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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 8.8% cheaper than Australia without rent, and 34.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Costa Rica is 11.2% cheaper than Australia without rent, and 24% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Costa Rica
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 โ‚ก4,833
$15.97 A$24.47
-39.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 โ‚ก29.3K
$77.2 A$118
-24.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 โ‚ก4,957
$9.66 A$14.8
2.48%
Cappuccino
$3.9 โ‚ก1,954
$3.57 A$5.48
9.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 โ‚ก1,100
$2.64 A$4.04
-16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 โ‚ก827
$2.22 A$3.41
-25.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 โ‚ก1,517
$6.57 A$10.06
-53.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 โ‚ก2,278
$6.98 A$10.7
-34.81%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 โ‚ก1,033
$1.5 A$2.3
37.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 โ‚ก1,530
$2.42 A$3.7
26.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 โ‚ก1,261
$2.02 A$3.1
24.75%
Eggs
$3.29 โ‚ก1,646
$4.38 A$6.71
-24.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 โ‚ก4,650
$8.86 A$13.58
4.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 โ‚ก4,775
$8.26 A$12.66
15.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.6 โ‚ก6,808
$14.14 A$21.66
-3.82%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 โ‚ก2,337
$3.24 A$4.96
44.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 โ‚ก782
$2.68 A$4.11
-41.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 โ‚ก1,672
$2.86 A$4.39
16.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 โ‚ก1,507
$4.25 A$6.5
-29.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 โ‚ก1,524
$2.55 A$3.91
19.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 โ‚ก1,426
$2.19 A$3.35
30.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 โ‚ก506
$2.24 A$3.43
-54.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 โ‚ก1,273
$1.57 A$2.41
61.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 โ‚ก2,434
$31.36 A$48.04
-84.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 โ‚ก7,442
$13.32 A$20.41
11.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 โ‚ก1,137
$4.61 A$7.06
-50.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 โ‚ก1,366
$4.97 A$7.61
-45.07%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Costa Rica
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 โ‚ก476
$2.97 A$4.54
-68.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.46 โ‚ก24.8K
$98 A$150
-49.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 โ‚ก904
$3.62 A$5.55
-50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 โ‚ก969
$1.82 A$2.79
6.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 โ‚ก3,850
$37.78 A$57.9
-79.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 โ‚ก735
$1.2 A$1.84
22.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K โ‚ก18.7M
$29.1K A$44.6K
28.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K โ‚ก17.4M
$22.5K A$34.5K
54.48%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 โ‚ก43.5K
$180 A$276
-51.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 โ‚ก12.7K
$26.23 A$40.19
-2.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 โ‚ก27.4K
$52.8 A$80.9
3.62%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 โ‚ก28.9K
$46.77 A$71.7
23.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 โ‚ก14.2K
$16.37 A$25.08
73.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 โ‚ก4,546
$13.82 A$21.18
-34.30%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 โ‚ก275.9K
$1,599 A$2,450
-65.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,816 โ‚ก4.9M
$12.3K A$18.8K
-20.07%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 โ‚ก36.2K
$71.7 A$110
0.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 โ‚ก27.6K
$51.5 A$78.8
7.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 โ‚ก59.3K
$101 A$155
17.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 โ‚ก52.1K
$110 A$168
-5.25%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 โ‚ก408.8K
$1,395 A$2,137
-41.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$539 โ‚ก269.6K
$1,106 A$1,694
-51.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 โ‚ก748.3K
$2,271 A$3,480
-34.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 โ‚ก510.2K
$1,775 A$2,719
-42.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,511 โ‚ก1.3M
$6,985 A$10.7K
-64.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 โ‚ก693K
$5,106 A$7,823
-72.89%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 โ‚ก498.8K
$3,626 A$5,555
-72.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
6.35
65.83%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Australia: October 29, 2025

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