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

🙂 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 12.9% cheaper than Canada without rent, and 35.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 12.3% cheaper than Canada without rent, and 27.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 ₡4,833
$18.65 CA$25.39
-48.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡29.3K
$74.3 CA$101
-21.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 ₡4,957
$11.02 CA$15
-10.16%
Cappuccino
$3.9 ₡1,954
$3.75 CA$5.11
4.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 ₡1,100
$2.17 CA$2.95
1.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡827
$1.68 CA$2.29
-1.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,517
$5.83 CA$7.94
-48.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₡2,278
$5.74 CA$7.81
-20.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ₡1,033
$2.24 CA$3.04
-8.04%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 ₡1,530
$2.66 CA$3.62
15.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 ₡1,261
$3.6 CA$4.9
-30.00%
Eggs
$3.29 ₡1,646
$3.53 CA$4.8
-6.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 ₡4,650
$11.32 CA$15.41
-17.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 ₡4,775
$12.46 CA$16.96
-23.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.6 ₡6,808
$15.28 CA$20.8
-10.99%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 ₡2,337
$4.17 CA$5.68
11.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡782
$1.5 CA$2.05
4.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 ₡1,672
$4 CA$5.45
-16.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 ₡1,507
$4.07 CA$5.54
-26.04%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ₡1,524
$2.78 CA$3.78
9.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,426
$2.73 CA$3.72
4.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡506
$2.63 CA$3.58
-61.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,273
$1.82 CA$2.48
39.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 ₡2,434
$14.61 CA$19.88
-66.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 ₡7,442
$13.08 CA$17.8
13.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 ₡1,137
$3.01 CA$4.1
-24.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₡1,366
$3.34 CA$4.55
-18.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡476
$2.56 CA$3.49
-62.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.46 ₡24.8K
$78.4 CA$107
-36.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡904
$3.55 CA$4.83
-49.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 ₡969
$1.55 CA$2.11
24.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 ₡3,850
$28.91 CA$39.35
-73.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₡735
$1.16 CA$1.58
26.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K ₡18.7M
$24.6K CA$33.5K
52.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K ₡17.4M
$20.9K CA$28.5K
66.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 ₡43.5K
$155 CA$211
-44.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 ₡12.7K
$45.2 CA$61.5
-43.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 ₡27.4K
$62.4 CA$84.9
-12.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 ₡28.9K
$42.82 CA$58.3
34.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 ₡14.2K
$17.72 CA$24.11
60.38%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 ₡4,546
$11.25 CA$15.31
-19.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 ₡275.9K
$804 CA$1,094
-31.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,816 ₡4.9M
$12K CA$16.4K
-18.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 ₡36.2K
$56.7 CA$77.2
27.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 ₡27.6K
$41.61 CA$56.6
32.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₡59.3K
$90.2 CA$123
31.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ₡52.1K
$108 CA$147
-3.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡408.8K
$1,364 CA$1,857
-40.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$539 ₡269.6K
$1,208 CA$1,645
-55.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 ₡748.3K
$2,179 CA$2,966
-31.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 ₡510.2K
$1,835 CA$2,497
-44.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,511 ₡1.3M
$6,152 CA$8,374
-59.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 ₡693K
$4,409 CA$6,001
-68.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.8K
$2,867 CA$3,903
-65.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
6.33
66.35%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Canada: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.