Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Cayman Islands Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Cayman Islands

Name: Cayman Islands
Address: KY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,660 per month in Costa Rica vs $4,540 in Cayman Islands, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,621 per month in Costa Rica vs $7,193 in Cayman Islands, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,581 per month in Costa Rica vs $9,845 in Cayman Islands, rent included.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is roughly 63% lower than in Cayman Islands on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Costa Rica and Cayman Islands are pricier than the global median – Costa Rica by 20%, Cayman Islands by 229%.

Cost ranges are similar: Costa Rica spans $996–$2,154, Cayman Islands $3,934–$4,860. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.89 ₡4,874

$29.98 KYD 24.58

-63.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.8 ₡25.0K

$116 KYD 95.1

-51.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 ₡4,839

$14.51 KYD 11.89

-25.50%

Cappuccino

$4.52 ₡2,021

$6.90 KYD 5.66

-34.49%

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

$2.45 ₡1,095

$3.32 KYD 2.72

-26.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₡844

$2.72 KYD 2.23

-30.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.30 ₡1,476

$7.07 KYD 5.80

-53.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 ₡2,064

$9.04 KYD 7.41

-49.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.42 ₡1,085

$4.26 KYD 3.49

-43.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 ₡1,613

$4.64 KYD 3.81

-22.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.70 ₡1,207

$5.13 KYD 4.20

-47.37%

Eggs

$4.01 ₡1,796

$7.46 KYD 6.12

-46.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.21 ₡4,568

$48.10 KYD 39.44

-78.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.38 ₡4,647

$20.10 KYD 16.48

-48.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 ₡6,190

$20.38 KYD 16.71

-32.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.08 ₡2,272

$8.07 KYD 6.62

-37.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 ₡782

$3.64 KYD 2.99

-51.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.52 ₡1,575

$6.88 KYD 5.64

-48.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.23 ₡1,446

$7.74 KYD 6.35

-58.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 ₡1,496

$4.54 KYD 3.72

-26.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 ₡1,422

$3.84 KYD 3.15

-17.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₡483

$3.55 KYD 2.91

-69.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₡1,200

$2.50 KYD 2.05

7.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.57 ₡2,495

$14.49 KYD 11.88

-61.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 ₡6,817

$23.82 KYD 19.53

-36.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₡1,196

$4.41 KYD 3.62

-39.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 ₡1,490

$5.27 KYD 4.32

-36.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 ₡486

$2.44 KYD 2.00

-55.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.4 ₡29.3K

$81.5 KYD 66.9

-19.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 ₡983

$19.04 KYD 15.61

-88.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 ₡870

$3.75 KYD 3.07

-48.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.87 ₡3,969

$45.84 KYD 37.59

-80.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 ₡718

$1.60 KYD 1.31

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

$32.7K ₡14.6M

$42.7K KYD 35.1K

-23.61%

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

$36.3K ₡16.3M

$39.8K KYD 32.6K

-8.66%

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

$95.2 ₡42.6K

$483 KYD 396

-80.31%

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

$31.50 ₡14.1K

$118 KYD 96.5

-73.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 ₡26.7K

$115 KYD 94.7

-48.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.3 ₡29.7K

$200 KYD 164

-66.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.60 ₡10.6K

$48.15 KYD 39.48

-50.99%

Cinema Ticket

$8.21 ₡3,676

$18.98 KYD 15.57

-56.74%

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

$726 ₡324.9K

$1,784 KYD 1,463

-59.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.7M

$26.0K KYD 21.4K

-50.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.6 ₡33.4K

$86.8 KYD 71.2

-14.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.6 ₡24.0K

$79.6 KYD 65.2

-32.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡56.0K

$134 KYD 110

-6.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡47.7K

$148 KYD 121

-27.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$884 ₡395.5K

$2,955 KYD 2,423

-70.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₡286.7K

$2,290 KYD 1,878

-72.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,743 ₡779.9K

$5,706 KYD 4,679

-69.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,168 ₡522.7K

$4,612 KYD 3,782

-74.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,400 ₡1.1M

$13.2K KYD 10.8K

-81.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,671 ₡748.0K

$7,685 KYD 6,302

-78.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,083 ₡484.5K

$7,820 KYD 6,413

-86.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.56

7.2

32.78%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cayman Islands: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $816 in Costa Rica vs $3,562 in Cayman Islands. For reference, capital cities sit at $960 in San Jose and $2,915 in George Town.

Average salary: $1,106 in Costa Rica vs $7,706 in Cayman Islands. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 337% higher in Cayman Islands.

Dining out costs 115% more in Cayman Islands.

Public transport is 93% more expensive in Cayman Islands.

Salaries are 597% higher in Cayman Islands, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Cayman Islands.

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 Cayman Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Rica is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 179% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Costa Rica, contributing to the overall 179% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Costa Rica, but in Cayman Islands 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.