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

Name: Bonaire
Address: BQ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,543 per month in Costa Rica vs $2,415 in Bonaire, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,324 per month in Costa Rica vs $3,654 in Bonaire, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,105 per month in Costa Rica vs $4,893 in Bonaire, rent included.

Costa Rica is roughly 36% cheaper than Bonaire on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Costa Rica and Bonaire are pricier than the global median – Costa Rica by 15%, Bonaire by 80%.

Costa Rica has a wider regional cost range ($1,133–$2,084) than Bonaire ($2,415–$2,415), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Costa Rica.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.97 ₡4,535

$22.72 $22.72

-56.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.4 ₡27.0K

$101 $101

-41.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.74 ₡4,432

$17.83 $17.83

-45.37%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ₡1,791

$2.54 $2.54

55.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₡959

$3.71 $3.71

-43.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡752

$1.96 $1.96

-15.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 ₡1,327

$7.67 $7.67

-61.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 ₡1,996

$6.94 $6.94

-36.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ₡940

$1.87 $1.87

10.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₡1,441

$2.26 $2.26

40.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,098

Eggs

$3.34 ₡1,518

$6.27 $6.27

-46.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 ₡4,202

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.40 ₡4,276

$8.86 $8.86

6.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ₡6,169

$21.70 $21.70

-37.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 ₡2,037

$3.41 $3.41

31.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₡708

Oranges (1kg)

$3.36 ₡1,527

$3.67 $3.67

-8.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.08 ₡1,401

$9.86 $9.86

-68.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 ₡1,316

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 ₡1,301

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡467

$3.89 $3.89

-73.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 ₡1,145

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 ₡2,227

Wine (Bottle)

$16.18 ₡7,359

$15.04 $15.04

7.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 ₡1,086

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ₡1,264

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ₡428

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.22 ₡22.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡848

$10.09 $10.09

-81.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 ₡916

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 ₡3,461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ₡686

$1.57 $1.57

-3.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.3K ₡16.5M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.7K ₡16.2M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$88.7 ₡40.4K

$578 $578

-84.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.67 ₡11.7K

$44.43 $44.43

-42.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.8 ₡24.5K

$118 $118

-54.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 ₡26.2K

$99.0 $99.0

-41.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.09 ₡13.2K

$29.57 $29.57

-1.62%

Cinema Ticket

$9.00 ₡4,095

$16.30 $16.30

-44.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$544 ₡247.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K ₡4.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.3 ₡33.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.2 ₡24.2K

$75.9 $75.9

-29.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₡54.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₡45.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ₡363.1K

$1,063 $1,063

-24.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₡243.0K

$898 $898

-40.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ₡686.5K

$1,956 $1,956

-22.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 ₡473.5K

$1,799 $1,799

-42.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,382 ₡1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,603 ₡728.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,062 ₡482.9K

$1,706 $1,706

-37.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.53

31.62%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bonaire: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $776 in Costa Rica vs $1,075 in Bonaire. For reference, capital cities sit at $879 in San Jose and $1,075 in Kralendijk.

Average salary: $1,098 in Costa Rica vs $1,680 in Bonaire. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 39% higher in Bonaire.

Dining out costs 100% more in Bonaire.

Salaries are 53% higher in Bonaire.

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 Bonaire: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Rica is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 50% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Bonaire, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Bonaire consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Costa Rica, contributing to the overall 50% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Costa Rica, but in Bonaire it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Costa Rica is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.