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

Name: Curacao
Address: CW

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,674 per month in Costa Rica vs $991 in Curacao, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,639 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,498 in Curacao, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,604 per month in Costa Rica vs $2,004 in Curacao, rent included.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 69% higher than in Curacao on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Costa Rica sits 22% above the global median, while Curacao is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.02 ₡4,910

$18.12 ANG 32.35

-39.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.4 ₡24.7K

$81.9 ANG 146

-32.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.02 ₡4,909

$11.04 ANG 19.70

-0.18%

Cappuccino

$4.45 ₡1,982

$3.74 ANG 6.68

18.98%

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

$2.47 ₡1,099

$3.25 ANG 5.80

-24.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₡874

$2.00 ANG 3.57

-2.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 ₡1,479

$5.87 ANG 10.48

-43.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,967

$5.12 ANG 9.14

-13.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 ₡1,103

$2.01 ANG 3.59

22.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 ₡1,597

$2.86 ANG 5.11

25.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 ₡1,194

$3.51 ANG 6.27

-23.65%

Eggs

$4.09 ₡1,824

$3.89 ANG 6.95

5.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.90 ₡4,412

$16.84 ANG 30.06

-41.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.29 ₡4,585

$7.21 ANG 12.87

42.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.19 ₡6,321

$11.89 ANG 21.23

19.34%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 ₡2,225

$5.42 ANG 9.67

-7.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₡798

$3.08 ANG 5.50

-41.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 ₡1,615

$3.29 ANG 5.87

10.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 ₡1,536

$3.88 ANG 6.92

-11.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 ₡1,508

$2.54 ANG 4.53

33.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,378

$2.05 ANG 3.65

50.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ₡511

$2.39 ANG 4.27

-51.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 ₡1,273

$2.94 ANG 5.25

-2.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.42 ₡2,416

$9.97 ANG 17.80

-45.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.44 ₡6,880

$12.17 ANG 21.73

26.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 ₡1,204

$2.43 ANG 4.34

11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 ₡1,519

$2.42 ANG 4.32

40.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 ₡502

$2.01 ANG 3.59

-43.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.7 ₡29.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 ₡991

$22.03 ANG 39.32

-89.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 ₡885

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 ₡3,992

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 ₡703

$1.28 ANG 2.28

23.44%

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

$33.6K ₡15.0M

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

$37.0K ₡16.5M

$20.4K ANG 36.4K

81.69%

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

$97.1 ₡43.3K

$256 ANG 457

-62.05%

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

$31.32 ₡14.0K

$74.9 ANG 134

-58.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 ₡26.6K

$68.8 ANG 123

-13.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.5 ₡29.2K

$49.11 ANG 87.7

33.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.48 ₡10.5K

$44.49 ANG 79.4

-47.22%

Cinema Ticket

$8.59 ₡3,826

$12.05 ANG 21.50

-28.71%

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

$748 ₡333.3K

$322 ANG 575

132.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₡5.6M

$12.5K ANG 22.3K

1.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.6 ₡33.7K

$102 ANG 182

-26.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 ₡24.1K

$72.2 ANG 129

-25.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 ₡57.7K

$163 ANG 291

-20.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₡50.5K

$94.7 ANG 169

19.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 ₡390.0K

$802 ANG 1,432

9.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 ₡294.7K

$662 ANG 1,182

-0.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,772 ₡789.7K

$1,704 ANG 3,042

3.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,205 ₡536.7K

$1,236 ANG 2,206

-2.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,413 ₡1.1M

$834 ANG 1,489

189.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,634 ₡728.0K

$170 ANG 303

861.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,078 ₡480.2K

$1,238 ANG 2,210

-12.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.56

4.97

92.35%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: August 30, 2026

Last update for Curacao: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $820 in Costa Rica vs $198 in Curacao. For reference, capital cities sit at $931 in San Jose and $792 in Willemstad.

Average salary: $1,106 in Costa Rica vs $1,255 in Curacao. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 314% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 26% more in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 13% higher in Curacao, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Curacao.

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 Curacao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Curacao is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 54% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Curacao, contributing to the overall 54% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$3,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Curacao, but in Costa Rica it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Curacao 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.