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 $1,535 per month in Costa Rica vs $624 in Curacao, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,322 per month in Costa Rica vs $943 in Curacao, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,108 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,262 in Curacao, rent included.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 146% higher than in Curacao on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Costa Rica sits 15% above the global median, while Curacao is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.10 ₡4,505

$15.64 ANG 27.91

-35.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 ₡26.8K

$79.3 ANG 142

-24.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 ₡4,516

$10.18 ANG 18.17

-0.59%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,738

$3.74 ANG 6.67

4.28%

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

$2.20 ₡982

$2.91 ANG 5.19

-24.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₡743

$1.70 ANG 3.03

-1.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 ₡1,367

$5.86 ANG 10.46

-47.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,969

$5.05 ANG 9.02

-12.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ₡937

$1.70 ANG 3.04

23.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 ₡1,437

$2.36 ANG 4.21

36.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 ₡1,115

$2.69 ANG 4.80

-7.06%

Eggs

$3.37 ₡1,505

$3.62 ANG 6.45

-6.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.57 ₡4,268

$9.72 ANG 17.35

-1.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 ₡4,212

$7.69 ANG 13.72

22.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.43 ₡5,992

$9.92 ANG 17.71

35.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.67 ₡2,084

$5.06 ANG 9.03

-7.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₡700

$3.35 ANG 5.99

-53.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,428

$3.08 ANG 5.51

3.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 ₡1,330

$4.39 ANG 7.83

-32.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 ₡1,329

$2.93 ANG 5.24

1.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 ₡1,264

$2.88 ANG 5.13

-1.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡452

$2.28 ANG 4.08

-55.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,117

$2.08 ANG 3.71

20.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 ₡2,270

$8.51 ANG 15.20

-40.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.14 ₡7,200

$12.13 ANG 21.66

33.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₡1,047

$2.59 ANG 4.63

-9.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₡1,255

$3.31 ANG 5.90

-15.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₡452

$1.69 ANG 3.02

-40.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.99 ₡22.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡833

$24.96 ANG 44.55

-92.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 ₡877

$2.65 ANG 4.73

-25.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 ₡3,397

$49.45 ANG 88.3

-84.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ₡645

$1.33 ANG 2.37

8.27%

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

$36.5K ₡16.3M

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

$35.4K ₡15.8M

$19.5K ANG 34.7K

81.97%

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

$87.3 ₡38.9K

$232 ANG 415

-62.40%

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

$25.16 ₡11.2K

$80.0 ANG 143

-68.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.0 ₡23.7K

$67.7 ANG 121

-21.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 ₡25.6K

$56.2 ANG 100

2.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.74 ₡12.8K

$64.9 ANG 116

-55.69%

Cinema Ticket

$9.04 ₡4,035

$8.71 ANG 15.54

3.79%

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

$553 ₡246.7K

$278 ANG 496

98.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,994 ₡4.5M

$9,588 ANG 17.1K

4.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.6 ₡32.0K

$89.7 ANG 160

-20.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.2 ₡23.7K

$90.3 ANG 161

-41.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡53.0K

$143 ANG 255

-16.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 ₡45.6K

$109 ANG 195

-6.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 ₡360.7K

$789 ANG 1,409

2.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₡242.5K

$575 ANG 1,027

-5.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,466 ₡654.2K

$1,751 ANG 3,126

-16.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 ₡454.0K

$1,160 ANG 2,070

-12.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,398 ₡1.1M

$845 ANG 1,509

183.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,638 ₡730.9K

$170 ANG 303

864.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 ₡476.1K

$1,280 ANG 2,285

-16.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.53

5.19

102.89%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: July 12, 2026

Last update for Curacao: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $750 in Costa Rica vs $181 in Curacao. For reference, capital cities sit at $860 in San Jose and $724 in Willemstad.

Average salary: $1,096 in Costa Rica vs $1,278 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 183% more in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 17% 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 76% 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 76% 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.