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

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 89.7% more expensive than China without rent, and 95.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 93% more expensive than China without rent, and 90.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.67 ₡4,549
$2.82 ¥19.51
242.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡27.6K
$23.62 ¥163
148.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.23 ₡4,816
$4.97 ¥34.35
105.84%
Cappuccino
$3.97 ₡1,870
$3.14 ¥21.66
26.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₡1,021
$0.44 ¥3.07
393.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₡814
$0.27 ¥1.84
540.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.89 ₡1,361
$0.93 ¥6.40
210.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40 ₡2,073
$2.08 ¥14.37
111.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ₡966
$1.84 ¥12.70
11.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.09 ₡1,453
$1.62 ¥11.17
90.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,181
$0.96 ¥6.62
161.46%
Eggs
$3.30 ₡1,552
$1.56 ¥10.76
111.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.16 ₡4,312
$13.18 ¥91.1
-30.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.29 ₡4,374
$3.21 ¥22.15
189.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.16 ₡6,195
$10.89 ¥75.3
20.84%
Apples (1kg)
$4.48 ₡2,108
$1.77 ¥12.20
153.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₡762
$1.25 ¥8.64
29.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.22 ₡1,514
$1.52 ¥10.53
111.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.98 ₡1,404
$1.15 ¥7.95
159.13%
Potato (1kg)
$3.01 ₡1,416
$0.76 ¥5.28
296.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,339
$0.89 ¥6.14
220.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡476
$0.61 ¥4.24
65.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 ₡1,182
$0.54 ¥3.72
364.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.94 ₡2,325
$3.38 ¥23.33
46.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.72 ₡7,401
$11.67 ¥80.6
34.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₡1,118
$0.78 ¥5.39
205.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ₡1,277
$1.67 ¥11.54
62.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ₡443
$0.43 ¥2.98
118.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.94 ₡23.0K
$20.93 ¥145
133.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ₡843
$1.41 ¥9.74
26.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 ₡946
$0.35 ¥2.44
474.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.82 ₡3,683
$6.48 ¥44.78
20.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 ₡711
$1.16 ¥8.04
30.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K ₡17.3M
$19.3K ¥133.1K
91.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K ₡16.3M
$17.0K ¥117.4K
104.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.8 ₡40.9K
$51.3 ¥354
69.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.69 ₡12.1K
$9.84 ¥68.0
161.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.8 ₡25.3K
$11.49 ¥79.4
367.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 ₡26.3K
$40.28 ¥278
38.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.78 ₡13.5K
$14.78 ¥102
94.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 ₡4,257
$6.41 ¥44.30
41.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$560 ₡263.7K
$403 ¥2,787
38.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.0K ₡4.7M
$17.9K ¥123.5K
-44.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.4 ₡34.1K
$45.91 ¥317
57.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4 ₡25.6K
$32.39 ¥224
67.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₡55.1K
$71.2 ¥492
64.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 ₡48.4K
$74.0 ¥511
39.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ₡381.9K
$436 ¥3,013
86.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 ₡259.2K
$254 ¥1,752
117.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,482 ₡697.7K
$900 ¥6,219
64.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,036 ₡487.6K
$548 ¥3,787
89.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,301 ₡1.1M
$5,140 ¥35.5K
-55.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,575 ₡741.5K
$2,676 ¥18.5K
-41.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,030 ₡484.9K
$1,024 ¥7,079
0.56%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for China: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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