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

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 82% more expensive than China without rent, and 93.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 91.3% more expensive than China without rent, and 91.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.19 ₡5,052
$2.77 ¥19.31
267.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 ₡30.0K
$24.14 ¥169
150.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 ₡5,041
$4.75 ¥33.15
114.11%
Cappuccino
$3.90 ₡1,933
$3.02 ¥21.06
29.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ₡1,086
$0.44 ¥3.06
397.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡819
$0.27 ¥1.87
511.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 ₡1,460
$0.96 ¥6.67
207.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 ₡2,142
$2.04 ¥14.21
111.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ₡1,005
$1.75 ¥12.21
16.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.18 ₡1,576
$1.69 ¥11.79
88.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 ₡1,234
$0.98 ¥6.85
154.08%
Eggs
$3.41 ₡1,688
$1.60 ¥11.19
113.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.25 ₡4,584
$13.34 ¥93.1
-30.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.42 ₡4,670
$3.27 ¥22.82
188.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.28 ₡6,583
$10.63 ¥74.2
24.93%
Apples (1kg)
$4.51 ₡2,235
$1.74 ¥12.16
159.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 ₡763
$1.26 ¥8.76
22.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.37 ₡1,673
$1.45 ¥10.13
132.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.94 ₡1,458
$1.19 ¥8.28
147.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.97 ₡1,475
$0.73 ¥5.08
306.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 ₡1,403
$0.86 ¥5.99
229.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡502
$0.62 ¥4.30
62.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,257
$0.53 ¥3.71
379.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.03 ₡2,494
$3.44 ¥24.03
46.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.31 ₡7,589
$11.63 ¥81.2
31.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₡1,145
$0.84 ¥5.88
175.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 ₡1,347
$1.62 ¥11.30
67.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ₡475
$0.44 ¥3.07
118.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.97 ₡24.3K
$20.71 ¥145
136.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.80 ₡893
$1.42 ¥9.91
26.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 ₡995
$0.33 ¥2.27
509.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.51 ₡3,723
$6.51 ¥45.42
15.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡752
$1.17 ¥8.19
29.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K ₡18.2M
$19.2K ¥133.9K
91.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K ₡17.9M
$16.6K ¥116.1K
116.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.9 ₡42.6K
$51.4 ¥359
67.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 ₡12.6K
$9.63 ¥67.2
164.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.9 ₡26.7K
$11.22 ¥78.3
380.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.3 ₡28.4K
$39.09 ¥273
46.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.36 ₡14.6K
$14.70 ¥103
99.73%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01 ₡4,466
$6.14 ¥42.89
46.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$540 ₡267.8K
$416 ¥2,905
29.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K ₡5.0M
$17.9K ¥125.0K
-43.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.5 ₡35.5K
$45.24 ¥316
58.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9 ₡27.2K
$32.59 ¥228
68.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₡58.2K
$73.0 ¥509
60.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 ₡50.8K
$72.8 ¥508
40.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$810 ₡401.7K
$432 ¥3,018
87.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 ₡272.9K
$253 ¥1,767
117.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 ₡737.8K
$923 ¥6,441
61.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,043 ₡516.9K
$546 ¥3,811
90.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,335 ₡1.2M
$5,324 ¥37.2K
-56.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,607 ₡796.5K
$2,784 ¥19.4K
-42.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$981 ₡486.2K
$1,037 ¥7,240
-5.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.53
4.06
159.36%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: January 12, 2026

Last update for China: January 11, 2026

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