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7₡40.5K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.67₡11.7K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.8₡24.6K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Anguilla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7₡26.4K
$44.38EC$120
30.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.09₡13.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.00₡4,113
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Anguilla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544₡248.5K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0K₡4.6M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Anguilla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.3₡33.9K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2₡24.3K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₡54.7K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101₡46.0K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Anguilla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798₡364.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$534₡244.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,509₡689.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,041₡475.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,382₡1.1M
$1,008EC$2,723
136.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,603₡732.2K
$525EC$1,416
205.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Anguilla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,062₡485.1K
$2,838EC$7,662
-62.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.53
3.78
178.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Costa Rica: June 1, 2026
Last update for Anguilla: June 2, 2026
Cost Highlights
⭐Dining out costs 190% more in Anguilla.
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
Costa Rica vs Anguilla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Anguilla and Costa Rica?
At $588 per month in Anguilla and $1,609 in Costa Rica, there's a 174% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Anguilla is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Costa Rica beats Anguilla across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Anguilla or Costa Rica?
In Anguilla, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Costa Rica, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Anguilla or Costa Rica?
It depends on what you're after. Anguilla wins on affordability; Costa Rica may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Costa Rica vs other spots: cost of living compared