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

🙂 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 13.7% cheaper than Barbados without rent, and 12.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 8.2% cheaper than Barbados without rent, and 16.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Barbados
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 ₡4,833
$19.67 BBD 39.35
-50.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡29.3K
$98.6 BBD 197
-40.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 ₡4,957
$9.88 BBD 19.75
0.20%
Cappuccino
$3.9 ₡1,954
$4.89 BBD 9.79
-20.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 ₡1,100
$1.78 BBD 3.56
23.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡827
$1.36 BBD 2.71
21.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,517
$2.56 BBD 5.11
18.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₡2,278
$3.89 BBD 7.77
16.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Barbados
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ₡1,033
$3.55 BBD 7.11
-41.97%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 ₡1,530
$2.69 BBD 5.39
13.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 ₡1,261
$4.12 BBD 8.23
-38.83%
Eggs
$3.29 ₡1,646
$5.51 BBD 11.01
-40.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 ₡4,650
$7.99 BBD 15.98
16.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 ₡4,775
$10.96 BBD 21.91
-12.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.6 ₡6,808
$10.1 BBD 20.19
34.65%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 ₡2,337
$4.32 BBD 8.64
8.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡782
$3.24 BBD 6.48
-51.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 ₡1,672
$5.06 BBD 10.13
-33.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 ₡1,507
$4.06 BBD 8.13
-25.86%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ₡1,524
$4.1 BBD 8.19
-25.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,426
$3.11 BBD 6.23
-8.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡506
$2.65 BBD 5.3
-61.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,273
$2.18 BBD 4.37
16.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 ₡2,434
$8.14 BBD 16.27
-40.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 ₡7,442
$13.59 BBD 27.17
9.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 ₡1,137
$1.75 BBD 3.51
29.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₡1,366
$2.86 BBD 5.71
-4.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Barbados
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡476
$1.72 BBD 3.44
-44.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.46 ₡24.8K
$24.88 BBD 49.77
98.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡904
$14.74 BBD 29.49
-87.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 ₡969
$2.44 BBD 4.88
-20.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 ₡3,850
$40.66 BBD 81.3
-81.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₡735
$1.99 BBD 3.97
-26.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K ₡18.7M
$40.1K BBD 80.1K
-6.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K ₡17.4M
$37.1K BBD 74.2K
-6.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Barbados
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 ₡43.5K
$127 BBD 254
-31.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 ₡12.7K
$50.1 BBD 100
-49.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 ₡27.4K
$60 BBD 120
-8.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Barbados
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 ₡28.9K
$71.7 BBD 143
-19.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 ₡14.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 ₡4,546
$9.93 BBD 19.87
-8.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Barbados
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 ₡275.9K
$262 BBD 525
110.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,816 ₡4.9M
$7,516 BBD 15K
30.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Barbados
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 ₡36.2K
$57 BBD 114
26.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 ₡27.6K
$38.92 BBD 77.8
41.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₡59.3K
$103 BBD 206
14.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ₡52.1K
$90.7 BBD 181
14.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Barbados
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡408.8K
$685 BBD 1,369
19.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$539 ₡269.6K
$552 BBD 1,105
-2.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 ₡748.3K
$1,747 BBD 3,494
-14.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 ₡510.2K
$1,215 BBD 2,430
-16.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,511 ₡1.3M
$3,543 BBD 7,087
-29.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 ₡693K
$3,549 BBD 7,097
-60.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Barbados
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.8K
$1,253 BBD 2,506
-20.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
5.62
87.37%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Barbados: October 28, 2025

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