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

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 94.5% more expensive than China without rent, and 89.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 94.5% more expensive than China without rent, and 86.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65 ₡4,833
$2.85 ¥20.46
238.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡29.3K
$23.97 ¥172
144.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 ₡4,957
$4.96 ¥35.61
99.60%
Cappuccino
$3.9 ₡1,954
$3.13 ¥22.47
24.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 ₡1,100
$0.44 ¥3.18
400.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₡827
$0.29 ¥2.1
468.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 ₡1,517
$0.95 ¥6.83
218.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₡2,278
$2.14 ¥15.32
112.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ₡1,033
$1.85 ¥13.23
11.35%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 ₡1,530
$1.68 ¥12.06
82.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 ₡1,261
$0.95 ¥6.81
165.26%
Eggs
$3.29 ₡1,646
$1.55 ¥11.11
112.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.29 ₡4,650
$13.25 ¥95.1
-29.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.54 ₡4,775
$3.28 ¥23.52
190.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.6 ₡6,808
$10.85 ¥77.8
25.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 ₡2,337
$1.77 ¥12.66
163.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₡782
$1.26 ¥9.01
23.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.34 ₡1,672
$1.5 ¥10.73
122.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 ₡1,507
$1.19 ¥8.5
152.94%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 ₡1,524
$0.75 ¥5.4
305.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 ₡1,426
$0.86 ¥6.15
231.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₡506
$0.61 ¥4.37
65.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₡1,273
$0.58 ¥4.14
337.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.86 ₡2,434
$3.45 ¥24.74
40.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 ₡7,442
$11.3 ¥81.1
31.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 ₡1,137
$0.84 ¥6
170.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₡1,366
$1.68 ¥12.05
62.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₡476
$0.4 ¥2.86
137.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.46 ₡24.8K
$20.83 ¥149
137.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ₡904
$1.36 ¥9.74
33.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 ₡969
$0.35 ¥2.55
451.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.69 ₡3,850
$6.8 ¥48.75
13.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ₡735
$1.12 ¥8.05
31.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K ₡18.7M
$19.2K ¥137.7K
94.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K ₡17.4M
$16.7K ¥119.8K
108.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.9 ₡43.5K
$51.4 ¥369
68.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.46 ₡12.7K
$9.77 ¥70.1
160.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 ₡27.4K
$11.34 ¥81.3
382.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.8 ₡28.9K
$39.55 ¥284
46.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.42 ₡14.2K
$14.89 ¥107
90.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 ₡4,546
$6.23 ¥44.71
45.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 ₡275.9K
$417 ¥2,989
32.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,816 ₡4.9M
$17.7K ¥126.8K
-44.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 ₡36.2K
$45.65 ¥327
58.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 ₡27.6K
$33.49 ¥240
64.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₡59.3K
$71.8 ¥515
64.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ₡52.1K
$72.9 ¥523
42.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₡408.8K
$445 ¥3,194
83.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$539 ₡269.6K
$255 ¥1,830
111.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 ₡748.3K
$915 ¥6,566
63.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 ₡510.2K
$543 ¥3,895
87.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,511 ₡1.3M
$6,142 ¥44.1K
-59.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 ₡693K
$2,860 ¥20.5K
-51.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.8K
$942 ¥6,755
5.81%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

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