🇮🇹 Italy
89
Cost of Living Index in Italy
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Buenos Aires
For one person, living costs are similar in Costa Rica and in Buenos Aires: $1,735 and $1,685 a month, rent and utilities included.
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😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 6.1% more expensive than Buenos Aires without rent, and 3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 3.5% more expensive than Buenos Aires without rent, and 3% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Buenos Aires
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78 ₡5,312
$18.73 ARS 28.4K
-37.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.5 ₡25.0K
$64.5 ARS 97.8K
-13.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.72 ₡4,831
$12.88 ARS 19.5K
-16.77%
Cappuccino
$4.49 ₡2,023
$3.98 ARS 6,029
12.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 ₡1,051
$2.05 ARS 3,103
13.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₡815
$1.55 ARS 2,349
16.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 ₡1,455
$3.84 ARS 5,830
-15.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 ₡1,992
$4.60 ARS 6,970
-3.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Buenos Aires
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.30 ₡1,037
$1.44 ARS 2,181
59.72%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 ₡1,600
$2.46 ARS 3,738
44.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 ₡1,221
$1.63 ARS 2,467
66.26%
Eggs
$4.05 ₡1,825
$2.89 ARS 4,385
40.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.92 ₡4,473
$10.65 ARS 16.1K
-6.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.49 ₡4,729
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
4.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ₡6,111
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
-1.31%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 ₡2,312
$2.75 ARS 4,166
86.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ₡758
$2.18 ARS 3,300
-22.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.63 ₡1,639
$1.45 ARS 2,205
150.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 ₡1,463
$1.99 ARS 3,013
62.81%
Potato (1kg)
$3.40 ₡1,534
$1.24 ARS 1,885
174.19%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 ₡1,394
$1.27 ARS 1,921
143.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 ₡501
$1.70 ARS 2,575
-34.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 ₡1,192
$1.73 ARS 2,617
52.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,446
$4.18 ARS 6,337
29.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.63 ₡7,048
$5.80 ARS 8,790
169.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$2.09 ARS 3,163
31.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ₡1,472
$2.77 ARS 4,198
18.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Buenos Aires
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 ₡480
$0.75 ARS 1,132
42.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.3 ₡29.4K
$27.15 ARS 41.2K
140.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 ₡981
$1.62 ARS 2,451
34.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 ₡916
$0.98 ARS 1,481
107.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.82 ₡3,977
$7.72 ARS 11.7K
14.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 ₡688
$1.36 ARS 2,058
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K ₡14.8M
$28.0K ARS 42.5M
17.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K ₡16.2M
$34.5K ARS 52.4M
4.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Buenos Aires
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 ₡42.1K
$216 ARS 326.9K
-56.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.19 ₡13.6K
$25.61 ARS 38.8K
17.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1 ₡25.7K
$31.36 ARS 47.6K
81.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Buenos Aires
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.1 ₡29.3K
$49.82 ARS 75.6K
30.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.13 ₡9,976
$17.06 ARS 25.9K
29.72%
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 ₡3,645
$10.43 ARS 15.8K
-22.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Buenos Aires
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$740 ₡333.8K
$466 ARS 706.7K
58.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K ₡5.7M
$9,057 ARS 13.7M
38.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Buenos Aires
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.5 ₡34.0K
$122 ARS 185.2K
-38.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6 ₡24.6K
$97.4 ARS 147.8K
-43.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 ₡57.4K
$117 ARS 177.4K
8.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡48.3K
$140 ARS 211.9K
-23.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Buenos Aires
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$833 ₡375.3K
$763 ARS 1.2M
9.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$641 ₡289.1K
$505 ARS 766.1K
26.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,776 ₡800.8K
$1,598 ARS 2.4M
11.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,191 ₡536.9K
$1,185 ARS 1.8M
0.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,437 ₡1.1M
$2,678 ARS 4.1M
-9.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,631 ₡735.2K
$1,858 ARS 2.8M
-12.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Buenos Aires
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,033 ₡465.8K
$954 ARS 1.4M
8.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
57.25
-83.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Costa Rica: October 5, 2026
Last update for Buenos Aires: October 6, 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%
Buenos Aires $505 30.4% 21.2% $136
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $379 21.7%
Buenos Aires $284 17.1% 25% $95
Eating Out
Costa Rica $222 12.7%
Buenos Aires $279 16.8% 25.8% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $181 10.3%
Buenos Aires $273 16.4% 50.9% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $164 9.4%
Buenos Aires $214 12.9% 30.6% $50
Getting Around
Costa Rica $82 4.7%
Buenos Aires $37 2.2% 55.3% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $81 4.6%
Buenos Aires $71 4.3% 13% $11
Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica $1.2K 32.2%
Buenos Aires $1.2K 31.7% 0.5% $6.1
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $864 23.3%
Buenos Aires $658 17.6% 23.8% $206
Eating Out
Costa Rica $719 19.4%
Buenos Aires $890 23.8% 23.7% $171
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $211 5.7%
Buenos Aires $298 8% 41.4% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $365 9.9%
Buenos Aires $476 12.7% 30.6% $112
Getting Around
Costa Rica $166 4.5%
Buenos Aires $75 2% 54.9% $91
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $185 5%
Buenos Aires $158 4.2% 14.2% $26
Good to know
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
Weather
Population
5,044,197
2,891,082 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Costa Rica Buenos Aires 5,640 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
- Costa Rica
- Buenos Aires
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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