🇮🇹 Italy
89
Cost of Living Index in Italy
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Austin, TX
For one person, living is cheaper in Costa Rica: $1,735 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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🙂 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 12.2% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 35.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 16.7% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 33.8% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78 ₡5,312
$20.22 $20.22
-41.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.5 ₡25.0K
$85.0 $85.0
-34.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.72 ₡4,831
$12.35 $12.35
-13.20%
Cappuccino
$4.49 ₡2,023
$5.47 $5.47
-17.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 ₡1,051
$3.82 $3.82
-39.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₡815
$2.50 $2.50
-27.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 ₡1,455
$8.06 $8.06
-59.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 ₡1,992
$8.99 $8.99
-50.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.30 ₡1,037
$1.13 $1.13
103.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 ₡1,600
$3.78 $3.78
-6.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 ₡1,221
$3.25 $3.25
-16.62%
Eggs
$4.05 ₡1,825
$4.14 $4.14
-2.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.92 ₡4,473
$13.08 $13.08
-24.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.49 ₡4,729
$14.31 $14.31
-26.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ₡6,111
$15.96 $15.96
-15.04%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 ₡2,312
$4.38 $4.38
17.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ₡758
$1.45 $1.45
15.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.63 ₡1,639
$4.54 $4.54
-20.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 ₡1,463
$4.19 $4.19
-22.67%
Potato (1kg)
$3.40 ₡1,534
$2.63 $2.63
29.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 ₡1,394
$2.36 $2.36
30.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 ₡501
$1.76 $1.76
-36.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 ₡1,192
$2.16 $2.16
22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,446
$9.81 $9.81
-44.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.63 ₡7,048
$14.72 $14.72
6.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$2.78 $2.78
-1.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ₡1,472
$3.48 $3.48
-6.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 ₡480
$1.49 $1.49
-28.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.3 ₡29.4K
$40.51 $40.51
61.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 ₡981
$2.67 $2.67
-18.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 ₡916
$1.58 $1.58
28.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.82 ₡3,977
$35.29 $35.29
-75.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 ₡688
$0.99 $0.99
54.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K ₡14.8M
$35.8K $35.8K
-8.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K ₡16.2M
$27.2K $27.2K
32.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 ₡42.1K
$219 $219
-57.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.19 ₡13.6K
$58.0 $58.0
-47.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1 ₡25.7K
$68.4 $68.4
-16.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.1 ₡29.3K
$57.9 $57.9
12.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.13 ₡9,976
$14.82 $14.82
49.33%
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 ₡3,645
$14.13 $14.13
-42.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$740 ₡333.8K
$1,509 $1,509
-50.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K ₡5.7M
$21.5K $21.5K
-41.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.5 ₡34.0K
$51.7 $51.7
46.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6 ₡24.6K
$44.05 $44.05
23.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 ₡57.4K
$85.1 $85.1
49.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡48.3K
$105 $105
1.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$833 ₡375.3K
$1,932 $1,932
-56.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$641 ₡289.1K
$1,272 $1,272
-49.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,776 ₡800.8K
$3,670 $3,670
-51.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,191 ₡536.9K
$2,525 $2,525
-52.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,437 ₡1.1M
$7,617 $7,617
-68.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,631 ₡735.2K
$3,199 $3,199
-49.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,033 ₡465.8K
$5,105 $5,105
-79.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
6.79
40.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Costa Rica: October 5, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica $641 36.7%
Austin, TX $1.3K 48.2% 98.4% $631
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $379 21.7%
Austin, TX $403 15.3% 6.3% $24
Eating Out
Costa Rica $222 12.7%
Austin, TX $348 13.2% 56.9% $126
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $181 10.3%
Austin, TX $346 13.1% 91.3% $165
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $164 9.4%
Austin, TX $129 4.9% 21.5% $35
Getting Around
Costa Rica $82 4.7%
Austin, TX $57 2.2% 30.4% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $81 4.6%
Austin, TX $86 3.3% 6% $4.9
Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica $1.2K 32.2%
Austin, TX $2.5K 45.4% 112% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $864 23.3%
Austin, TX $920 16.6% 6.5% $56
Eating Out
Costa Rica $719 19.4%
Austin, TX $1.1K 20.2% 55.8% $401
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $211 5.7%
Austin, TX $404 7.3% 91.4% $193
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $365 9.9%
Austin, TX $286 5.2% 21.5% $79
Getting Around
Costa Rica $166 4.5%
Austin, TX $117 2.1% 29.5% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $185 5%
Austin, TX $187 3.4% 1.3% $2.5
Good to know
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
Weather
Population
5,044,197
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Costa Rica Austin, TX 2,670 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
- Costa Rica
- Austin, TX
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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